Can You Have a Home Care Package and NDIS?
Generally, no. You can’t hold both an NDIS plan and a Home Care Package at the same time, since the two systems are designed to support different age groups and don’t operate together. If you’re already an NDIS participant, you typically stay on the NDIS rather than transitioning to a Home Care Package once you turn 65, provided you choose to remain a participant.
That said, the actual rules around this can get a bit more layered depending on your circumstances. If you’re comparing NDIS in-home support Perth options against aged care services, here’s what you actually need to know.
Key Takeaways
Quick summary before the full explanation.
The NDIS and Home Care Packages are separate systems, and you generally can’t access both at once.
If you’re already an NDIS participant before turning 65, you usually get the choice to stay on the NDIS instead of moving to aged care.
Home Care Packages are managed through My Aged Care, while the NDIS is managed through the NDIA, and they don’t run in parallel.
Providers offering NDIS household tasks Perth support can only be funded through your NDIS plan, not through both systems simultaneously.
If you’re nearing 65 and unsure which system suits you better, getting advice early avoids a messy transition later.
Your existing supports and relationships with providers are usually protected if you choose to stay with the NDIS.
What’s the Real Difference Between the NDIS and a Home Care Package?
The NDIS supports people under 65 with a permanent and significant disability, helping fund things like personal care, therapy, equipment, and community participation. A Home Care Package, on the other hand, is an aged care support system for older Australians, generally 65 and over, funded and coordinated through My Aged Care rather than the NDIA.
Both systems can fund similar sounding things, personal care, household tasks, transport, but they operate through completely different assessment processes, funding structures, and government bodies. That’s a big part of why you can’t simply mix and match between them.
So Why Can’t You Access Both at Once?
This comes down to how the systems are structured. The NDIS and My Aged Care are intentionally kept separate to avoid duplicate funding for the same type of support. If you were eligible for both, you’d essentially be getting paid twice for overlapping services, which isn’t how either system is designed to work.
Because of this, once you’re accessing one system, you’re generally not able to draw funding from the other for the same supports at the same time.
What Happens If You’re Already on the NDIS and Turn 65?
This is where things get more specific, and it’s a common question for long term participants.
If you’re an existing NDIS participant and you turn 65, you’re usually given a choice. You can either remain on the NDIS and continue receiving your existing supports, or transition across to the aged care system instead.
Most participants who’ve built up a working relationship with their providers, including support for things like NDIS household tasks Perth services, tend to stay on the NDIS rather than restart the process through aged care. It keeps continuity of care and avoids having to re-explain your needs to an entirely new system.
What If You’re Not Yet an NDIS Participant and You’re Nearing 65?
This is a different situation entirely. If you haven’t accessed the NDIS before turning 65, you generally can’t apply for it after that point, since NDIS access requires you to apply before your 65th birthday.
In this case, aged care and a Home Care Package become the relevant pathway instead, since the NDIS access window has effectively closed for new applicants over that age.
Are There Any Exceptions to This Rule?
There are some specific circumstances where the lines blur slightly, usually involving early or late diagnosis situations, or cases where someone acquired a disability just before turning 65 and hadn’t yet applied.
These situations are assessed individually, so if you think you might fall into a grey area, it’s worth speaking directly with the NDIA or a knowledgeable provider rather than assuming either way.
How Do You Know Which System Is Actually Right for You?
If you’re close to 65 and trying to decide, a few things are worth thinking through. The NDIS tends to offer more flexibility around goal based planning and community participation, while aged care packages are structured around four funding levels based on need, with less individualised planning involved.
If you’re already receiving support like NDIS in-home support Perth services and it’s working well for you, staying put often makes more practical sense than starting over in an unfamiliar system.
What Types of In Home Support Overlap Between the Two Systems?
Interestingly, quite a lot on paper. Personal care, help with showering and dressing, is available through both. Household tasks like cleaning and laundry show up in both systems too. So does transport assistance and some allied health support.
The overlap is exactly why confusion happens so often. The services sound almost identical, but the funding, structure, and eligibility behind them are completely different.
What Should You Do If You’re Unsure Which System You’re Eligible For?
Start by checking your age and how you first accessed support. If you applied for the NDIS before turning 65 and were approved, you’re generally set to remain a participant. If you’re approaching 65 and haven’t applied yet, it’s worth looking into this well before your birthday, since timing genuinely matters here.
Talking to your existing provider is often the easiest first step, since many have experience helping participants understand exactly where they stand.
Practical Tips If You’re Approaching This Transition
Check your NDIS access status well before turning 65, ideally a few months out, not the week of your birthday.
If you’re already a participant, confirm with the NDIA that you intend to remain on the NDIS rather than assuming it happens automatically.
Keep records of your current supports and provider relationships, since this makes any transition conversation easier.
Ask your provider directly whether your current services, including things like household tasks, are affected by this transition.
Avoid applying to both systems at once, since this usually just creates confusion rather than more support.
How Horizon Living Group Can Support You
If you’re looking for reliable and personalised NDIS support in Perth, Horizon Living Group provides a range of services designed around each participant’s individual needs, goals and daily routine. Their services include Assistance with Personal Activities, Assistance with Travel and Transport Arrangements, Community Nursing Care, Development of Daily Living and Life Skills, Household Tasks, and Participation in Community, Whether you need support with everyday personal care, assistance around your home, help getting to appointments or activities, community nursing, or support to build greater independence and participate in the community, Horizon Living Group focuses on respectful and person-centred care. To discuss your support needs, call 0449 984 781 or email info@horizonlivinggroup.com.au.
Conclusion
The short answer is that you generally can’t hold both a Home Care Package and an NDIS plan at the same time, since the two systems are built to operate separately rather than alongside each other. What matters most is your age and how you first accessed support, since that largely determines which system you end up on and whether you have a choice in the matter.
For existing participants, particularly those relying on services like NDIS in-home support Perth or ongoing help with household tasks, staying on the NDIS after turning 65 is usually possible and often the more straightforward path. For those nearing 65 without prior NDIS access, aged care becomes the relevant system instead.
If you’re unsure where you stand, don’t leave it until the last minute. Speaking with your provider or the NDIA directly well ahead of any birthday or eligibility deadline gives you time to make the right call, rather than being forced into a decision under pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from a Home Care Package to the NDIS later?
Generally no, since NDIS access needs to be established before you turn 65. Once you’re on a Home Care Package, switching back typically isn’t an option.
What happens to my NDIS plan when I turn 65?
If you’re already a participant, you’re usually given the choice to stay on the NDIS or move into aged care, rather than being automatically transferred.
Are Home Care Packages and NDIS funding the same amount?
No, they’re calculated completely differently. NDIS funding is based on individual goals and functional needs, while Home Care Packages use fixed funding levels.
Can household tasks be funded through both systems?
Not at the same time. You can only access funding for household tasks through whichever system you’re currently eligible for, not both simultaneously.
Who do I contact if I’m unsure which system applies to me?
Your existing provider or the NDIA are the best starting points, especially if you’re approaching 65 and unsure about your options.