Aged Care Forms
Request for an Assets Assessment Information Booklet - Text Version
Below is the text from the Request for an Assets Assessment Information Booklet for accessibility purposes. Please print the form and use this text to assist in completing the form.
PDF printable version of the Request for an Assets Assessment Information Booklet (PDF 124 KB)
Front Cover
Permanent Residential Aged Care Request for an Assets Assessment Information Booklet
In this booklet you will find general information about:- assets assessments
- where to get help to complete your form
- the privacy of the information you provide, and
- where to post the completed form and supporting documentation.
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| Help to complete your form |  |
|---|---|
| If you currently receive a Centrelink income support payment | Call Centrelink on 1800 227 475* For hearing and speech impaired: TTY service FREECALLTM 1800 810 586 |
| If you currently receive a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) income support payment | Call DVA on 133 254* DVA callers from regional Australia can call 1800 555 254* |
| If you do not currently receive an income support payment from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs | Call Centrelink on 1800 227 475* For hearing and speech impaired: TTY service FREECALLTM 1800 810 586 |
| * Calling Centrelink or DVA: Calls to 1800 numbers are free of charge from a fixed telephone. Calls from public pay phones or mobile phones will be charged at a higher rate. |
What is an income support payment?
Centrelink income support payments are:
- Age Pension
- Austudy Payment
- Bereavement Allowance
- Carer Payment
- Disability Support Pension
- Mature Age Allowance
- Newstart Allowance
- Parenting Payment
- Partner Allowance
- Sickness Allowance
- Special Benefit
- Widow Allowance
- Widow B Pension
- Wife Pension
- Youth Allowance
- Exceptional Circumstance Relief Payment
- Farm Help
DVA income support payments are:
- Service Pension
- Income Support Supplement
- Age PensionTop of page
General information about assets assessments
Important – It is not compulsory for new residents entering care for the first time to have an assets assessment unless they wish to claim supported resident status. Please read the following information carefully to see if it would be to your advantage to have an assets assessment.The purpose of an assets assessment
The purpose of an assets assessment is to determine the net value of a resident’s assets based on their circumstances at the relevant time.Permanent aged care residents may be required to pay either an accommodation bond or an accommodation charge to their service provider. The amount of the accommodation bond or accommodation charge is based on the net value of the resident’s assets in excess of the minimum permissible assets amount that applies on the date they entered care.
You must have an assets assessment if you wish to test your eligibility to have your accommodation bond or accommodation charge subsidised by the government.
An assets assessment will also determine whether you are eligible to be a supported, concessional or assisted resident. Information about supported, concessional and assisted resident status is on page 4 of this booklet.
New residents can negotiate to pay an agreed accommodation bond amount to their service provider without having an assets assessment or the result of the assets assessment can be used to negotiate the amount of the accommodation bond.
New residents who are eligible to pay an accommodation charge can be asked to pay the maximum charge rate if:
- they have assets above the upper assets threshold, or
- they do not have an assets assessment.
The upper assets threshold for new residents entering permanent aged care during the period from 20 September 2012 to 19 March 2013 inclusive is $109,640.80.
Even if your accommodation bond or accommodation charge is fully subsidised by the Australian Government, you will still be required to pay a basic daily fee, and possibly an income tested fee.
Do I need to have an assets assessment?
Following are examples about whether intending residents, new residents and residents moving from one aged care home to another may needto have an assets assessment.
For information about whether you may need to have an assets assessment or if the following examples do not cover your individual situation call 1800 200 422.
Intending residents not yet in permanent aged care
You should apply for an assets assessment if:- your assets are below the upper assets threshold and you wish to test your eligibility for Government assistance with your accommodation bond or accommodation charge, or
- the aged care service provider will use the assets assessment determination to set the amount of your accommodation bond or accommodation charge.
- your assets are above the upper assets threshold and you will be paying an accommodation charge for admission to high level care. Residents with assets above the upper assets threshold are eligible to pay the maximum rate of accommodation charge, or
- you have already negotiated to pay an agreed accommodation bond or accommodation charge amount for your future admission to care.
New residents already in permanent aged care
You should apply for an assets assessment if:- your assets are below the upper assets threshold and you wish to test your eligibility for Government assistance with your accommodation bond or accommodation charge, or
- the aged care service provider will use the assets assessment determination to set the amount of your accommodation bond or accommodation charge.
- your assets are above the upper assets threshold and you are paying an accommodation charge for admission to high level care. Residents with assets above the upper assets threshold are eligible to pay the maximum rate of accommodation charge, or
- you have already negotiated an agreed accommodation bond or accommodation charge amount.
You should apply for an assets assessment if:
- you have already paid an accommodation bond in the first aged care home and the balance of that bond will be refunded to you by the first aged care home – unless you have already negotiated to pay either an agreed accommodation bond or accommodation charge amount to the second aged care home, or
- you are already paying an accommodation charge in the first aged care home and you will also be paying an accommodation charge in the second aged care home and the value of your assets has reduced – a new assessment may result in you paying a lower charge rate to the second aged care home.
- you were determined by either Centrelink or DVA to be either a Concessional resident or a Fully Supported resident in the first aged care home (because your resident status will be transferred to the second aged care home)
- you have already paid an accommodation bond in the first aged care home and the balance of that bond will be ‘rolled over’ or transferred to the second aged care home, or
- you are already paying an accommodation charge in the first aged care home and you will also be paying an accommodation charge in the second aged care home (because the charge rate in the second home is capped at what it was in the first home) – unless the value of your assets has reduced and a new assessment would result in you paying a lower charge rate to the second aged care home.
Residents moving from one aged care home to another more than 28 days after being discharged from the first aged care home
The information above for Intending residents will apply to you.Definition of supported resident
To be a supported resident:- you must have first entered permanent residential aged care (or commenced pre-entry leave) on or after 20 March 2008, or have re-entered care (or commenced pre-entry leave), after a break of more than 28 days, on or after 20 March 2008, and
- as at 20 September 2012, the value of your assets is not more than $109,640.80.
Definition of concessional resident and assisted resident
To be eligible to be a concessional resident or an assisted resident:- you must have first entered permanent residential aged care (or commenced pre-entry leave) before 20 March 2008, and must not have re-entered care, after a break of more than 28 days, on or after 20 March 2008, and
- you must be receiving an income support payment from Centrelink or DVA, and
- you must not have owned or part-owned a home in the 2 years prior to the date of your assessment or the date of your entry to care (whichever is earlier), unless your home is protected under the assets assessment (see Your home and the assets assessment on page 5), and
For a concessional resident:
- as at 20 September 2012, the value of your assets must be less than $41,500.
For an assisted resident:
- as at 20 September 2012, the value of your assets must be between $41,500 and $67,500.
- Concessional residents cannot be asked to pay either an accommodation bond or an accommodation charge.
- Assisted residents can be asked to pay a small accommodation bond or accommodation charge. The maximum amount you can be asked to pay will depend on the amount of your assets.
- The amounts above are adjusted in March and September each year in line with changes to the basic age pension amount.
The timing of your assets assessment
If you have not already entered an aged care home, your assets assessment will be based on your assets at the time the assessment is undertaken.If you entered an aged care home before your assets assessment, the assessment will be based on your assets on the date you entered the home.
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Gifted assets
If you have made a gift from 10 May 2006 of over $10,000 in a single financial year, or $30,000 over 5 consecutive financial years, the amount above these limits will be considered inyour assessment.
Your home and the assets assessment
The value of your home will not be counted as an asset and you will not be regarded as a homeowner (when determining eligibility to be a concessional or assisted resident) if, at the relevant time:- your partner or dependent child is living there, or
- your carer, who is eligible for an income support payment, has lived there for the past 2 years, or
- a close relation (either your parent, sister, brother, child or grandchild) who is eligible for an income support payment has lived there for the past 5 years.
If your home is counted as an asset, you do not need to have it professionally valued. An approved government valuer will verify the estimated value of the property at no cost to you. In some cases, the valuer may need to enter your home or property to verify its value. However, this will not occur unless you give your prior consent. Centrelink or DVA will contact you if this is necessary.
Please note:
- It is not necessary for your carer to have received a Carer Payment or Carer Allowance from Centrelink in order to be considered a carer. However, they must be eligible to receive a Centrelink or DVA income support payment at the time of the assessment, or the date of your entry to care, whichever is earlier.
- Your carer or close relation will need to give their consent in the form to enable Centrelink or DVA to verify their eligibility for an income support payment.
