elderly woman and kincare worker standing outside her house

Your guide to the letters you receive from My Aged Care

by KinCare — 24 July 2017

A Home Care Package is a form of aged care funding to help older Australians obtain the care and support they need to live safely and independently at home.

If you’ve contacted My Aged Care about a funding package, you’ll receive five letters from them as you progress through the funding process. These letters are:

  1. Your My Aged Care welcome letter
  2. Your My Aged Care eligibility letter
  3. Your My Aged Care Home Care Package assignment letter
  4. Your reminder to use your funding letter
  5. The package has expired letter

To make things a little easier for you, we’ve put together a simple guide that explains the importance of each letter and what you need to do next.

Your My Aged Care welcome letter

Why have I been sent this letter?

You’ll receive this letter after you register with My Aged Care and apply for a subsidised Home Care Package.

Your unique aged care ID

This letter includes your unique aged care ID. Your unique aged care ID is linked to your personal details and is used by both My Aged Care and KinCare to confirm your identity.

Keep this letter in a handy place. You’ll need your ID any time you call My Aged Care and KinCare. If you misplace your ID, call KinCare on 1300 733 510 and we’ll find it for you.

The assessment for your package

A professional Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT or ACAS in Victoria) assessor will visit you at home to discuss support services. They need to understand which services will best meet your needs so that you can access the right care at the right time.

 

Your My Aged Care eligibility letter

Why you receive this letter

This letter is sent to you after your home assessment and tells you whether you’re eligible for government funding.

It includes important details

The important information this letter includes is:

  1. Confirmation that you’re on the waiting list to have your Home Care Package assigned to you.
  2. A list of Referral Codes for aged care services. You’ll need the codes to access these services once your Home Care Package is ready to access and use.

Keep this letter and the Referral Codes in a handy place, as you’ll need to use the codes when you receive your funding.

During the waiting period

It can take anywhere from two weeks to two years to be assigned your Home Care Package. Once you’re at the top of the list, you’ll receive a funding approval letter. We’ll explain this letter below.

While you’re waiting, we’re here to help and support you. If you need care during this time, ask us about KinCare Private Care services.

At this stage, you can start looking for KinCare services near you. It’s a good idea to get in touch with us at this time, as we’ll be happy to help you find the services and connected care pathways that suit you best.

Need urgent support during your HCP wait?

If you need immediate support, KinCare Private Care services can help fill your care gap while you wait for your Home Care Package funding to arrive.

Your My Aged Care Home Care Package assignment letter

Why you receive this letter

This is the letter you’ve been waiting for. It provides confirmation you can now use your Home Care Package, which is great news for you.

The important details this letter includes

The letter explains the level of Home Care Package you’ve received.

You have 56 days to start using your package. If you need a bit more time, you can ask My Aged Care for a 28-day extension, or ask KinCare to help you lodge the request.

It’s important to know that if you don’t start using your Home Care Package within the 56-days or before the 28-day extension finishes, your funding package will expire.

If your package does expire, you can call My Aged Care or KinCare to let us know if you still want a Home Care Package, and you’ll be placed back on the waiting list – but you’ll be at the end of the queue.

What happens next?

Now that you have your funding, call KinCare on 1300 733 510 to make the first step. One of our friendly Customer Care Managers will visit you at home to learn about your unique needs and circumstances. They will put together a care plan that’s tailored to suit you. If we don’t have a service you want, we can help you find a suitable provider to support you.

You may be asked to pay for part of the care service. The first step is getting a formal income assessment from the Department of Human Services. You can call them on 1800 227 475 for details.

Your reminder to use your funding letter

Why you receive this letter

This letter reminds you to choose your care service provider and start using your Home Care Package before it expires at the end of the 56-days.

Why this letter is important

We don’t want you lose funding, so please call us – or My Aged Cared – to ask for a 28-day extension as soon as you receive this letter.

Working together, we can find the right care services for you. The 28-day extension will easy any worry about losing your funding. Plus, it gives us both the time to match the right care for your needs at home.

What you need to do next

Call KinCare on 1300 733 510 or contact My Aged Care immediately and ask for a 28-day extension so you don’t lose your funding. We can help you find to find the right services to suit your needs so you can start using your Home Care Package.

The package has expired letter

Why you receive this letter

Unfortunately, you’ll receive this letter if you haven’t started using your Home Care Package within 56 days of receiving your Home Care Package assignment letter (or the 28-day extension).

Why it’s important

It advises you that you no longer have access to your Home Care Package and will be placed back on the waiting list.

What happens next?

If your package expires, you can call KinCare on 1300 733 510 or My Aged Care to let them know that you still want a Home Care Package. Once you’ve called, you’ll be placed back on the waiting list for the next available package.

We’ll be there to help walk you through the funding approval process.

If you need help and support while you wait, ask us about our Private Care Services.