A Support at Home Notice of Decision confirms the outcome of your aged care assessment. If you’re approved, it lists your approved services and comes with your support plan. Ongoing funding is allocated separately through the Support at Home Priority System. Once your funding allocation letter is issued, you have 56 calendar days from its date to enter into a service agreement with a provider and start services. Different funding arrangements apply to short-term support, assistive technology and home modifications.
Key Takeaways
- Your Notice of Decision is titled “Outcome of your application for funded aged care services”. If you’re approved, it comes with your support plan.
- It explains the decision, the reasons behind it and your right to ask for a review.
- You generally have 28 days from receiving your outcome to request a free internal review if you disagree.
- Ongoing funding is allocated separately, based on your priority category and approval date.
- Comparing providers while you wait gives you more time to choose before your funding becomes available.
What Is a Support at Home Notice of Decision?
A Support at Home Notice of Decision is the formal letter you get from My Aged Care after your aged care assessment.
It confirms whether you’re eligible for government-funded aged care at home. If you are, it lists the Support at Home services you’re approved to receive and comes with a copy of your support plan.
You can view your letters in your My Aged Care Online Account through myGov. A registered supporter with permission to access your information, or your active appointed decision-maker, can also access your letters through their own account.
If you’re reading this for a parent or partner, the same steps apply to the person you care for.
What Your Notice of Decision Tells You
Your Notice of Decision sets out the outcome of your aged care assessment. If you’re approved, it includes:
- the services you’re approved to receive
- approval for any short-term support, if this applies to you
- the reasons and evidence behind the assessor’s decision
- your right to have the decision reviewed if you disagree
- a copy of your support plan.
Three parts of your assessment outcome shape what happens next for ongoing Support at Home services.
Your Classification
Ongoing Support at Home services have eight classifications (service levels), and each is linked to a different funding level. Your classification determines your full quarterly funding amount, although you may initially receive interim funding.
Your Priority Category
Your assessment also places you in one of four priority categories: urgent, high, medium or standard. Your category is one of the main factors in how long you wait for funding under the Support at Home Priority System.
Your Approval Date
Within each priority category, ongoing funding is allocated in order of approval date.
Short-term funding is handled separately. Funding for the Restorative Care Pathway and End-of-Life Pathway is available immediately after approval. Assistive Technology and Home Modifications funding is allocated through separate priority systems, so it may become available at a different time from your ongoing funding.
How Your Support Plan Differs from a Care Plan
Your support plan is the document your assessor develops with you during your assessment. It records your needs, goals and the services you’re approved for from the Support at Home service list.
A care plan comes later. Once you have signed with an aged care provider, they work with you to develop a care plan and individualised budget before or when your care starts. Together, these documents explain how your approved services will be delivered and how your funding will be used.
Providers can see your support plan once you give them your referral code, so it becomes the starting point for your care. Read your support plan carefully now and check that it reflects the needs and goals you discussed at your assessment.
What To Do If Your Outcome Doesn’t Look Right
If something in your Notice of Decision or support plan doesn’t look right, your next step depends on whether you think the decision was wrong or your needs have changed since your assessment.
If You Think the Decision Is Wrong
You can request a free internal review in writing, generally within 28 days of receiving your Notice of Decision. You might do this if your classification or priority category doesn’t reflect your needs or if you weren’t approved for a service you need.
Follow the review instructions in your letter and explain which decision you disagree with and why. Include any relevant information that supports your request.
If Your Needs Have Changed Since Your Assessment
Ask My Aged Care for a support plan review. The assessor may update your existing plan or recommend another assessment if your needs have changed significantly. A new assessment may result in a different classification or priority category.
Our guide to support plan reviews explains when to ask and what happens next.
For free, independent help with either option, contact the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) on 1800 700 600.
Can Services Start Once You Have a Notice of Decision?
For ongoing Support at Home services, approval alone is not enough to start government-funded care. Two more steps need to happen.
- Your funding is allocated. The Support at Home Priority System allocates funding as it becomes available, based on your priority category and approval date. You receive a funding allocation letter with information about connecting with a provider and your deadline for starting services.
