If your care needs have changed as you’ve gotten older and you are struggling to do what you used to, you may be eligible to receive some help at home from the government.

This may be in the form of a Home Care Package. To find out if you are eligible for support from the government you can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and request an assessment. The outcome of the assessment will determine if you are eligible for a Home Care Package.

Even if you are coping well today, it’s important to recognise that your needs will change over time and could change quickly so it’s best to be proactive and get assessed early.

Keep in mind that if your needs change over time, you are able to be reassessed for a higher level of funding.

A Home Care Package (HCP) is funding given to older Australians through a government-subsidised program with the aim of providing long-term support for elderly individuals who want to continue living independently at home.

There are four levels of Home Care Packages each with a different level of funding. Level 1 is the lowest amount of funding and Level 4 is the highest that an individual can receive. Level 1 is around $9k per year and Level 4 is over $53k per year.

The level assigned to you will depend on an assessment based on your physical and cognitive needs and how extensive they are. Funding from your Home Care Package can be used to buy hours of care or other support services which suits your needs and supports you to remain living independently at home.

Once you have a Home Care Package it is yours to keep, to allow you to remain living in your own home.

Home Care Package funds aren’t paid to you directly. Instead, you must choose an approved Home Care Package Provider to administer the funds on your behalf and support you with your care management.

While both the HCP and CHSP give you support to stay living at home, there are significant differences between the programs.

CHSP:

• You’ll have access to specific services and there isn’t much flexibility.
• You pay a subsidised rate from your own pocket, for the services you use.
• Despite having funding it may be difficult to get services due to lack of availablity
  

HCP:

• You get an amount of funding that you can use for whatever services you require so long as they are within government guidelines and in line with your Care Plan.
• Once you have a package, it is yours until you no longer require it.
• You get to choose the services you would like to use – based on your unique situation.

Many people receive Commonwealth Home Support Programme CHSP funding while waiting to be assigned a Home Care Package (HCP). Once you accept your Home Care Package you will be required to finish up your CHSP funded services.

But don’t dismay, if there is a specific service you really enjoyed from the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, you will be able to find a replacement service to fund directly from your Home Care Package.

This means you won’t even have to pay the subsidised rate out of your own pocket. Your services will be 100% covered by your Home Care Package funding.

CHSP is considered to be at the entry level of the aged care system. This means it provides some low level support to older Australians who need some extra help at home. You get access to select services at a subsidised rate to help you live better at home until you need more assistance.

To be eligible for the CHSP you must be:

• 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people), or
• 50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and on a low income, homeless, or at risk of being homeless.

While the support provided by CHSP funding and HCP are fairly similar there are some key differences.

There are a number of things that will be looked at during an assessment process to ensure that everyone receives the care and support they need. The My Aged Care Assessor will look at things like:

• Your age – to be eligible you need to be an older Australian (generally 65 years or older) or a younger person with an ageing related illness (like early onset dementia).
• Your living arrangements and the support you currently receive from family and friends.
• What help or support you may require in order to continue living independently.

There are four Home Care Package levels to address different support and care needs. When you are assessed for a Home Care Package the assessor will also establish what level of funding you may be eligible for. This eligibility is determined by a variety of different factors.

To be able to apply for a Home Care Package, you need to be:

• an older person who needs coordinated services to help them stay at home, or
• a younger person with a disability, dementia or other care needs not met through other specialist services.

How long it takes to get a package depends on what package level you are eligible for. Here’s a bit about the different levels of funding you could be eligible to receive.

Level 1.

If you are approved for a Level 1 package, this is designed to cover basic care needs. This can include basic everyday tasks that you may require assistance with.

Level 2.

A Level 2 Home Care Package is designed to support an individual with low-level care needs. This package provides more funding than a Level 1. The funding can support an older Australian to receive support with a range of tasks. 

Level 3.

