Can I Use My “Support at Home” Funding to Buy Food or Groceries?

Navigating government-funded aged care in Australia can feel like learning a new language. With the Support at Home program, many older Australians and family carers wonder what funds can and cannot cover.

A frequent question is: “Can I use my Support at Home package funding to pay for my weekly food shopping and everyday groceries?”

The short answer is no—you cannot use government aged care funding to pay for the raw cost of everyday groceries. However, the full answer is much more encouraging.

While the package will not pay for the food items themselves, Support at Home funding can cover almost every service required to help you plan, shop for, transport, prepare, and deliver that food. For pre-prepared meal delivery services, funding heavily subsidises preparation and delivery, leaving you to pay only a small out-of-pocket amount for the raw ingredients.

The Golden Rule: Living Expenses vs Care Services

To understand why groceries are treated this way, it helps to look at how the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care categorises funding:

• Everyday Living Expenses: Costs every adult pays regardless of age or health status, including rent, utility bills, clothing, and everyday food. Government aged care funding cannot cover these standard overheads.
• Care and Support Services: Assistance required because an individual’s age, mobility, or medical conditions make daily tasks difficult or unsafe. Government aged care funding is designed to pay for these services.

Because everyone must buy food, groceries are a personal living expense. However, if mobility issues, vision impairment, or cognitive decline make it hard to shop or cook, the assistance required to complete those tasks is a recognised care need.

What CAN Support at Home Funding Cover?

While you cannot swipe your care card at the supermarket checkout, your funding can cover services that ensure you stay well-nourished and independent.

SUPPORT AT HOME FOOD & MEALS COVERAGE

INCLUDED (Covered by the Support at Home Program)	EXCLUDED (Paid Out-of-Pocket)
✅ Support worker shopping assistance ✅ Transport to & from supermarkets ✅ In-home meal preparation & cooking ✅ Meal delivery prep & transport fee ✅ Clinical dietitian & speech care	❌ Raw cost of everyday groceries/food ❌ Takeaway food delivery & restaurant meals ❌ Groceries for other household members ❌ Alcohol & luxury non-essential items ❌ Non-PBS nutritional supplements

1. Personal Shopping Assistance

If visiting the supermarket is physically taxing, funding pays for a support worker to assist you:

• Accompanied Shopping: A support worker drives you to the shops, helps navigate aisles, carries heavy items, assists at the register, and helps unpack at home.
• Unaccompanied Shopping: You provide a shopping list and personal payment method. The worker purchases the items, brings them back, unpacks them, and returns your receipt and change.
• Online Shopping: A worker helps you order groceries online via supermarket platforms for home delivery.

2. Transport for Grocery Trips

Support at Home covers the transport costs associated with food shopping, including a support worker’s time and mileage or subsidised transport services arranged through your provider.

3. In-Home Meal Preparation

If you struggle with standing, peeling, or chopping, domestic support workers can visit your home to:

• Wash, peel, slice, and cook fresh ingredients according to your dietary needs.
• Batch-cook and portion meals into containers for easy reheating throughout the week.
• Clean up the kitchen and sanitise prep areas afterward.

4. Subsidised Pre-Prepared Meal Delivery Services

For approved delivery providers (such as Meals on Wheels, Lite n’ Easy, or Tender Loving Cuisine), the total meal price is split into two parts:

1. The Food Component (Ingredients): The raw cost of meat, vegetables, and staples.
2. The Service Component (Preparation & Delivery): Cooking, packaging, logistics, and delivery.

Your package pays for the Service Component, while you pay the Food Component out of pocket.

5. Allied Health & Clinical Support

You can use funding for Accredited Practising Dietitians (for nutritional meal planning), Speech Pathologists (for swallowing assessments), and Occupational Therapists (for adaptive kitchen equipment).

What CANNOT Be Paid For with Support at Home Funds?

To remain compliant with regulations, the following items must be paid for privately:

• Everyday Grocery Totals: Receipts from supermarkets, butchers, or bakeries cannot be charged to your care account.
• Takeaway & Restaurant Meals: Funding cannot cover meals from fast-food outlets, cafes, or delivery apps like UberEats or DoorDash.
• Groceries for Others: Funding is individually allocated and cannot pay for food for spouses, adult children, or visitors.
• Alcohol & Tobacco: Government subsidies strictly prohibit these items.

How the Meal Delivery Subsidy Works (The Split Breakdown)

Using subsidised meal delivery lowers weekly food costs while using funding efficiently.

Expense Component	Who Pays?	Typical Proportion	What It Covers
Preparation & Delivery	Support at Home Package	~60% to 70%	Commercial prep, packaging, courier delivery, coordination.
Food & Ingredients	You (Out-of-Pocket)	~30% to 40%	Raw meat, vegetables, dairy, grains, and spices.

Example Calculation

If 7 delivered meals cost a total of $70.00 ($10.00 per meal):

• Package Pays (70%): $49.00
• You Pay (30%): $21.00
• Your Net Cost: Just $3.00 per meal out of pocket.

How to Add Food Support to Your Care Plan

1. Identify Your Needs: Note specific friction points (e.g., driving, carrying heavy bags, chopping, standing).
2. Contact Your Provider: Request a support plan review to include “Domestic Assistance – Shopping” or “Meal Preparation and Delivery”.
3. Establish Clear Payment Methods: Set up direct-billing for meal delivery, or establish a secure, documented cash/card handling system for workers doing unaccompanied shopping.

Quick Tips to Maximise Your Budget

• Combine Trips: Align accompanied shopping with pharmacy runs or postal errands to save on worker time and travel fees.
• Use Click-and-Collect: Pay a worker for 30 minutes to set up an online order rather than two hours walking supermarket aisles.
• Mix Delivery with Essentials: Order 5 subsidised delivered dinners for main meals, and buy basic breakfast and lunch staples privately.

Key Takeaways

While you cannot use Support at Home funds to buy raw groceries, the program covers almost every service needed to get food to your table—including transport, shopping assistance, in-home cooking, and up to 70% of pre-prepared meal costs. Structuring these supports effectively keeps your personal expenses low while maintaining your independence.

Here are more related articles:

• Support at Home Program: 2026 Meal Subsidy Guide
• How the Support at Home Program Subsidises Meals for Older Australians
• Meal Options available with CHSP
• Support at Home Meal Service Assessment Criteria Guide
• How to Access Meal Delivery Services Through Australia’s Support at Home Program: Top Providers and Benefits