Growing older brings with it a few unexpected challenges and it does become more difficult to do all the things you used to do. But it doesn’t have to mean that you can no longer live independently in your own home if that is what you would like to do and Support at Home can help.
Safe and Independent
in your own home
Am I eligible
To be eligible for assessment for Support at home funding you need to:
- Be 65 years of age or older or 50 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- live at home ie a private residence – you do not need to be the owner of the home and you do not need to be the sole occupant of that home and
- have a need for assistance with some everyday tasks and this includes personal care, gardening, housework, laundry, shopping, some home maintenance and if you are unable to drive, transport too.
This may be because you have:
- been diagnosed with a medical condition or experienced reduced mobility or
- experienced a change in family care arrangements or
- experienced a recent fall or hospital admission or
- just started to find everyday living has become difficult.
You may still be entitled to Support at Home even if you are receiving support from The Department of Veterans Affairs.
How do I apply
Option 1
You will first need to contact My Aged Care to “Apply For an Assessment” for funding. If this application is successful it doesn’t mean you will receive funding but that they will then arrange for an Assessor to come to your home to discuss with you why you need support. They will also have a questionnaire to fill in with you. This is available from The Australian Government at https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025 10/integrated-assessment-tool-iat-offline-form_0.pdf Depending on what happens and is said during the assessment they will then decide whether you are eligible for funding.
Option 2
A great deal depends on how you present your case during both the initial phone call to My Aged Care to request an assessment and during the assessment itself. This can sometimes make the difference between whether you are found eligible for funding or not.
Navigation Assist Program
Our Navigation Assist Programme is there to support you with this and it’s free of charge. We can provide you with a personal navigator to answer your questions and to guide you through every step of the way. They will assist you in preparing to make the call to apply for the assessment, what happens during the assessment and how best to explain your needs to the assessor. They can even stay to support you during the assessment itself, if you would like them to do so
No reference is made to CPE Home Care during the programme unless you ask and there is no commitment to choose us as your provider should you be awarded funding.
For more detailed information on how best to approach an application for Support at Home funding please call us on 1300 665 082 or email info@cpegroup.biz and ask for our “Do It Yourself” Guide Through My Aged Care To Support at Home Funding or for our Navigation Assist brochure or to book a navigation.
The way you explained a complex system made it all so much easier especially for mum. I couldn’t give enough thanks and words will never accurately describe the positive impact you have made to my family
- L Daughter
What Happens Next
Following the assessment at home, you will receive a letter from My Aged Care telling you if you have been approved for Support at Home, what level of funding you will receive and which services have been allocated to you You will also be told whether you are considered a standard, medium, high or urgent priority to receive the funding depending on your circumstances
The approximate wait time for the funding to become available to you, last revised November 2025 is
| Urgent Priority | Within 1month |
|---|---|
| High Priority | 1.5 to 2.5 months |
| Medium Priority | 8 -9 months |
| Standard Priority | 10-11 months |
When you receive your letter saying your funding is available, you have 56 days to let My Aged Care know who you have chosen to be your provider or you risk going to the end of the list and waiting again for the funding. It’s a good idea to begin your list of “Providers of Interest” as soon as you receive notification that you have been found.
Support at Home doesn't mean losing your independence, it's quite the opposite. Getting a little help with daily activities lets you stay independent in your own home for longer.