You've been approved. You have 56 days to activate your funding.
Your approval letter arrived and the assessor left. Nobody explained what happens next — or that the clock is already running.
From the date on that letter, you have 56 days to have an active service agreement with a registered Support at Home provider. After that, you lose every day of funding you haven't used.
THE SHORT VERSION
Days 1–14: Find and compare providers. Ask about fees before you commit.
Days 15–28: Sign a service agreement. Read it first.
Days 29–42: First services delivered.
Days 43–56: Confirm your budget and co-contribution amounts in writing.
What does the Support at Home activation deadline actually mean?
Your approval letter contains two things that matter: your classification number (1–8) and an effective date. The 56-day window starts from that effective date.
Your funding does not begin until you have a signed service agreement with a registered Support at Home provider. That agreement is what activates your quarterly budget. Until it exists, you are entitled to nothing — even though you've been approved.
The system doesn't send reminders. The assessor doesn't follow up. This is the part that trips most families up.
Your deadline calculator
Enter the details from your approval letter
What should you do in the first 14 days after approval?
The first fortnight matters most. This is when you should be comparing providers — not committing to one. The mistake most families make is calling one provider, getting caught up in a friendly conversation, and signing before they've compared fees.
The administration fee and care management fee are the numbers that determine how much of your budget actually goes on your care. A provider charging 35% in combined fees on a Classification 5 budget takes $13,837 off the top per year. A provider charging 15% takes $5,930. The difference is roughly 88 hours of home care.
Your 56-day activation checklist
What if my classification level feels wrong?
You can request a review of your classification at any time. The assessment uses a rules-based scoring algorithm (the IAT — Integrated Assessment Tool) that produces two primary scores: a functional independence score and a needs-being-met score. The broader IAT covers 13 sections including physical health, cognition, psychological state, social engagement, and home safety.
The most common reason for a lower-than-expected classification: the person being assessed described what they can do on a good day, not what they struggle with every day. The tool scores based on your reported functional ability — and a lower reported need results in a lower classification.
Activate your funding first — your classification can be reviewed once you're receiving services. You don't have to get it right before Day 56.
Who do you call if something goes wrong during activation?
My Aged Care
General enquiries, provider changes, referral questions. Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 10am–2pm.
OPAN — Older Persons Advocacy Network
Free, independent advocacy if a provider is not doing what they agreed to do. Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 10am–4pm.
ACQSC — Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Formal complaints about provider conduct. 24/7 for urgent safety concerns.
Frequently asked questions about Support at Home activation
WANT A PERSONALISED ACTIVATION PLAN?
Get a step-by-step plan built for your classification, state, and situation
Includes provider fee comparison for your state, word-for-word phone scripts, and a checklist you can track on paper. Delivered instantly.
Get my Activation Guide — $29 →Last updated: 25 April 2026. Classification budgets based on Support at Home program effective 1 November 2025. Fees are indexed on 1 July and 20 March each year — check current rates at myagedcare.gov.au.
This is general information, not professional advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a financial adviser, legal professional, or aged care specialist via OPAN.