Retirement Villages
Agreements with retirement villages include a variety of arrangements for sale proceeds or entry contribution refunds when a resident leaves the village. The amount repayable to you after your departure from the retirement village is the amount that will be included in the assets assessment and it will be used to determine whether you are considered to be a homeowner (for determining eligibility to be a concessional or assisted resident).If your retirement village agreement allows you to choose when you take your refund, the amount that you are able to choose to accept on your departure from the village is the amount that will be included in the assets assessment. If your agreement allows the retirement village to keep the whole amount of the refund for a period after your departure, the total amount of the refund will still be included in the assets assessment.
Some contract arrangements with retirement villages may cause a person to experience financial difficulty when they seek to enter permanent residential aged care. If so, you may be eligible for financial hardship assistance. (See Financial difficulties in paying an accommodation bond or charge on page 7.)
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Definition of a partner
For the purpose of the assets assessment, a partner can be either:- a person you are legally married to, and are living with on a permanent basis, or
- a person who lives with you in a de facto (opposite or same-sex) relationship, although you are not legally married to that person, or
- a person you are legally married to, or who you were living with in a de facto (opposite or same-sex) relationship, until you began living apart on a permanent basis due to health or health related reasons, for example, if the person entered permanent residential aged care, or
- a person in a registered relationship.
Note: If you both want to have an assets assessment you will each need to fill in a separate assets assessment form.
Definition of a dependent child
To be a dependent child for the purposes of the assets assessment, the young person must be:(a) under 16 years of age, or
(b) aged 16 to 24 years and receiving full-time education at a school, college or university, and
(c) not be in full-time employment, or be receiving a pension or benefit through Centrelink.
You must be legally responsible (whether alone or jointly with another person) for the young person’s day-to-day care, welfare and development, or under a legal obligation to provide financial support in respect of the young person.
Signing the form
The assessment form must be signed by the person for whom the application is being made or their authorised representative. An authorised representative may be a Power of Attorney or a person/organisation holding an administrative or financial order.Where the person is not able to sign for themselves and they do not have an authorised decision maker, the Director of Nursing at the aged care home may sign the form. A letter from a doctor which outlines the person's inability to sign the form must be attached to the application.
Where the resident is deceased only the executor of the will or a person holding letters of administration is authorised to sign on behalf of their estate.
Who will undertake your assessment?
Centrelink undertakes assets assessments for people who currently receive:- an income support payment from Centrelink (listed on page 2)
- a war widow’s or widower’s pension, but do not also receive an income support supplement from DVA,
DVA undertakes assets assessments for people who currently receive:
- an income support payment from DVA (listed on page 2)
- a war widow’s or widower’s pension as well as an income support supplement from DVA.
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Notification of the outcome of an assets assessment
Centrelink or DVA will provide you with a decision as to whether or not you are eligible to be a concessional, assisted or supported resident, and the assessed value of your assets.Centrelink or DVA will not advise an aged care provider of the outcome of your assets assessment.
The outcome of your assets assessment is also provided to the Department of Health and Ageing, but not the details.
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If you are assessed as eligible to be a supported resident and advised that your accommodation bond or accommodation charge will be fully subsidised, you will also be given a separate statement for aged care providers confirming this. You will need to give this statement to your aged care provider. The separate statement will not include the value of your assets.
If you are assessed as eligible to be a partially supported resident, and are advised that you are eligible to make a contribution towards an accommodation bond or accommodation charge, Centrelink or DVA will give you 2 separate statements for aged care providers: one will confirm your supported resident status and the other will confirm the value of your assets. You need to give both statements to your aged care provider to calculate the maximum amount of your accommodation bond or the maximum rate of your accommodation charge.
If you are assessed as eligible to be a concessional or assisted resident, Centrelink or DVA will give you a separate statement for aged care providers confirming this. You will need to give this statement to your aged care provider. If you are eligible to be an assisted resident, the information will help the provider to calculate the maximum amount you may be asked to pay as an accommodation bond or charge.
If you are assessed as not eligible to be a supported, concessional or assisted resident, you will also receive 2 separate statements for aged care providers confirming your resident status and the value of your assets. You may choose to pass these statements on to your aged care provider. However, this is not a Government requirement.
If you are assessed as eligible to pay an accommodation charge, either the Department of Health and Ageing or your aged care provider will advise the rate of your accommodation charge.
Expiry date of assets decisions
Your letter from Centrelink or DVA will have an expiry date showing when the decisions will lapse.If you have not entered care before this date, you will need to request a new assets assessment.
