Main Navigation

Current location

You are here:  help staying at home > what help is available? > cultural and identified needs > people who are financially disadvantaged > services for people who are financially disadvantaged

Help staying at home

Services for people who are financially disadvantaged

If you are financially disadvantaged the Australian Government can help in the following ways.

• Financial assistance
• Commonwealth Carelink Program (more information)
• Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs or ACAS in Victoria) (more information)
• Home & Community Care Program (HACC) (more information)
• Community Aged Care Package (CACP) (more information)
• Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) (more information)
• Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACH D) (more information)
• Veterans’ Home Care
• Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres and Commonwealth Carer Resource Centres (more information)
• Day Therapy Centres
• Transition Care Program
• Continence support
• Legal aid

Financial assistance

• The Disability Support Pension is available to people who are unable to work for a prolonged period of time because of a disability.
• The Mobility Allowance is paid to eligible disabled workers to meet the extra cost of travel.
• The Carer Payment provides an income support payment for your carer (similar to a pension) if their responsibilities prevent significant participation in the workforce.
• The Carer Allowance provides an income supplement for your carer if you have a disability or severe medical condition that requires daily care.

Contact Centrelink for information about these pensions and other benefits such as Age Pension, Rent Assistance and concession cards. Centrelink also provides a free, independent financial planning service whether you’re on benefits or not. Call 13 23 00.
Read more: Government help

Commonwealth Carelink Program

Commonwealth Carelink Centres provide you with free and confidential information on community aged care, disability and other support services available locally, interstate or anywhere within Australia.
Read more: Commonwealth Carelink Centres

Aged Care Assessment Teams

Aged Care Assessment Teams will help you access all the services you’re eligible for after they’ve met with you and discussed your needs.
Read more: Being assessed

Home and Community Care program (HACC)

If you need some basic help at home, the HACC program can assist by supporting your independence at home and in the community. Special arrangements are possible if you can’t afford to pay.
Read more: About the Home and Community Care program

Community Aged Care Package Program (CACP)

This program provides a tailored, planned and managed package of community care services, including help with housework, shopping and personal care. You may be asked to pay a fee if you’re able to contribute to the cost of your care, but you will not be denied a service that you need based on an inability to pay. This fee cannot be more than 17.5% of the maximum basic rate of pension, excluding the GST compensation supplement.
Read more: Community Aged Care Package Program

Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH)

These packages are individually planned and coordinated according to how complex your home care needs are. You may be asked to pay a fee for an EACH package of care (GST free). However, as with the Community Aged Care Package Program, if you are on the basic pension, fees must not be more than 17.5% of the maximum basic rate of pension, and you will not be denied a service that you need based on an inability to pay.
Read more: Extended Aged Care at Home

Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACH D)

If you or someone you care for needs assistance because of behavioural problems associated with dementia, the EACH D program can provide high-level care through an individually tailored package. The amount charged forms part of an agreement between you and the service provider. However, you will not be denied a service that you need based on an inability to pay.
Read more: Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia

Veterans’ Home Care

Veterans’ Home Care (VHC) (more information) services are similar to Home and Community Care (HACC)i services. They include domestic assistance, personal care, home and garden maintenance and respite care. Veterans and war widows or widowers are expected to pay a small co-payment for all services provided through Veterans’ Home Care, except for respite care. The Department of Veterans' Affairs also provides financial assistance for eligible veterans, war widows or widowers, and their dependents, including respite finance for their carers.
Read more: Veteran’s Home Care

Commonwealth Carer Respite Centresi and Commonwealth Carer Resource Centres

There is lots of assistance available for carers today, including timely, quality information, carer education and support that’s both culturally and linguistically sensitive. If you have a family member or friend who helps you to continue living at home, you may also be interested in respite care opportunities, which give you and your carer the chance to take a short break. There is no charge for the assistance provided at either the Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres or the Commonwealth Carer Resource Centres. However, if you use a referred service, then individual service fees may apply.
Read more: National Respite for Carers Program

Day Therapy Centres

These centres may provide you with a wide range of therapy services such as physiotherapyi, occupational and speech therapyi, podiatryi and other therapies. There may be a fee for services provided by day therapy centres. However, you will not be denied access to services based on an inability to pay.
Read more: Day Therapy Centres

Transition Care Program

The Transition Care Program, to be established in 2007, has been designed to help you improve your independence and confidence after a hospital stay. The program will provide low-intensity therapy and support as part of an ongoing but slower recovery process, giving you time to determine what level of care you will require in the future.
Read more: Transition Care Program

Continence support

The Continence Aids Assistance Scheme (CAAS) offers help if you have permanent incontinence due to a permanent disability. CAAS assists approved clients with a subsidy for continence aids and equipment up to the value of $470 each financial year. However, you have to be involved in at least eight hours of paid work a week and have income and asset levels that would qualify you for an income support benefit.
Read more: Continence management

Legal aid

Legal aid provides a range of services for people who are unable to meet the costs of resolving a legal problem. These services may include advice, information, representation and negotiation.

This page was last updated on: 03 August 2006

Footer navigation

http://www.agedcaraustralia.gov.au/ ABN: 83 605 426 759
Copyright © Commonwealth of Australia