After your aged care assessment, the next steps depend on what support you have been approved for.
If you are approved for Support at Home, you should receive a Notice of Decision and a support plan. These documents explain what funded aged care services you have been approved for and, where relevant, your Support at Home classification and budget.
At that point, many people want to know one thing: what happens next, and how long will it take before support starts?
The short answer
After your assessment, you will usually move through these steps:
- you receive your Notice of Decision
- you receive your support plan
- if approved for ongoing Support at Home funding, you may need to wait for funding to be allocated through the Support at Home Priority System
- if waits are longer than expected, you may be given interim funding
- once funding is allocated, you can start arranging services with a provider
- if you want more choice over the worker, you can also prepare to use Careseekers, or use private support while waiting.
You should receive a Notice of Decision and support plan
If you are found eligible, you should receive:
- a Notice of Decision
- an individual support plan.
These documents usually set out:
- the funded aged care services you have been approved for
- your classification level if you have been approved for ongoing Support at Home funding
- any approved short-term pathways
- your rights of review if you want to question or challenge the decision.
If you are approved for ongoing Support at Home funding, you may need to wait
Being approved does not always mean funding starts immediately.
If you are approved for ongoing funding, you may need to wait for funding to be allocated through the Support at Home Priority System. The Australian Government’s Support at Home process specifically says older people approved for ongoing funding may need to wait to be allocated funding through that system.
You may be given interim funding while you wait
If waits for ongoing funding are longer than expected, you may be assigned interim funding.
Interim funding gives you 60% of your approved funding so you can access the most critical services first. The rest of your budget is allocated once full funding becomes available.
This is one of the most important things to understand after assessment, because it affects how much support you may be able to arrange straight away.
Your classification and budget matter
If you are approved for ongoing Support at Home services, you will be assigned a classification.
Support at Home has 8 ongoing funding classifications, and each one has a quarterly budget. Your classification affects how much funded support you can arrange.
You may also receive a referral code
For Support at Home, once a person is assigned a Home Support service from the Support at Home Priority System, they are also assigned a referral code.
That is part of the process of moving from approval into active service setup.
What should you do while you are waiting?
While you are waiting, it helps to get clear on:
- what type of support you need first
- which services matter most right now
- whether you want funded support only, or private support as well
- whether you want help from a family member or representative
- what kind of worker would be the right fit for your routine and preferences.
This is also a good time to start thinking about whether you want:
- personal care
- domestic support
- companionship
- transport
- respite
- overnight support
- dementia or palliative support, depending on your needs.
How Careseekers can help after assessment
Once you know what support you need, Careseekers can help you take the next step.
Through Careseekers, you can:
- compare aged care workers
- view profiles, experience, availability and hourly rates
- choose the worker who best suits your needs and routine
- arrange one-off, occasional or ongoing support
- use Support at Home funding where your approved provider agrees to pay Careseekers for eligible services through the platform
- use private support if you want help while waiting, or if you want extra flexibility.
Can I arrange private support while I wait for funding?
Yes.
You can use Careseekers for private aged care support as well as eligible services funded through Support at Home. That means if you are waiting for funding to be allocated, or if interim funding is not enough to cover everything you need straight away, private support may still be an option.
Does my provider need to agree before I can use funding through Careseekers?
If you want to use your government funding, yes.
Your approved aged care provider needs to agree to pay Careseekers for eligible services delivered through the platform. If you are using private support while waiting, you do not need that same provider payment approval.
Can a family member help with this stage?
Yes.
A family member or representative can help search for workers, compare options and organise support through Careseekers. This can be especially helpful after assessment, when there is a lot of new information to work through.
What should you check before support starts?
Before arranging support, it helps to be clear on:
- what your Notice of Decision says
- what your support plan allows
- whether you have full funding or interim funding
- whether your provider will pay Careseekers for eligible services
- what support you need first
- whether you want funded support only, or funded plus private support
- which worker feels like the right fit.
Frequently asked questions
What do I get after my aged care assessment for Support at Home?
If you are approved, you should receive a Notice of Decision and an individual support plan. These set out the services you have been approved for and, where relevant, your classification and budget.
Does Support at Home funding start straight away?
Not always. If you are approved for ongoing Support at Home funding, you may need to wait for funding to be allocated through the Support at Home Priority System.
What is interim funding under Support at Home?
Interim funding is temporary funding assigned when wait times for ongoing funding are longer than expected. It gives you 60% of your approved funding so you can access the most critical services first.
How do I know my Support at Home classification?
Your classification should appear in your Notice of Decision and support plan if you have been approved for ongoing Support at Home services.
Can I arrange support through Careseekers after my assessment?
Yes. Once you know what support you need, you can use Careseekers to compare workers, view profiles and arrange support. If your approved provider agrees, they can pay Careseekers directly for eligible services.
Can I use Careseekers privately while I wait for Support at Home funding?
Yes. You can use Careseekers for private aged care support as well as eligible services funded through Support at Home.
Can a family member help organise support after my assessment?
Yes. A family member or representative can help search for workers, compare options and organise support through Careseekers.
Ready to plan your next step?
After assessment, the most important thing is understanding what support you have been approved for and what you want to arrange first. We make it easier to compare workers, organise support and choose care that fits your needs.
Read: How Does Support at Home Work with Careseekers?
Read: Can Family Members Help Arrange Support Through Careseekers?
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