There is an established assessment process to ensure everyone is assessed in a fair and consistent way.
Learn about what’s involved in an assessment and how your assessment organisation determines if you are eligible for services.
On this page
Tools to support the assessment
The assessor will have a copy of the information you provided to My Aged Care and the assessment organisation. This gives them an idea of what support will help you return to or keep the level of independence you need to manage your day-to-day life.
Your assessor will use a standard set of questions and validated assessment tools, to ensure a fair and consistent process for everyone. This is known as the Integrated Assessment tool (IAT). It includes questions about your physical health, medical conditions, thinking and memory, wellbeing, safety at home, support needs and any risks.
The questions include:
- yes/no or multiple-choice response questions
- free text questions to help your assessor develop a Support Plan with you.
What will happen at the assessment?
Assessments are done in person, usually at your own home (or current residence). A trained needs assessor will come to your house. Your assessor will ask you some questions about your current situation and needs so they can recommend the support and services that might suit you.
Before starting, your assessor will ask if you agree to have the assessment. They may also ask for your permission to talk to people who support you, such as family, your carer, registered supporter or nominated Elder Care support person.
You can view and download the Easy Read – Guide to an aged care assessment.
Support at Home classification and priority for care
If you are eligible for Support at Home, the information from your assessment will determine your classification (how much funding you will receive) and your priority (how quickly you will receive care). A clinically trained delegate from your assessment organisation then reviews and confirms these decisions.
There are 8 Support at Home classification levels, each:
- has a different funding amount
- includes care management funding.
If you receive Support at Home services, you will have 10% of your quarterly budget deducted for care management.
| Classification | Quarterly budget | Annual amount |
| 1 | $2,757.89 | $11,031.56 |
| 2 | $4,120.89 | $16,483.55 |
| 3 | $5,645.23 | $22,580.93 |
| 4 | $7,632.04 | $30,528.15 |
| 5 | $10,202.32 | $40,809.27 |
| 6 | $12,365.48 | $49,461.91 |
| 7 | $14,944.20 | $59,776.80 |
| 8 | $20,073.50 | $80,294.00 |
| Classification Quarterly budget Annual amount | ||
| 1 $2,757.89 $11,031.56 | ||
| 2 $4,120.89 $16,483.55 | ||
| 3 $5,645.23 $22,580.93 | ||
| 4 $7,632.04 $30,528.15 | ||
| 5 $10,202.32 $40,809.27 | ||
| 6 $12,365.48 $49,461.91 | ||
| 7 $14,944.20 $59,776.80 | ||
| 8 $20,073.50 $80,294.00 |
* Current as of 1 October 2026. Amounts were increased to reflect the increase to Nurse Award.
Your Support at Home classification level is based on information recorded in the Integrated Assessment Tool about your functional capacity, care needs, health and social circumstances.
A clinically trained delegate from your assessment organisation reviews the assessment to make sure it is complete and accurate before it is finalised.
In general, the lower the score the higher the classification level and funding you will receive.
Your assessor will specify in the Integrated Assessment Tool if you need another type of care or support like residential aged care, restorative care, end-of-life care, or assistive technologies and home modifications.
Read more about Support at Home classifications and wait times for care.
Deciding your home support priority classification
Your priority classification determines how quickly you will receive home support.
During your assessment, your assessor will use criteria to record whether you:
- live alone
- identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- have an assessed cognitive impairment
- are experiencing homelessness or is at risk of homelessness
- have waited more than 6 months from initial assessment referral and live in certain regional or remote areas
- require urgent services
- have Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
A priority score is calculated using the criteria based on information recorded in the Integrated Assessment Tool:
- 1 point if you meet any of the criteria listed 1 to 5 above
- 2 points if you require urgent service provision
- 5 points if you have MND.
The priority score determines your priority classification and how long you may wait for home support.
You will be assigned a priority classification, either:
- urgent
- high
- medium
- standard.
If information in your assessment is changed or corrected, the Integrated Assessment Tool will be used to recalculate your classification and priority scores. This may result in a different classification or priority classification.
What happens after the assessment?
Your assessment organisation will review your assessment to check it has been completed correctly and that the right support has been recommended for you. For Support at Home, this will include your classification level and priority classification.
After your assessment, you (and, where relevant, your registered supporter) will receive your Notice of Decision (a letter outlining the outcome of your assessment) and a copy of your Support Plan. This will be provided shortly after your assessment by post or email. You can also view your Support Plan by logging into your My Aged Care Online Account.
You may also want to give feedback, request a review or make a complaint if you’re not satisfied with your assessment outcome.
Learn more about the next steps to consider after your assessment. This includes what to do if you don’t receive an assessment outcome and Support Plan or if you don’t agree with your assessment outcome and how to request a review.