9. Should Self-Funded Seniors apply for Support at Home?

Quick re-cap of the rules for Self-Funded seniors.

• Approved Providers, like Daughterly Care, can waive the Maximum Basic Daily Care Fee. Whilst this fee is set by the Government, the Government has given Approved Providers the right to reduce or waive this fee.

• Approved Providers, like Daughterly Care, CANNOT waive or reduce the Income Tested Care Fee. Further, the Government has stated it is NOT possible to avoid the Income Tested Care Fee in return for a lower Home Care Package. The Government has also stated that it is NOT possible for your Home Care Package to pay this fee.

What Happens to your Unspent Home Care Package Funds?

If you don’t use your Home Care Package funds each week, it “banks up” for when you most need it. Each month your Closing Balance of Unspent Funds is carried forward to the Opening Balance of the next month’s statement. Unspent Funds carry forward as long as you have a Home Care Package.

Yes, they carry forward from one financial year to the next financial year and one calendar year to the next. You don’t lose Unspent Funds unless you close your Home Care Package by moving into a Nursing Home or passing away. In those scenarios your Unspent Funds are returned to:

1. the Government, in the proportion they contributed to your Home Care Package; and
2. You or your estate, in the proportion that you contributed to your Home Care Package by paying an Income Tested Care Fee or Basic Daily Care Fee.

Your Unspent Funds roll forward for your use, whilst ever you are living at home and on a Home Care Package.

That said, your Home Care Package is for your current care needs, not for your future care needs. We monitor Unspent Fund Balances each month and we review care needs to see if you need additional services.

June 2022 Update: The Government is planning to merge the Community Home Support Program (CHSP) and the Home Care Package (HCP) program and call it Support at Home and that program will not allow Unspent Funds to rollover at the end of each month. It will become “if you don’t use it, you lose it.”