Yes.
If you have been assessed for Support at Home but your funding is not available yet, you can still arrange private aged care support in the meantime. My Aged Care says some people approved for ongoing Support at Home funding may need to wait for funding to be allocated through the Support at Home Priority System, and if waits are longer than expected they may receive interim funding instead. Interim funding is 60% of your approved funding so you can access the most critical services first.
Through Careseekers, you can use private support as well as eligible services funded through Support at Home. That means you do not have to wait to start arranging help if you need support sooner.
The short answer
If you are waiting for Support at Home funding, you can:
- arrange private support straight away
- use private support while you wait for full funding
- use private support alongside interim funding if needed
- move to funded support later if your approved provider agrees to pay Careseekers for eligible services delivered through the platform.
Why someone might need private help while waiting
There are a few common reasons people look for private support before full funding starts:
- support is needed urgently
- interim funding is not enough to cover everything
- the person needs more flexibility
- the family wants to put support in place before things become more difficult
- they want to start with someone now rather than wait for the full funded arrangement
This can be especially important where support is needed with personal care, transport, domestic help, companionship or respite.
What happens after assessment?
After an aged care assessment, people approved for Support at Home should receive a Notice of Decision and a support plan. If they are approved for ongoing funding, they may need to wait for funding to be allocated. My Aged Care says funding wait times depend on the services approved and the person’s priority category.
If waits are longer than expected, interim funding may be assigned. Interim funding gives access to the most critical services first, but it does not always cover everything someone may want or need straight away.
What private help can I arrange through Careseekers?
Through Careseekers, older Australians commonly use private support for things like:
- personal care
- domestic support
- companionship
- transport
- respite
- overnight support
- dementia and palliative support, depending on the arrangement.
You can search by location, service type and availability, or post a job and let workers apply to you. You can also view profiles, experience, availability and hourly rates before deciding who to book.
Can I use private support first and funded support later?
Yes, in many cases.
You can use Careseekers for privately paid support while waiting, and later use Support at Home funding for eligible services if your approved provider agrees to pay Careseekers through the platform. That can make the transition easier because you may be able to keep support in place rather than starting from scratch later.
What if I receive interim funding?
If you receive interim funding, you may still decide to use private support as well.
My Aged Care says interim funding is 60% of your total approved funding, with the remaining 40% allocated later when full funding becomes available. That can help with the most critical services first, but some people may still want extra support beyond what interim funding can cover.
How this works through Careseekers
Through Careseekers, you can:
- compare worker profiles
- view experience, availability and hourly rates
- choose the worker who best suits your needs and routine
- arrange one-off, occasional or ongoing support
- use private support now and funded support later, where eligible and agreed.
That gives you more flexibility if you do not want to wait to start getting help at home.
The short answer
If you are waiting for Support at Home funding, you can:
- arrange private support straight away
- use private support while you wait for full funding
- use private support alongside interim funding if needed
- move to funded support later if your approved provider agrees to pay Careseekers for eligible services delivered through the platform.
Why someone might need private help while waiting
There are a few common reasons people look for private support before full funding starts:
- support is needed urgently
- interim funding is not enough to cover everything
- the person needs more flexibility
- the family wants to put support in place before things become more difficult
- they want to start with someone now rather than wait for the full funded arrangement
This can be especially important where support is needed with personal care, transport, domestic help, companionship or respite.
What happens after assessment?
After an aged care assessment, people approved for Support at Home should receive a Notice of Decision and a support plan. If they are approved for ongoing funding, they may need to wait for funding to be allocated. My Aged Care says funding wait times depend on the services approved and the person’s priority category.
If waits are longer than expected, interim funding may be assigned. Interim funding gives access to the most critical services first, but it does not always cover everything someone may want or need straight away.
What private help can I arrange through Careseekers?
Through Careseekers, older Australians commonly use private support for things like:
- personal care
- domestic support
- companionship
- transport
- respite
- overnight support
- dementia and palliative support, depending on the arrangement.
You can search by location, service type and availability, or post a job and let workers apply to you. You can also view profiles, experience, availability and hourly rates before deciding who to book.
Can I use private support first and funded support later?
Yes, in many cases.
You can use Careseekers for privately paid support while waiting, and later use Support at Home funding for eligible services if your approved provider agrees to pay Careseekers through the platform. That can make the transition easier because you may be able to keep support in place rather than starting from scratch later.
What if I receive interim funding?
If you receive interim funding, you may still decide to use private support as well.
My Aged Care says interim funding is 60% of your total approved funding, with the remaining 40% allocated later when full funding becomes available. That can help with the most critical services first, but some people may still want extra support beyond what interim funding can cover.
How this works through Careseekers
Through Careseekers, you can:
- compare worker profiles
- view experience, availability and hourly rates
- choose the worker who best suits your needs and routine
- arrange one-off, occasional or ongoing support
- use private support now and funded support later, where eligible and agreed.
That gives you more flexibility if you do not want to wait to start getting help at home.
What should I check before arranging private support?
Before you go ahead, it helps to be clear on:
- what support is needed right now
- whether the support is urgent or short term
- whether you are waiting for full funding or already have interim funding
- what your budget allows
- whether you may want to move to funded support later
- what kind of worker is the right fit for your needs and routine
The clearer these points are, the easier it is to set up support that works well.
Frequently asked questions
Can I arrange private aged care support while waiting for Support at Home?
Yes. You can arrange private support while waiting for Support at Home funding, and you can use Careseekers for private aged care support.
What if I have been approved for Support at Home but my funding is not available yet?
You may need to wait for funding to be allocated through the Support at Home Priority System. While you wait, you can still arrange private support if needed.
What is interim funding?
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.
Can I use private support as well as interim funding?
Yes, in many cases. Some people use interim funding for the most important services and add private support if they need extra help.
What kind of private help can I arrange through Careseekers?
You can arrange support such as personal care, domestic support, companionship, transport, respite and other in-home supports, depending on your needs.
Can I switch from private support to funded support later?
Yes, in many cases. If your approved provider agrees, they can pay Careseekers for eligible funded services through the platform once funding becomes available.
Can family members help organise private support?
Yes. A family member or representative can help search for workers, compare options and organise support through Careseekers.
Ready to arrange support sooner?
If you need help before full Support at Home funding is available, we make it easier to compare workers, organise private support and choose care that fits your needs.
Read: What Happens After My Aged Care Assessment for Support at Home?
Read: What Services Can Aged Care Workers Provide Under Support At Home?
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