- You enter into an agreement and start services. You have 56 calendar days from the date of your funding allocation letter to enter into a service agreement with a provider and start services. If you need more time, ask My Aged Care for a 28-day extension before the deadline.
You may receive interim funding first. This is 60% of the funding for your approved ongoing classification. The remaining 40% is allocated when it becomes available and is not backdated.
What To Do While You’re Waiting for Your Funding Letter
You can use the time before your ongoing funding is allocated to check costs, compare providers and prepare for services to begin.
Find Out What You May Pay
If you receive a full or part Age Pension, Services Australia will generally use the income and assets information it already holds to calculate your contributions.
If you receive a relevant means-tested payment from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), DVA will generally complete the assessment.
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders and self-funded retirees may need to provide financial details if Services Australia or DVA does not already hold current information. If you do not provide the required information, you can be asked to pay the highest contribution rates.
Call the Services Australia Aged Care line on 1800 227 475 to check what you need to do.
Our guide to Support at Home contributions explains which services may involve a contribution. Approved personal care and clinical supports do not require a participant contribution when delivered using available Support at Home funding.
Check You’re Listed as Seeking Services
Check that your status is “seeking services” in your My Aged Care Online Account or by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. You won’t be allocated ongoing funding while your status is “not seeking services”.
Start Comparing Aged Care Providers
You can also start comparing providers now, so you’re ready to choose when your funding becomes available. Aged Care Decisions can do the shortlisting for you, matching you with local Support at Home providers that have availability and suit your care needs, budget and preferences.
Get your free Provider Options Report to compare suitable providers while you wait.
Find Home Care Providers Near You
If you are ready to compare Support at Home providers, Aged Care Decisions can help you find local options that match your approved services, care needs and preferences.
Sydney
If you are looking for Support at Home services in Sydney, you can compare providers that service your local area and check which ones currently have availability. Find Home Care Providers in Sydney and explore options based on your care needs, location and preferences.
Melbourne
Families in Melbourne can start comparing providers before Support at Home funding is allocated, giving you more time to understand services, fees and availability. Find Home Care Providers in Melbourne to see local options that may suit your approved support.
Brisbane
If you live in Brisbane, you can compare local Support at Home providers and identify services available in your area before choosing who will deliver your care. Find Home Care Providers in Brisbane and review suitable provider options.
Gold Coast
For people on the Gold Coast, comparing providers early can help you understand which organisations offer the services you need and whether they currently have capacity. Find Home Care Providers in Gold Coast and explore local Support at Home options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know Which Letter I Have?
A Notice of Decision is titled “Outcome of your application for funded aged care services”. It confirms what care you’re approved for and comes with your support plan. A funding allocation letter arrives later, confirms that government funding is now available and sets the deadline to start services.
How Long After My Notice of Decision Will I Get Funding?
The wait depends on your priority category, your approval date and the services you’re approved for. You can check the latest median Support at Home wait times for each priority category.
What If My Notice of Decision Says I’m Not Eligible?
You can ask for an internal review of an ineligible outcome, as long as you ask within 28 days of receiving your Notice of Decision. My Aged Care also suggests looking at aged care providers that aren’t government-funded. If you’re under 65, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) may be an option.
What If I’m Not Ready to Start Services Yet?
Tell My Aged Care, and your status changes to “not seeking services”. You won’t be allocated funding until you update it, so contact My Aged Care when you’re ready to start.
Who Else Can See My Notice of Decision?
A registered supporter can access your letters through your My Aged Care Online Account. If you asked for it at your assessment, your support plan may also be in your My Health Record.
How Does Aged Care Decisions’ Free Service Work?
Aged Care Decisions matches you with Support at Home providers that have current availability and suit your approved services, location and budget. Our service is completely free for families because providers pay us to help connect them with people seeking care.
You tell us what support you need, and we prepare a customised Provider Options Report showing available providers in your area so you can compare them before your funding is allocated.
Here’s how Aged Care Decisions’ FREE aged care matching service works:
