Key points

  • You must be 65+ (50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and an Australian citizen or permanent resident
  • An ACAT assessment determines your eligibility and package level
  • The income test affects how much you pay, not whether you qualify
  • Anyone can start the process by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
  • Wait times after approval range from a few months to over 12 months
  • The new Support at Home program uses the Independent Assessment Tool (IAT) instead of traditional ACAT

Who qualifies for a home care package?

The eligibility requirements for a home care package are straightforward on paper:

Age: Generally 65 years or older. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 50 years or older. There is no strict cutoff, and younger people with age-related conditions may qualify in some cases.

Residency: You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a special category visa.

Care needs: You must have ongoing care needs that can be appropriately met through services delivered in your home. This is the part that gets assessed formally.

Preference for home care: You need to want to remain living at home. If your needs are better suited to residential care and you agree, you may be directed there instead.

That is it for the basic criteria. The real question is not whether you are eligible in principle, but which level of package you qualify for, and that is determined by the ACAT assessment.

The ACAT assessment explained

ACAT stands for Aged Care Assessment Team (called ACAS in Victoria). This is a team of health professionals, usually nurses, social workers, and allied health professionals, who assess your care needs and recommend the level of support you require.

The ACAT assessment is the gateway to all government-funded aged care, including home care packages, residential care, and respite care.

How to get referred

You can be referred for an ACAT assessment in several ways:

  • Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 (the most common route)
  • Visit myagedcare.gov.au and use the online eligibility checker
  • Ask your GP to refer you
  • Hospital referral if you are being discharged and need ongoing care
  • Family member or friend can call on your behalf (with your consent)

After you contact My Aged Care, they will conduct an initial screening over the phone (about 15 to 20 minutes). If the screening suggests you need a comprehensive assessment, they will refer you to your local ACAT.

What happens during the assessment

An ACAT assessor visits you at home. The assessment takes about 1 hour and covers:

Physical health and function

  • Mobility (walking, balance, falls history)
  • Personal care ability (showering, dressing, toileting)
  • Medication management
  • Pain and symptom management
  • Nutritional status
  • Sensory function (vision, hearing)

Cognitive and mental health

  • Memory and thinking (they may ask you to do simple memory tests)
  • Mood and emotional wellbeing
  • Behavioural changes
  • Decision-making capacity

Daily living and home environment

  • Ability to manage household tasks (cooking, cleaning, laundry)
  • Home safety (trip hazards, bathroom setup, stairs)
  • Ability to shop and manage finances
  • Driving and transport needs

Social connections

  • Support network (family, friends, neighbours)
  • Social activities and community involvement
  • Carer availability and carer stress
  • Cultural and language needs

What the assessor recommends

After the assessment, the assessor recommends one of the following:

  • No home care package needed (you may be referred to CHSP for basic services)
  • Level 1 for basic care needs
  • Level 2 for low-level care needs
  • Level 3 for intermediate care needs
  • Level 4 for high-level care needs
  • Residential aged care if your needs cannot be safely met at home

You receive a letter from My Aged Care within 2 to 4 weeks confirming the assessment outcome.

How to prepare for your assessment

Preparation makes a real difference to the assessment outcome. Here is what people who have been through it recommend:

Do not downplay your difficulties. This is the single most common mistake. Many older Australians are proud and independent, and they instinctively minimise their struggles. The assessor can only work with what you tell them. If you say you are managing fine, they will assess you at a lower level.

Have someone with you. A family member, friend, or carer who knows your daily routine can provide information you might forget or downplay. They can describe the help they already provide, which demonstrates the level of support you need.

Show your worst days, not your best. If your pain is worse in the morning, schedule a morning assessment. If you have more difficulty in the afternoon, choose an afternoon appointment. The assessor needs to see the reality of your situation.

Gather your documents:

  • Medicare card and another form of ID
  • List of all medications (including dose and frequency)
  • Letters from your GP or specialists about your conditions
  • Hospital discharge summaries (if recent)
  • List of tasks you struggle with (write this down beforehand)

Walk the assessor through your home. Show them areas of concern: the bathroom you struggle with, the stairs that worry you, the kitchen where you have had near-misses.

Talk about your carer’s situation. If a family member is providing care, describe what they do. If they are stressed, tired, or struggling, say so. Carer burnout is a legitimate factor in the assessment.