A Level 3 Home Care Package is designed to support those older Australians with intermediate level care needs. With this package you are able to choose from a range of support and services to help you remain living at home.

Level 4.

This is the highest level of Home Care Package funding. It is designed to support those older Australians with high-level care needs. With a Level 4 package you are eligible to receive more than $50,000 per year. These funds are designed to support you to continue living in your own home.

Each Home Care Package service provider charges a different amount for their services and care management. How much they charge depends on the prices they have set, the services you need, and when you need the services. These charges are drawn from your Home Care Package budget.

The 3 things you should look at are:

• Package management - is the range of administrative organisational activities for managing a package.
  
• Care management - is a service to regularly assess your needs, goals and preferences
• • Other providers charge up to $12,000 for this.
  • Living Well Care does not charge for this support...that's $0.00!
    
• Services - those services subsidised by the program to support people to stay at home for as long as possible as they get older
  

Whether or not a Home Care Package is right for you completely depends on your individual circumstances – everyone is different.

Part-pensioners and self-funded retirees will likely have to make a contribution to their Home Care Package, which is something called the ‘Income Tested Fee’. This fee is determined by the government and dependent on your financial situation.

But don’t be too quick to say no to a package just because you may have to contribute. It’s worth getting all the facts and figures before making a decision, particularly if you’re eligible for a level 3 or 4 package. With higher-level packages especially, it’s often financially advantageous to accept the package even if you need to pay a fee.

If you are self-funded retiree or on a part pension you may be required to pay what is called the ‘Income Tested Fee’.

The ‘Income Tested Fee’ is based on an assessment of your financial situation and can mean you will have to contribute to your package.

If the government assesses you as having to contribute to your Home Care Package, then you must pay the ‘Income Tested Fee’. No Provider is able to waive this fee.

If you have any further questions about the ‘Income Tested Fee’ or whether you would be required to pay it, give one of our Care Experts a call today.

If you are paid a pension that is means-tested, you will not need to lodge an income assessment form as the Department of Human Services (DHS) or Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA) will have sufficient information to work out your eligibility to pay an income-tested fee.

If you are paid a pension that is not means-tested or if you are a self-funded retiree, you will need to lodge an Aged Care Fees Income Assessment form with either the DHS or the DVA.

No one is forced to do an Income Assessment, but it should be noted that if you decide not to complete one, you can be asked to pay the maximum income-tested fee.

For home care, the assessment is based on entirely on your income and does not include the value of your home or any other assets.

You can ask for an assessment on the My Aged Care website.

On the My Aged Care website there is a fee estimator that you can use to see what you may be eligible to pay.

Please note, the fare estimator will likely calculate your Income Tested Fee in conjunction with the Daily Care Fee – we don’t charge the Daily Care Fee.

To apply for a Home Care Package, you need to call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and ask for an assessment. During the initial call you will be asked a series of questions over the phone to determine if you will proceed to the next step in the process which is an in-person assessment from the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). 

Talk to us first and we can guide you through the process in more detail.

During your in-home assessment visit, the ACAT/ACAS assessor (usually a nurse, social worker, or other health care professional) will ask you questions about how well you are managing your day-to-day life. They will give you some advice about the different types of care services that may help you to stay at home.

This assessment will determine if you are eligible for a Home Care Package and if so, which level. You have the option to have a family member or advocate present at the assessment.

After your assessment you will receive a letter from My Aged Care letting you know the outcome of your assessment. If you are eligible for support you will be approved for a specific level (1,2,3 or 4) and placed in the national queue to wait for a package to be assigned to you.

The wait time to be assigned a Home Care Package is currently 1-3 months.

When you are assigned your package, you will receive another letter indicating your assigned level and an individual referral code. At this time, you’ll need to choose your Home Care Package Provider.

Please note that you may be offered a lower-level package while you are waiting for your higher-level package to become available. Accepting the lower-level package will have no impact on your assignment for a higher level.