After you enter permanent residential aged care you will not need to apply for another assessment unless you have moved into a new home, or are intending to move into a new home, and you:
- move to the new home more than 28 days after leaving the earlier home, or
- paid an accommodation bond in the first home AND you will not be paying a bond in the new home, or
- paid an accommodation charge in the earlier home AND you believe that you would benefit from a new assessment for the new home.
Review of decisions made as part of the assets assessment
If you disagree with the decisions on the value of your assets or your eligibility to be a concessional, assisted or supported resident,you may request a review by Centrelink or DVA. A request for a review must be made in writing, within 28 days of receipt of advice of the decision, and must include your reasons for seeking a review.
If you are not satisfied with the outcomes of the review processes conducted by Centrelink or DVA, you are able to appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Financial difficulties in paying an accommodation bond or charge
If you are required to pay an accommodation bond or an accommodation charge and because of your individual circumstances this causes you genuine financial hardship, you may apply for financial hardship assistance.However, assistance may not be provided where assets have been gifted, you have chosen not to utilise an asset or for personal debts.
For further information phone 1800 200 422.
Change of circumstances
If you have not entered care, and your assets change significantly, you may request another assets assessment, even if your assessment is still current.If your assets circumstances change after you have entered care, there will be no effect on your assets assessment. However, if you are a pensioner, you are still required to advise Centrelink or DVA of these changes as they may affect your pension.
You should notify Centrelink or DVA if you enter care or if a person for whom you are being paid either Carer Payment or Carer Allowance enters care.
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About the information you give
Legal authority
The use and disclosure of information collected by the Department of Health and Ageing, Centrelink and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) is governed by Part 6.2 of the Aged Care Act 1997, which deals with the protection of information, and the Information Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988.Why we need this information
Centrelink and DVA are collecting information on behalf of the Department of Health and Ageing for the purpose of undertaking assets assessments for entry into permanent residential aged care.The information enables Centrelink and DVA to decide whether you are eligible to receive Government assistance in respect of your residential aged care accommodation bond or accommodation charge. If you are eligible, the Department of Health and Ageing will pay an accommodation supplement to an aged care home on your behalf.
The information collected will also be used to make a decision on the value of your assets, and to inform you of this decision. This will help to work out how much you can be asked to pay for your accommodation bond or charge.
Disclosure of the information you provide
Information you provide may be disclosed to:- Centrelink or DVA for the purpose of undertaking the assets assessment, and
- the Department of Health and Ageing and Medicare Australia for the purpose of:
– enabling payment of an accommodation supplement to an aged care home on your behalf
– working out the amount of your accommodation charge (if applicable), and
– confirming previous concessional, assisted or supported resident status (if applicable) - an approved Government valuer of land, houses or buildings, for the purpose of verifying the value of your property.
The information you provide may also be used to assess your income under the Aged Care Act 1997.
If you consent, this information may also be used by Centrelink or DVA to update assets information in relation to your eligibility for an income support payment.
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Where to post the completed form and supporting documentation
Centrelink
Post your form and supporting documentation to Centrelink for processing if:- you receive an income support payment (such as an Age Pension or a Disability Support Pension) from Centrelink, or
- you do not receive an income support payment from either Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
All States/Territories
Centrelink
Residential Care
Reply Paid 7821
Canberra BC ACT 2610
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
Post your form and supporting documentation to theDVA office in your State or Territory
for processing if you receive an income support payment (such as a Service Pension or an Income Support Supplement) from DVA.See page 2 for a full list of income support payments paid by DVA.
| Where to post the completed DVA form and supporting documentation | |
|---|---|
| ACT/NSW | Department of Veterans’ Affairs Aged Care Assets Assessments GPO Box 9998 SYDNEY NSW 2001 |
| QLD | Department of Veterans’ Affairs Aged Care Assets Assessments GPO Box 9998 BRISBANE QLD 4001 |
| SA/NT | Department of Veterans’ Affairs Aged Care Assets Assessments GPO Box 9998 ADELAIDE SA 5001 |
| TAS | Department of Veterans’ Affairs Aged Care Assets Assessments GPO Box 9998 HOBART TAS 7001 |
| VIC | Department of Veterans’ Affairs Aged Care Assets Assessments GPO Box 9998 MELBOURNE VIC 3001 |
| WA | Department of Veterans’ Affairs Aged Care Assets Assessments GPO Box 9998 PERTH WA 6001 |
The information in this document is current as of 20 September 2012
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