How to apply for aged care support at home

Getting started

Getting assessed

Your assessment determines what funding you receive

The assessor will ask lots of questions about your life and living arrangements, as well as your goals and what type of help you need to live more comfortably at home, so be sure to be honest, and get the care you need. 

After the assessment, you’ll receive a letter confirming your level of care you’re approved for and what steps to take next.

The assessor considers four key categories to determine the help and funding you may need, including:

• Falls risk – resulting from muscle weakness, declining sight, stiffness, and more
• Daily living challenges – such as housework, bill paying, getting dressed & shopping
• Cognitive issues – like forgetfulness, anxiety, losing sense of direction and so on
• Carer burn out – showing signs of exhaustion and overwhelm

The waitlist

You're on the waitlist until funding is assigned

When approved for funding, you'll be placed on the national waitlist until your funding is released – known as having your 'funding assigned'. 

At this stage you may receive some interim funding to help out while you wait, which can stretch for 6-12 months.  

About a month before your funding is available, you’ll receive a ‘Readiness Letter’ from My Aged Care, which includes important paperwork for you to review. 

Choosing a provider

Finally it's time to find the help you need

Once your funding is assigned, you have 56 days to find the home care provider that's right for you, and get signed up to get your services started.

Knowing exactly where to start can be confusing, so to make it easier, why not download our factsheet on How to Compare Home Care Providers. It provides useful tips on understanding fees and how to ensure you get the team and services you need to keep you well and happy at home.