Admission.

Arrange your Financial Assessment.

Arrange your financial assessment You will need a means assessment to find out whether you are eligible for assistance with your accommodation costs or if you need to pay a means tested care fee, and if so, how much this is fee will be. 

Means assessments are undertaken by Services Australia, except for eligible members of the veteran community whose assessment may be undertaken by DVA.

You can use the Income and means assessments tool on the My Aged Care website to find out if you need to complete a Means Assessment Form: myagedcare.gov.au/income-and-means-assessments 

If you need to complete a means assessment form, it's important to arrange this as soon as possible. You can complete your means assessment by filling out one of these forms and submitting it to Services Australia: 

If you receive a Means Tested Payment from Centrelink or DVA and you own or part own your home, complete the Residential Aged Care Property details for Centrelink and DVA customers (SA485) form available at servicesaustralia.gov.au/sa485 

If you do not receive a Means Tested Payment from Centrelink or DVA, complete the Residential Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care (SA457) form available at servicesaustralia.gov.au/sa457 

You can get these forms by requesting a copy from Services Australia on 1800 227 475 (free call), or downloading them from the Services Australia website at the links above.

You can also find information about how to apply at servicesaustralia.gov.au/aged-care-calculation-your-cost-care 

Aged Care Assessment.

To find out if your loved one is eligible for permanent or respite aged care, you need to arrange an assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).

You can book this assessment through My Aged Care (visit www.myagedcare.gov.au  or call 1800 200 422). Your doctors can also provide a referral or if in  hospital, the hospital can arrange. 

Understanding the Costs.

Costs you may need to pay There are various fees you may be asked to pay including: 

• Basic Daily Fee - All residents pay this fee for daily living services, including meals, cleaning, laundry and utilities. The maximum fee is set at 85% of the single basic age pension. This fee increases in March and September each year in line with the age pension. 
• Hotelling contribution - People who can afford to will contribute more towards their daily living costs through a hotelling contribution. Services Australia will tell you if you need to pay a hotelling contribution and if so, how much you need to pay. This is based on your means assessment. The maximum amount changes with indexation in March and September. 
• Non-clinical care contribution - People who need to pay the maximum hotelling contribution may also need to pay a non-clinical care contribution. This fee contributes to personal care costs such as bathing and mobility assistance. Services Australia will tell you if you need to pay a non-clinical care contribution and if so, how much you need to pay. This is based on your means assessment. The maximum amount changes with indexation in March and September. Daily and lifetime caps apply. Visit myagedcare.gov.au for current fee rates. You can also get an estimate of your aged care fees using the aged care home fee estimator.

Fee Advice Letter

If you get a means assessment before moving into an aged care home, you will receive a letter about the maximum means tested care fees you can be asked to pay. The advice will be valid for 120 days - unless there is a significant change in your circumstances. If there is a change in your circumstances, you will need to notify Services Australia or DVA. Services Australia will reissue your fee advice letter if needed. 

If you do not need to complete a means assessment because Services Australia or DVA already have your financial details, you will receive a fee advice letter once you enter your aged care home.

If you need the letter before you enter care, you can request one by calling Services Australia on 1800 227 475 (free call) or DVA on 1800 838 372 (free call). 

Take your fee advice letter with you for discussions with potential aged care homes to help you understand the cost of living in their home. 

Accommodation Costs

 The amount you can be asked to pay for your accommodation is based on your means assessment and will be one of the following: 

• No accommodation costs: For some people, the Australian Government will pay all of your accommodation costs. 
• An accommodation contribution: if you need to pay for part of your accommodation, the Australian Government will pay the rest. 
• An accommodation payment: if you need to pay for the full cost of your accommodation, you will pay the room price you agree with your aged care home. Services Australia will advise which applies to you.

Payment Options 

If you are required to pay an accommodation contribution or an accommodation payment, you have 28 days from the day you move into the home to decide on your payment method. You can choose to pay your accommodation costs by: 

• A lump-sum refundable accommodation deposit (RAD) or refundable accommodation contribution (RAC) (Retention Applies when a deposit is paid)
• Rental payments called a daily accommodation payment (DAP) or daily accommodation contribution (DAC)
• A combination of both lump-sum and rental payments. (Retention Applies when a deposit is paid)
  

You must pay your accommodation costs by the rental daily payment method until you decide how you want to pay for your accommodation.

If you choose to pay an amount as a lump sum, the balance is refunded when you leave the home. 

If you choose a combination payment, you can choose to draw your daily payment from your paid lump sum. Over time, this will increase your daily payment unless you top up the lump sum. Your provider may also agree to draw other aged care fees from the lump sum, like the basic daily fee.

If you have been asked to make an accommodation contribution, the maximum amount you can be asked to pay will be advised by Services Australia. 

More information about accommodation costs is available on the My Aged Care website: myagedcare.gov.au/understanding-aged-care-homeaccommodation-cost 

Residential respite care costs 

You do not have to complete a means assessment to access residential respite care. If you receive residential respite care through an aged care home, you won’t have to pay any accommodation costs or means tested care fees. 

You can expect to pay a basic daily fee and perhaps a booking fee. DVA may pay the basic daily fee for eligible veterans and war widows / widowers. Contact Veterans’ Home Care for an assessment by calling 1300 550 450(free call). 

Submit application with Yass Valley Aged Care, Accept Offer and Enter into Agreement.

Make contact with Yass Valley Aged Care Admissions Officer. You are welcome to arrange a tour of the facility and have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. 

It is a good idea to bring along to the meeting, your referral codes from the outcome of your My Aged Care Assessment as well as your fee advice letter from Services Australia if you have already completed the assessments. 

Yass Valley Aged Care have their own application process and will supply you with application forms and required documentation for admission.  You will need to give the unique referral code you received from your aged care assessor . This will allow us to view your client record and consider your care needs. 



Accept an offer When a place becomes available, Yass Valley Aged Care will contact you or your nominated contact person. Once you have accepted an offer of a place we will offer you formal agreements that cover things like services, accommodation costs, and your rights and responsibilities as a consumer of Australian Government funded aged care services.