How is my Support at Home classification decided?
Your classification is determined by an independent aged care assessment of your functional abilities, health needs, safety risks, goals and available support. It is not decided by your provider, diagnosis or financial circumstances.
Key points
- An aged care assessor considers your daily needs, health, mobility, safety and current support before assigning a classification.
- The person's support plan and circumstances determine how the rule applies.
- Current official guidance should be checked before an important decision.
If you are approved for ongoing Support at Home services, an aged care needs assessor assigns you one of eight ongoing classifications.
The classifications provide increasing levels of government funding. A higher classification generally reflects a need for a greater volume or complexity of care and support.
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01Guide sectionWhat does the assessor consider?
The assessor will talk with you about your health, circumstances and ability to manage everyday activities.
They may consider:
personal care, including showering, dressing and toileting
mobility, transfers and risk of falling
preparing meals and eating safely
medication and health-management needs
memory, cognition and communication
household activities such as cleaning and shopping
transport and community access
social isolation and emotional wellbeing
nursing or allied health needs
risks within the home
help currently provided by family, friends or carers
whether those informal supports are sustainable
your goals, preferences and cultural needs.
Assessments are usually conducted in the person’s home. You can have a family member, friend, registered supporter or advocate present.
02Guide sectionHow is the information assessed?
The assessor uses the Integrated Assessment Tool, commonly called the IAT.
The IAT provides a consistent framework for assessing eligibility and needs across government-funded aged care. It helps identify:
the difficulties you experience
the assistance you require
suitable service types
whether you need ongoing or short-term support
the classification considered appropriate for your ongoing care.
The assessment findings are recorded in a report and used to determine the services and classification recommended for approval.
The classification is not based only on a diagnosis. Two people with the same medical condition may receive different classifications because their functional abilities, risks, living situations and available support are different.
03Guide sectionWhat are the eight classifications?
Support at Home has eight classifications for ongoing services:
Classification 1
Classification 2
Classification 3
Classification 4
Classification 5
Classification 6
Classification 7
Classification 8.
Each classification has a different quarterly budget, including funding allocated for care management. The funding amounts are indexed periodically by the Australian Government.
The classification number does not prescribe an identical list of services for everyone. Your support plan identifies the approved services that relate to your assessed needs.
04Guide sectionIs income used to decide the classification?
No.
Your classification is based on your assessed care needs, not your income, assets or pension status.
Your financial circumstances may affect how much you contribute toward certain services, but they should not determine how much care you are assessed as needing.
05Guide sectionDoes my chosen provider decide the classification?
No.
Your provider cannot assign, increase or reduce your classification.
The provider uses the classification and support plan issued through My Aged Care to develop:
your detailed care plan
service schedule
individualised budget
arrangements for delivering approved services.
The provider may help request a reassessment if it identifies that your needs have changed, but it cannot approve the higher classification itself.
06Guide sectionWhat should I explain during the assessment?
Describe what usually happens, including difficult days not only what you can manage on your best day.
Explain:
what tasks you cannot complete safely
what takes much longer than it previously did
where someone needs to prompt or supervise you
any falls, near falls or medication mistakes
whether you become exhausted or distressed completing tasks
what family members currently do for you
whether that family support may stop or is causing carer strain
changes since a hospital admission or diagnosis.
Do not minimise difficulties because you feel embarrassed or do not want to complain. The assessor needs an accurate picture to recommend appropriate support.
It can help to have:
a medication list
relevant medical reports
hospital discharge information
details of falls or incidents
a list of current supports
notes from a GP or allied health professional
a family member or advocate who understands your daily needs.
07Guide sectionIs classification different from priority?
Yes.
Your classification determines your level of ongoing Support at Home funding.
Your priority category relates to how urgently you need access to that funding. The four priority categories are:
urgent
high
medium
standard.
A person may have significant needs but still need to wait until funding for their approved classification becomes available. Your classification and priority category should both appear in your assessment outcome.
08Guide sectionWhat are the short-term pathways?
The eight classifications relate to ongoing services.
You may also be approved separately for one or more short-term pathways:
Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme
Restorative Care Pathway
End-of-Life Pathway.
These have separate eligibility requirements and funding arrangements. They do not necessarily replace your ongoing classification.
09Guide sectionWhat if I previously had a Home Care Package?
People who transitioned from the former Home Care Packages Program may have a transitioned classification linked to their previous package level rather than one of the eight new classifications.
Their transition arrangements depend on when they were approved and receiving services.
10Guide sectionHow will I find out the outcome?
After the assessment, you should receive:
a Notice of Decision
your approved classification
your priority category
your support plan
details of approved services and pathways.
The assessment organisation generally reviews the information before issuing the outcome. My Aged Care advises that this can take up to two weeks in some cases.
11Guide sectionWhat if the classification seems too low?
You have the right to question or appeal your assessment outcome.
First, compare the decision with what was discussed during the assessment. Check whether important information was missed, such as:
frequent falls
overnight needs
cognitive decline
carer burnout
nursing requirements
substantial help provided by family
recent hospitalisation
difficulties that were understated during the assessment.
Your outcome letter should explain the review or appeal process. You can also contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
Free assistance is available from OPAN on 1800 700 600.
12Guide sectionCan the classification change later?
Yes.
You can request a Support Plan Review or reassessment if your needs change-for example, following:
declining mobility
a new diagnosis
hospitalisation
increasing memory problems
repeated falls
loss of family support
greater personal-care or nursing needs.
You can request a review through My Aged Care at any time. Your provider can also help explain and document why reassessment may be necessary.
The practical answer is:
13Guide sectionWhat should I do next?
Check the person's Notice of Decision and support plan.
Ask the provider or My Aged Care to explain how the rule applies to this situation.
Keep the advice and any agreed changes in writing.
14Guide sectionHelpful Local Home Help resources
15Guide sectionCheck the official guidance
Check current official Support at Home guidance. Aged care rules, funding amounts and program guidance can change, so check the current official information before making an important care or financial decision.
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