Aged care means testing — what it is and how it works

What is means testing?

When you access certain aged care services — particularly Home Care Packages and residential aged care — the government conducts a means assessment to determine how much you should contribute to the cost of your care. The more financial capacity you have, the more you contribute. The less you have, the more the government covers.

Means testing is separate from the clinical assessment (ACAT). You can have your ACAT assessment before your means assessment — and in most cases, you should.

The two types of assessment

The Centrelink forms

Services Australia handles means assessments on behalf of aged care. You do not apply through My Aged Care — you contact Services Australia directly.

Two forms cover most situations:

What documents to bring

Gathering these before you call or visit will save significant time:

• Tax return or income statement from the last financial year
• Recent bank statements (last 3 months) for all accounts
• Superannuation statements (most recent annual statement for each fund)
• Any investment or share portfolio statements
• Property title or rates notice if you own property other than the family home
• Details of any income streams — annuities, term deposits, rental income
• Medicare card and any concession cards
• If someone has power of attorney: the POA document

How to book an appointment with Services Australia

You have three options:

1. Online: myGov — link your Centrelink account and submit the form digitally. This is the fastest method if the person has a myGov account already set up.
2. By phone: call 132 300 (the aged care line). Wait times can be long — call early in the morning. Have your Medicare number ready.
3. In person: visit a Services Australia service centre. You can find your nearest centre at servicesaustralia.gov.au/find-us. Bring all documents listed above. An appointment is not required but reduces waiting time — book via the website or phone.

How long does it take?

Once Services Australia receives a completed form, they aim to process it within 28 days. In practice, it often takes 2–4 weeks for home care and up to 6 weeks for residential care during busy periods.

You'll receive a letter confirming your assessment outcome. This letter is important — keep it. You'll need to provide it to your care provider.

What if the assessment seems wrong?

You have the right to request a review of your assessment if you believe Services Australia has made an error. This is called an Authorised Review Officer (ARO) review. Call 132 300 and ask for a review — you don't need a lawyer or advocate to do this, though you can bring one.