Just Better Care

Local News

11 August 2021

How to Apply for Aged Care Funding

You want to keep living in your own home, but you need some extra help. If this is your situation, it’s time to apply for Aged Care funding, so that you can access in-home support. We’re going to walk you through the application process, step by step.

Apply for assessment through MyAgedCare

MyAgedCare is an organisation run by the Australian Government. It provides funding for aged care services, including in-home care. Before they can provide funding, they need to assess your situation. There are two ways you can apply for an assessment:

You can speak to MyAgedCare by calling 1800 200 422.
You can apply online here.

The application process takes approximately 20 minutes. You can complete it yourself or you can ask a family member or friend to help. When you apply, you will need to have your medicare card handy.

Meet with a MyAgedCare Assessor

After you have filled out your application form, either online or over the phone, MyAgedCare will send an assessor to your home. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, most assessments are happening over the phone or via video call. Within three weeks of applying, MyAgedCare will contact you to arrange a time for this assessment.

Your assessor will talk with you about your needs and desires. They may also ask you to fill out a form. After this conversation, the assessor will tell you which services may be helpful for you. Here are some things to remember, as you get ready for your face-to-face assessment:

You can have a family member, friend or carer with you during the assessment. You can also have a translator if you need.
You can ask the assessor any questions.
You’ll need to have your medicare card with you and another form of ID, such as your driver’s license or birth certificate.
You should have a copy of any referrals your GP has given you, and make sure you know the contact details of your GP. The assessor may want this information.
If you’d like to explore a particular service—like Just Better Care—you can tell your assessor that.
Find out which kind of support you are eligible for

If you need low-level support, your assessor may be able to confirm your eligibility at the end of your time together. If you need a higher level of support, your assessor may need some time to review the information. In this case, you should hear from MyAgedCare within two weeks of your in-person assessment. From that point, MyAgedCare can help you choose which support services you’d like to access. That support will be funded through MyAgedCare. Unfortunately, you might need to wait up to 12 months before you can start using these services. That’s why it’s important to apply as soon as possible.

Applying for in-home care funding doesn’t have to be stressful or confusing. Here’s a recap of what you need to do:

Ask MyAgedCare to assess your eligibility. You can do that by filling out the initial assessment form on this website or over the phone on 1800 200 422.
MyAgedCare will arrange a time for an assessor to visit you.
Get all your information ready. You need your medicare card and another form of ID, as well as any other medical information which might be relevant.
Meet with your assessor. Answer their questions and ask your own questions.
Find out which kind of support you’re eligible for and receive the relevant funding.

Just Better Care Eastern Suburbs Group is here to help. We believe you deserve great in-home support, so that you can keep living independently. The first step is to apply.