Services and support to help you access aged care
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Overview
Information about financial support available to former prisoners of war (POW) and Victoria Cross recipients who access Commonwealth subsidised aged care services under the Aged Care Act 1997.
These services include:
- Residential Aged Care
- Home Care Packages
- Transition Care
- Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC)
Am I eligible for additional assistance?
You are eligible for additional assistance if you:
- are a former prisoners of war (POW) or Victoria Cross recipient
- are currently accessing or plan to access Commonwealth subsidised aged care services
- have been assessed as eligible by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), (known as Aged Care Assessment Services (ACAS) in Victoria).
What fees will DVA pay for me?
Once eligibility has been established, DVA will arrange to pay certain fees and charges for these aged care services on your behalf.
On 1 July 2014, new financial arrangements were implemented for residential aged care and Home Care Packages. These changes only apply to people entering aged care on or after 1 July 2014. If you were in a residential aged care home, or receiving a Home Care Package, prior to this date, you continue under the old financial arrangements.
Residential Aged Care
From 1 July 2014, if you are living in a residential aged care home:
- DVA will pay for your Basic Daily Fee
- you will be exempt from paying a Means Tested Care Fee
- depending on your means, you may be responsible for making an accommodation payment. You may choose to pay either of the following:
- a Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD)
- a Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP)
- a combination of both a RAD and a DAP for your accommodation costs
- you can choose to pay an extra fee for additional optional services.
Home Care
From 1 July 2014, if you are receiving a Home Care Package:
- DVA will pay for your Basic Daily Fee
- DVA will pay for your Income-Tested Care Fee (if you are liable to pay one).
Transition Care
If you are receiving Transition Care DVA will pay for your Basic Daily Fee.
Short Term Restorative Care
If you are receiving STRC DVA will pay for your Basic Daily Fee.
Back to topHow do I arrange for DVA to cover the fees I am not required to pay?
Residential Aged Care
You will need to undertake a means test assessment as a part of your entry into a residential aged care home. DVA will process the means test assessment and your aged care fees will be calculated by Services Australia. This process needs to be completed for DVA to be able to pay the Basic Daily Fee on your behalf and for you to be exempted from the Means Tested Care Fee.
Please advise your residential aged care home that you are a former POW or a Victoria Cross recipient. Either you or the residential aged care home can contact DVA to confirm your eligibility and seek approval to charge the cost of your Basic Daily Fee to DVA.
Home Care Packages
If you are receiving a Home Care Package, please advise your Home Care Package provider that you are a former POW or a Victoria Cross recipient. Either you or the Home Care Package provider can contact DVA to confirm your eligibility and seek approval to charge the cost of your Basic Daily Fee and, if applicable, Income-Tested Care Fee to DVA. You will not be charged by the Home Care Package provider.
Transition Care
If you are assessed as eligible for Transition Care, please advise your Transition Care provider that you are a former POW or a Victoria Cross recipient. Either you or your Transition Care provider can contact DVA to confirm your eligibility and arrange for your Basic Daily Fee to be paid on your behalf by DVA.
Short Term Restorative Care
If you are assessed as eligible for STRC, please advise your STRC provider that you are a former POW or a Victoria Cross recipient. Either you or your STRC provider can contact DVA to confirm your eligibility and arrange for your Basic Daily Fee to be paid on your behalf by DVA.
Back to topWhere can I find more information?
The Department of Health administers Commonwealth subsidised Residential Aged Care services and the Home Care Package Programmes. For more information about residential aged care, see Moving Into Residential Aged Care. More information on Home Care Packages can be found on the My Aged Care website at www.myagedcare.gov.au or by contacting the My Aged Care Contact Centre on 1800 057 616.
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