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If someone is suffering from financial hardship and unable to pay for their cost of aged care, they may be eligible for financial hardship assistance for some or all of their aged care fees. Financial hardship assistance can apply to the basic daily fee, means-tested care fee and/or accommodation contribution/payment, it does not apply to extra or additional service fees.
The Means Tested Care Fee applies to residents who enter aged care after 1 July 2014, including Low Means residents when they have a change of circumstances. The Means Tested Care Fee is used by the government to offset funding provided to the facility through the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI). The amount the resident can pay is capped at the lesser of the calculated amount or their cost of care. There is also an annual limit of $28,087.41 and a lifetime limit of $67,409.85 (which includes any Income Tested Care Fees paid towards a Home Care Package).
When a couple is entering into Residential Aged Care consideration needs to be given to the timing of their move and the impact this can have on their means assessment.