A Referral Code is a unique number (1- number) that you receive when you are assigned a Home Care Package. This code allows the Provider of your choice to access your ACAT/ACAS assessment which contains important details about your situation and your unique requirements. This code is also important as your chosen Provider will use it in order to trigger your Home Care Package funding on your behalf.

Your Referral Code is unique to you and you will need it both when you sign up with a Provider for the first time or if you decide to switch Providers. The only difference will be the way you access it.

If you have a new Home Care Package you will be able to find your Referral Code on the letter you received from My Aged Care assigning you your package. If you are unable to find your letter, you can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and ask for your code.

If you’re switching Providers, your code will have already been activated by your current Provider when you signed up with them, so you’ll need to reactivate it. To reactivate your code, you need to call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and ask them to do it.

Your Provider will be required to supply you with a written Care Plan. A Care Plan is designed to meet you goals and assessed care needs as determined by your ACAT assessment. Your Provider will put this Care Plan together in consultation with you during your initial meeting. It will explain in detail the needs and services of a client.

The Care Plan will set out goals and services you need to remain at home. You are required to be issued with this Care Plan within 14 days of entering into your Home Care Agreement.

The Care Plan is a type of guide for what products and services you can organize to best support you.

When you start a Home Care Package, you and your Provider make an agreement that outlines the services you will receive. This agreement describes your rights and also the Provider’s rights, as well as the fees you will be charged. The agreement will also refer to other documents like your Care Plan and Budget. They are legally binding.

Your Provider will develop an individualised budget that outlines the financial resources available to you, including Government subsidies, supplements and the fees or contributions you pay yourself. Your budget will explain how these funds are to be used.

Each month the Government will send your chosen Approved Provider your monthly subsidy. Your funding is not paid in a lump sum for the year, but instead as a monthly payment. If you receive a Home Care Package supplement, it will be paid to your Provider each month in addition to your basic subsidy.

There are a range of supplements that you may be eligible for:

The Dementia and Cognition Supplement:
This supplement provides additional funding in recognition of the extra costs of caring for people with cognitive impairment associated with dementia and other conditions.
The supplement offers you an additional 11.5% of the home care basic subsidy you already receive.
To be eligible you will need to complete an assessment with a nurse or medical practitioner.

The Veteran’s Supplement:
This supplement provides additional funding for veterans with a mental health condition accepted by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) as related to their service.
The supplement offers you an additional 11.5% of the home care basic subsidy you already receive.
Eligibility is determined by the DVA.

Oxygen Supplement:
This supplement is paid to care recipients with a specified medical need for the continual administration of oxygen.
To be eligible you must have an ongoing medical need for the administration of oxygen.
The equipment used to provide the oxygen must be hired, temporarily attained or owned by the Provider.
You will need a certificate from a medical practitioner stating your particular requirements and continual need for the administration of oxygen to be eligible.

Enteral Feeding Supplement:
This supplement is paid to care recipients with the specified medical need for enteral feeding.
To be eligible you will need all of the following documentation to claim the supplement.

Written certification by a medical practitioner that the care recipient has a medical need for enteral feeding.
Written certification by a medical practitioner or dietician that the dietary formula prescribed is nutritionally complete.
Details of the care recipient’s particular enteral feeding requirements. These can be detailed in the medical certificate, the care recipient’s care plan, and hospital discharge papers or in the dietician’s enteral feeding instructions.

Viability Supplement:
This supplement is paid to the providers of your care services on behalf of care recipients in recognition of the higher costs of providing services in rural and remote areas.
The supplement must be included in the individual budget of eligible care recipients.
Eligibility is based on the suburb and postcode of the location where the care recipient receives care and services.

Hardship Supplement:
This supplement is available to Home Care recipients in genuine financial hardship.
To be eligible home care recipients need to prove they have no income to pay their costs of aged care due to circumstances beyond their control.