The income and assets test

This is where many people get confused. The income test for home care packages determines how much you contribute to the cost, not whether you get a package.

Everyone who is assessed as needing a home care package is eligible for one, regardless of income or assets.

How it works

Services Australia (Centrelink) or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) conducts an income assessment to determine if you pay an income-tested care fee on top of the basic daily fee.

Your situationWhat you pay
Full Age Pension recipientBasic daily fee only (if charged by provider)
Part pensionerBasic daily fee + possible income-tested fee
Self-funded retireeBasic daily fee + likely income-tested fee

What is included in the assessment

  • Your Age Pension payments
  • Superannuation income streams
  • Investment income (shares, term deposits)
  • Rental income
  • Employment income (if any)

What is NOT included

  • The value of your home (your principal residence is excluded)
  • Your car
  • Funeral bonds up to the allowable limit
  • Personal effects

Fee caps

Income-tested care fees are capped both annually and over your lifetime. This means there is a maximum amount you will ever pay, regardless of how high your income is. For current cap amounts, visit Services Australia.

The waiting list

After approval, you join a national priority queue. This is often the most frustrating part of the process.

Current situation (late 2025 data): The national waiting list reached over 130,000 people by December 2025, with approximately 25,000 added in just two months. ABC News reported in February 2026 that around 3,100 aged care patients were stranded in hospitals waiting for care placements.

Wait times by level

LevelTypical wait time
Level 11 to 3 months
Level 23 to 9 months
Level 36 to 12 months
Level 49 to 18 months

These are rough guides. Actual wait times depend on demand in your area, the urgency of your needs, and whether you are given priority status.

What to do while waiting

Accept a lower-level package. If you are approved for Level 4 but a Level 2 is available sooner, take it. You will continue to receive services at the lower level and move up when your higher-level package becomes available.

Access CHSP services. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme provides entry-level services like cleaning, transport, and meals while you wait.

Request priority if your situation is urgent. If you are at risk of hospitalisation, your carer is at breaking point, or there are safety concerns, contact My Aged Care to discuss priority access.

Keep My Aged Care updated. If your condition changes while waiting, tell them. You can request a reassessment if your needs have increased.

2026 changes: the IAT assessment

Since November 2025, the government has been introducing the Independent Assessment Tool (IAT) as part of the Support at Home program. This new tool is gradually replacing the traditional ACAT assessment process.

What changed

The IAT uses a standardised, algorithm-based assessment to determine your care classification (1 to 8 under Support at Home, replacing the old Levels 1 to 4). The tool is designed to make assessments more consistent nationally.

Concerns about the IAT

The transition has not been smooth. In February 2026, ABC News reported that advocacy groups fear the IAT could become “the next robodebt.” Calls to aged care advocacy services surged 50% after the IAT was introduced, with assessors reporting that the algorithm can underestimate care needs and prevent experienced clinicians from using their professional judgment.

Aged care workers have described the tool as limiting their ability to override algorithmic decisions when they can see that a person clearly needs more support than the tool recommends.

The government has said it is monitoring the system and will refine it. If you feel your IAT assessment does not accurately reflect your needs, you have the right to request a review.

What to do about it

If you are being assessed under the new system:

  • Be as detailed as possible about your difficulties
  • Bring documentation from your GP and specialists
  • Have your carer or family member present to provide their perspective
  • If the outcome does not seem right, request a review immediately

For more on the Support at Home program, read our Support at Home guide.

Support at Home Eligibility: The New Assessment Process

Since the Support at Home program replaced Home Care Packages from 1 November 2025, the eligibility and assessment process has changed. If you are applying for aged care support now, here is what you need to know.

Who Qualifies for Support at Home

The basic eligibility criteria are the same as the old Home Care Packages system:

  • Age: 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)
  • Residency: Australian citizen, permanent resident, or special category visa holder
  • Care needs: You need ongoing support that can be delivered at home
  • Preference: You want to remain living in your own home

The IAT Assessment

The Independent Assessment Tool (IAT) is the new standardised assessment that determines your Support at Home classification (1 to 8). It replaces the traditional ACAT assessment for new applicants.

