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If you have just received your Support at Home Notice of Decision Letter and noticed your funding is less than you expected, don’t worry - you are not alone! This is normal under the new Support at Home system.
The amount you have received is called Interim Funding or the Minimum Service Offer (MSO). It is designed to make sure you can start accessing essential services right away, even when demand is high. Think of it as a helpful first step to get the support you need, while everything else falls into place.
Interim funding means you can start receiving care and support sooner, without waiting for your full budget to become available. Instead of waiting until the whole amount is ready, you will first receive 60% of your approved funding. This allows you to access the most important services straight away, such as help with showering, meals, cleaning, or transport.
When the remaining 40% of your funding is released, your care plan will be updated so you can get the full range of services you are entitled to. Just keep in mind that the remaining 40% is not backdated, so it only applies from the time it is released.
It is important to know that the interim funding you receive only applies to your ongoing services budget. The Support at Home program includes different types of support, and not all of them come from the same pot of money.
While many people think that interim funding covers everything, the 60% interim funding actually only applies to your ongoing quarterly services, such as:
Other parts of Support at Home are paid from separate funding streams, so they are not affected by interim funding. Knowing this helps you understand exactly what services you can access right away and what will be added later when your full funding becomes available.
| Support type | Is it covered by 60% Interim Funding? | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing Support at Home services (cleaning, personal care, meals, transport, respite) | These come from your ongoing quarterly budget which may be temporarily set at 60%. | |
| Assistive Technology & Home Modifications (AT-HM) | AT-HM has its own separate funding scheme with its own limits; it is never reduced by Interim Funding. | |
| Restorative Care Pathway | The pathway has its own dedicated short-term funding and always receives full funding immediately. | |
| End-of-Life Pathway | This is a high-priority, time-sensitive pathway that always receives its full funding straight away. |
You may receive interim funding if demand for services is higher than expected and wait times are increasing. This includes:
Some people will always receive their full funding straight away. This includes those in urgent situations, or people approved for the Restorative Care Pathway or End-of-Life Pathway.
If you are offered interim funding, you will receive a letter confirming your 60% allocation. You can then:
When your full funding becomes available, you will receive another letter to advise you that your full service offering (or FSO) is available. You can then update your support plan and budget accordingly with your new total funding amount.
The aim of interim funding is simple: to make sure you’re not left waiting too long for the support you need. It means you can get essential help sooner, stay safe at home, and have peace of mind knowing the rest of your budget will follow.
Click here to download our easy to read fact sheet you can print at home.
Interim Funding
Do you have questions or are not sure what to do next? Get in touch with our team at 1800 024 000 or book a free Explainer Session and we will call you back at a time that suits you best.
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