Respite care can provide help for carers so they can go on a holiday or take part in everyday activities while ensuring the person they are caring for is looked after.

You can find out more about respite care on the My Aged Care website here: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/short-term-care/respite-care

There are different types of respite care so it’s worth speaking to one of our Care Experts on 1300 497 442 to find out if the type of respite you require could be funded through  your Home Care Package.

There are so many providers to choose from. It’s a good idea to have some questions ready to ask them. You can use this list of questions to start with.

What is your care management fee? 

What is your package management fee? 

Can I use my existing service providers, such as my gardener?

How likely am I to get my preferred times for services?

You have 56 days from the day you get assigned your Home Care Package to choose a Provider. If you have difficulty finding an approved Home Care Package Provider and have not entered into a Home Care Agreement within the 56 days, or need more time to make a decision, you can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. They can grant you an extension of a further 28 days. If you haven’t chosen a Provider in the allotted time you will lose your Home Care Package and it will be given to the next person waiting in the national queue.

As your care needs change over time you may need to be assessed for a higher level of care. To do this, you can call the My Aged Care team on 1800 200 422 and request a reassessment.

Alternatively, if you are a client of Living Well Care you can speak to your Care Manager and we can help you. The reassessment process is similar to the one you undertook to receive your initial package.

You are able to take leave from your Home Care Package. Leave can be taken:

• For a hospital stay.
• For transition care – which may follow a hospital stay.
• To receive respite care.
• For social reasons.

When you take leave, your funding will continue for up to 28 consecutive days at the full basic subsidy rate. After 28 days however, your subsidy will decrease to 25% of the basic subsidy rate.

A lot of people are of the misconception that if they choose a provider that is local to them, their services will be more efficient. Here are three reasons why local should be of no concern when you’re choosing a Provider:

1. Your Care Service will always be local to your area. We have a huge list of service providers, so your care services will be local to you wherever you are. Our centralised model means we are able to keep our costs down and charge our clients way less than other Providers.
2. If you’re choosing a local Provider because you believe they will regularly visit you then you should think twice. If a local Provider does visit you then you’ll often be charged a premium for it from your package. The truth is most things can be solved in a quick phone call and most Providers won’t come to see you regularly anyway.
3. We are only a phone call away and, unlike other Providers we answer our phone. We solve things quickly and deliver fantastic customer service to our clients, wherever they live.

You can see the list of common services accessed through your Home Care Package by clicking the following link – Services.

Our view of what services and items we approve is dependent on your unique situation.

Each month you will receive something called a Monthly Activity Statement.

Your Monthly Activity Statement lists the amount of your funds that were spent, and on what, each month. It also shows your income as well as your remaining balance of funds.

We make switching over to Living Well Care super easy. Here’s how you do it:

STEP 1
You can call us and one of our friendly and experienced Care Experts will discuss your situation with you and help decide if the move is the right decision for you.

If you decide to transfer your package you will need to call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and ask for your Referral Code to be reactivated. It’s a simple process. We need your referral code in order to access your documents to ensure the sign up is as efficient as possible.

STEP 2
If you decide to make the move, we will organise a time for a sign-up. That’s when we will get the necessary transfer and sign-up documents completed so we can commence your care services and ensure a seamless transition.

STEP 3
Behind the scenes we will speak to your current Provider and organise the date for transfer of your funds to make sure there is no gap in care services.

It’s as easy as that. Our team have plenty of experience helping Home Care Package holders make the switch to a better solution. With us you’re in capable hands.

Ready to take control of your Home Care Package today?
Simply give us a call and speak with one of our friendly Care Experts about what you want to get out of your Home Care Package.

The support and services you can access with your Home Care Package funding are based on your individual assessment and current situation. If your situation changes and you need a different type of support or service then it’s important to get in touch with your Care Manager immediately.   They will review your Care Plan and ask you a number of questions to evaluate any change in your situation so that your funding can be used in a way to best support you.