What the IAT looks at:

  • Your physical function (mobility, balance, personal care ability)
  • Cognitive function (memory, thinking, decision-making)
  • Psychological and emotional wellbeing
  • Social connections and support networks
  • Your home environment and safety
  • Current informal care arrangements

The IAT uses an algorithm to score your responses and determine your classification level. The assessment is conducted in your home by a trained assessor.

How to Prepare for an IAT Assessment

Preparation is just as important under the new system as it was under ACAT.

  • Be honest about your worst days. The algorithm scores what you report. If you downplay your difficulties, you will receive a lower classification and less funding.
  • Bring documentation. Letters from your GP, specialist reports, hospital discharge summaries, and a written list of tasks you struggle with all help the assessor understand your situation.
  • Have a family member or carer present. They can describe the support they already provide and fill in details you may forget.
  • Give specific examples. Instead of saying “I have trouble with mobility,” say “I fell twice last month getting out of the shower, and I cannot walk to the letterbox without resting.”
  • If the result does not seem right, request a review. You have the right to challenge your assessment outcome. The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) on 1800 700 600 can help.

How to Apply

  1. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au
  2. Complete the initial screening (about 15 to 20 minutes over the phone)
  3. If the screening indicates you need support, you will be referred for an IAT assessment
  4. An assessor visits your home to conduct the IAT (about 1 hour)
  5. You receive your classification level and can then choose a registered Support at Home provider

For more on the Support at Home program, see our complete Support at Home guide.

Special eligibility situations

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

The age threshold is lower: 50 years and over (compared to 65 for the general population). Culturally appropriate care should be part of your care plan. You can request an assessor who understands your cultural needs, and your provider should work with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations where available.

Veterans

If you are a veteran receiving DVA services, you may be eligible for both DVA and home care package support. The DVA can conduct your income assessment instead of Services Australia. Contact DVA on 1800 555 254 for guidance on how these programs interact.

People with younger onset dementia

Younger people with dementia (under 65) may be eligible for a home care package if their needs are better served by the aged care system than by the NDIS. This requires discussion with both My Aged Care and the NDIS to determine the best pathway.

Hospital discharge

If you are being discharged from hospital and need home care, the hospital social work team can fast-track your ACAT assessment. Hospital-initiated assessments often receive priority, especially if discharge is delayed due to lack of home support.

Reassessment

If you already have a home care package and your needs have changed, you can request a reassessment at any time. Contact My Aged Care or ask your provider to initiate the reassessment. You continue receiving your current level of support while the reassessment happens.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for a home care package?

You must be 65+ (50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and have care needs that can be met through home-based services. An ACAT assessment confirms your eligibility and determines your package level.

What is an ACAT assessment?

An in-home evaluation by a health professional that assesses your physical, cognitive, and social care needs. It takes about 1 hour and determines which level of home care package you qualify for.

How long does the process take?

From first contact with My Aged Care to receiving your assessment results: typically 2 to 6 weeks. From assessment approval to actually receiving a package: anywhere from 1 month (Level 1) to 18 months (Level 4).

Do I need to pass an income test?

No. The income test determines how much you contribute, not whether you qualify. Everyone assessed as needing care is eligible, regardless of income. Higher-income recipients pay more through the income-tested care fee.

Can my family member apply for me?

Yes. Anyone can contact My Aged Care on your behalf with your consent, including family members, friends, GPs, and hospital staff.

What if I disagree with the assessment?

You can request a review of the assessment decision. If your needs change over time, you can also request a full reassessment. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to start the review process.

Is there a means test?

The income test looks at your income (pension, superannuation, investments) but not the value of your home or most personal assets. It only affects the fees you pay, not your eligibility.

What if I am under 65?

If you are under 65, you may still be eligible in some circumstances, particularly if you have age-related conditions or younger onset dementia. The NDIS covers disability support for people under 65. Contact both My Aged Care and the NDIS to discuss your situation.

Resources

Need help with the application process?

The eligibility and assessment process can feel overwhelming, especially when you are already managing health concerns. MD Home Care connects you with aged care providers who can guide you through the application, help you prepare for your ACAT assessment, and support you in choosing the right package and provider.

Browse aged care providers on MD Home Care or call 1800 953 253 to get started.

For a complete overview of all four home care package levels and what they cover, read our home care packages complete guide.