Financial hardship assistance

If you began receiving a Home Care Package on or after 1 July 2014, you may be eligible for help with your basic daily fee and income tested care fee. In addition to your income, the value of your assets will also be considered as part of the assessment process.

You can’t receive financial hardship assistance for additional service fees.

If you began receiving a Home Care Package before 1 July 2014, you will not be eligible for this financial hardship assistance program. However, you can negotiate lower fees directly with your home care provider.

If you entered an aged care home for permanent care on or after 1 July 2014, you may be eligible for help with your basic daily fee, means tested care fee, and/or accommodation costs. 

If you entered an aged care home for permanent care before 1 July 2014, you may be eligible for help with your basic daily fee, income tested fee, and/or accommodation costs. 

You can’t receive financial hardship assistance for extra and additional service fees.

You may be eligible for help with your basic daily fee. 

In addition to your income, the value of your assets will also be considered as part of the assessment process.

Essential expenses include things like:

• resident fees
• rent or mortgage repayments for the principal home where your partner or a dependent child lives
• private health insurance
• ambulance cover
• medical expenses, including expenses incurred under a health professional’s direction
• dental care
• transport costs to go to medical appointments
• prescription glasses (one pair per year) or contact lenses
• artificial limbs, eyes or hearing aids for amounts that are not already covered by other government schemes or programs
• wheelchair and mobility aids
• regular funeral plan payments.

They do not include:

• extra service fees
• amounts paid for additional care and services
• amounts spent by a person authorised to act on your behalf, on things that do not directly benefit you. 

Home care essential expenses include things like:

• home care fees
• food costs
• costs relating to the home, including:
  • rent or mortgage repayments
  • home maintenance, including repair and replacement costs
  • home insurance
  • rates
  • water, sewerage, gas and electricity costs
  • telephone and internet costs
• medical expenses, including expenses incurred under a health professional’s direction
• dental care
• prescription glasses (one pair per year) or contact lenses
• artificial limbs, eyes or hearing aids for amounts that are not already covered by other government schemes or programs
• wheelchair and mobility aids
• ambulance cover
• transport related costs, including public transport costs, and vehicle registration, repairs and insurance
• private health insurance
• regular funeral plan payments.

They do not include:

• amounts spent by a person authorised to act on your behalf, on things that do not directly benefit you.