How to get a Home Care Package?

How do I access a Home Care Package?

The first step in accessing a Home Care Package is to contact My Aged Care:

Phone 1800 200 422

Website www.myagedcare.gov.au

My Aged Care will carry out a phone assessment of your situation and, if appropriate, they will refer you to your local Aged Care Assessment Team.  This team will then contact you to arrange a suitable time to come and carry out a full assessment in your home. 

Following this meeting, the Assessor will make recommendations for the level of support required to meet your needs.  You will then be placed on a national waiting list for allocation of a Home Care Package. 

Once a Home Care Package becomes available, you will receive a letter from My Aged Care advising you of this and you will then have some time in which to choose a provider to manage your package

Do I have to pay a fee?

If you are a full pensioner, the government will pay the whole of your allocated package amount and you will have no additional fees to pay.

If you are a part pensioner or a self-funded retiree, the government expects that you will contribute to the cost of your Home Care Package.  The amount you will be required to pay will be determined by Centrelink, based on your current income.