Who can be assessed
The Department’s explainer video on the new Aged Care Act says a person becomes eligible for an aged care assessment at 65, and that some people, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, can access aged care services from 50 years of age. The first part of the online application checks the age and needs requirements.
Veterans, and war widows and widowers, may be able to get some aged care support without an assessment; My Aged Care points them to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Three ways to apply
My Aged Care offers three ways to apply.
What the online form asks
The online application is in three parts.
- Part A: the situation
- Checks the age and needs requirements and asks some questions about the person’s situation. About 10 minutes.
- Part B: the details
- Personal and contact details, and who the assessment organisation should contact to arrange the assessment. This is the step that needs the Medicare card. About 5 minutes.
- Part C: a registered supporter (optional)
- A request to register a supporter: someone who can help the person make and communicate their own decisions, and access and update their information. About 5 minutes.
My Aged Care says the questions cover the person’s age and health, how they are managing at home, any support they already receive, what could help them live well, and whether they would like to register a supporter. It keeps a record of the application, so the same information does not have to be given again at the assessment.
The online form is not for everyone. My Aged Care asks people who have already had an aged care assessment, are already registered with it, or need immediate care to call instead of using the form.
Who can help
- Family, friends and carers. They can support the person to apply online or by phone and, with permission, complete the application or talk on their behalf.
- A registered supporter. For someone to speak and act for the person on an ongoing basis, they can be registered as a supporter with My Aged Care, while applying or by the assessor at the assessment. The prospective supporter needs to be there too. Supporters must declare any conflict of interest, such as being a provider or aged care worker who delivers the person’s services.
- An advocate. The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) can help, and with consent an advocate can speak to My Aged Care on the person’s behalf.
- Elder Care Support. For older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the Elder Care Support program can help with aged care services and choosing a culturally safe provider.
- A care finder. Care finders may be able to help someone who has no family member, friend, carer or representative they feel comfortable getting help from.
- Interpreters and access services. The National Relay Service, the National Sign Language Program and the Translating and Interpreting Service are listed by My Aged Care, and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, the person can call My Aged Care and ask for an interpreter.
After the application goes in
A screening process places the application with an assessment organisation and gives it a referral priority, which tells that organisation how quickly the assessment should happen. An assessor then makes contact to confirm identity and details, check eligibility, make sure the person agrees to the assessment, and work out which type of assessment is needed.
Depending on how urgent the needs are, My Aged Care says the assessment will usually take place within 5 to 40 days. A welcome pack also comes in the mail, and the application can be tracked through the My Aged Care Online Account.
Urgent? Call My Aged Care. Some services are available short-term before, or without, an assessment.
Tab 2 picks up from the phone call: what happens at the assessment.
One caution about calls and messages
My Aged Care says it will never contact people directly through social media or messaging platforms, and will never ask for bank details. Anyone unsure whether a contact was genuine can call My Aged Care to follow up.