Aged care means assessment 065-09000000

A means assessment is the assessment of a care recipient’s income and/or assets. It determines the type and level of contribution a care recipient must make towards their aged care costs.

For Support at Home:

• Care recipients who were approved for a Home Care Package or a Support at Home classification after 12 September 2024 are assessed as post 2025 scheme care recipients. A means assessment will:
• be an income and assets assessment
• determine the care recipient’s contribution to their care costs
• care recipients approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024 are considered grand parented and will be assessed as post 2014 scheme care recipients. A means Assessment under this scheme will
• be an income assessment only
• determine if a care recipient would have been liable to pay an Income Tested Care Fee (ITCF) under home care provisions and then apply correct rules for Support at Home contribution rates.
• Determine if a care recipient was liable for ITCF based on their income and set Support at Home contribution rates, either 0% for those not liable to pay ITCF, or special reduced rates for ITCF liability.
• Maintain Support at Home rates so a care recipient is no worse off under Support at Home

For residential aged care:

• for care recipients assessed under a post 1 November 2025 or post 1 July 2014 assessment, a means assessment is a combined income and assets assessment
• the means assessment determines the care recipient's contributions to their accommodation and care costs.
• for care recipients assessed under pre 1 July 2014 schemes, a means assessment is done via separate assessments for income and assets
• the income assessment determines the income tested fee and the assets assessment (where completed) determines the accommodation cost and government funding (where appropriate)

Assessments are completed in Process Direct. If a care recipient or authorised third party contacts to request a calculation of their cost of care, they can do this in one of the following ways:

• Automatically
• Process Direct can complete a means assessment automatically where the care recipient has commenced care, and the required information is available in the system
• As a verbal assessment
• Can be undertaken where the information is available in the system and any outstanding information can be obtained verbally
• Via an online Aged Care - Calculation of your cost of care
• The online channel is the preferred option where a verbal assessment cannot be complete
• Care recipients or their correspondence nominee must be registered with an 'active' Centrelink online account
• Organisation nominees must be registered for the Business Hub to access nominee services online
• Via lodgement of a form. Depending on care type, the form will be one of the following:
• Support at Home Calculation of your cost of care (SA456)
• Residential Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care (SA457), or
• Residential Aged Care Property details for Centrelink and DVA customers (SA485)

The Resources page contains links to these forms.

Signature requirements for Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care differ from Social Security forms. Unlike Social Security forms, if an Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care form is:

• signed by a care recipient or authorised third party anywhere on the form, the form can be accepted, this includes if care recipient is partnered the form can be accepted as the declaration has been acknowledged that the partner is aware/notified their personal and financial information will be collected by Services Australia for the purposes of the means assessment
• unsigned, it can be accepted following verbal contact in some circumstances

See Aged care means assessment - preliminary checks for information regarding means assessment validity periods.

The online service is the preferred way to lodge an aged care means assessment. Care recipients and their nominees can access the online service through their Centrelink online account in MyGov. Organisations can complete the online service on behalf of their care recipients through Nominee Services in Business Hub. If a form needs to be lodged, Service Officers can use the Assisted Customer Claim (ACC) to collect information from a care recipient or the correspondence nominee over the phone.

Online applications are viewed and processed in Process Direct. Submitted documents will show in Documents.

When a care recipient completing an online application advises that there is a carer or close relative living in their principal home, they may be considered a protected person. A supplementary task will be created. This allows the carer or close relative to complete their assessment online.

At the end of the care recipient’s application, instructions are provided for their carer or close relative. This includes the application ID and Temporary Access Code (TAC) required. Carers and close relatives use the application ID and TAC to submit their assessment. This is via a link on the Aged care carer or close relative assessment webpage.

For carers or close relatives who choose not to use online services:

• income support customers can use the Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care forms
• non-income support customers must use the Aged Care Carer or close relative assessment (SA483) form

Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care forms are available for:

• care recipients and
• their nominees

Who cannot or prefer not to use the online service.

In addition to the online Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care application, the Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care application is available as paper forms on the Services Australia website. The Resources page has a link to the forms and explains which forms are required.

The Service Officer can explain the benefits of accessing the online aged care calculation of your cost of care application. The benefits are:

• streaming questions so they only provide information that is required
• providing less information while allowing the opportunity to update out of date details, as details from their Centrelink record will be prepopulated into the online application
• being able to monitor the progress of their application through their Centrelink online account

The Service Officer can encourage care recipients to access the printable forms from the website themselves. The care recipient can then print and complete a paper form (SA456, SA457 or SA485). If the care recipient is unable to access the form online, issue the form using the Customer First Mail Forms Guided Procedure.

SA456 (Support at Home) and SA457 (residential aged care) forms:

• are required when a care recipient does not receive a means tested payment from Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
• request all income and asset information required for the completion of a means assessment
• the SA456 form previously collected income information only

SA485 (residential aged care property details) form:

• may be used when a care recipient receives a means tested payment from Centrelink or DVA and owns or part owns their home. This includes retirement villages. This can be used if a verbal assessment is not able to be completed
• is shorter than the SA457 form, and only collects information related to the principal home

There is a change to the request for information (RFI) process for carers and close relatives when assessing Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care forms (SA457 and SA485). The Aged Care Carer or close relative assessment (SA483) form replaces the decommissioned questionnaire. Links to forms are available on the Resources page.

Pre 1 July 2014 schemes

Home care providers are responsible for aged care means assessments for home care recipients assessed under pre 1 July 2014 schemes.

Care recipients who commenced a package prior to 1 July 2014 are not required to complete a new income assessment unless there is a break in care of greater than 28 days.

Pre 1 July 2014 care recipients are not able to opt into post 1 July 2014 after 1 November 2025.

Post 1 July 2014 schemes

The agency or DVA previously completed home care means assessments for care recipients assessed under post 1 July 2014 schemes and who commenced:

• a new package, on or after 1 July 2014
• a Home Care package approved on or before 12 September 2024, regardless of start date for home care/Support at Home

When is an online Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care application or the Support at Home – Calculation of your cost of care (SA456) form required?

An online application or the SA456 is required for care recipients who:

• are self-funded retirees (includes care recipients who receive a foreign pension)
• receive a Centrelink non-means tested income support payment
• examples include Age Pension (Blind), Disability Support Pension (Blind), Carer Allowance and Mobility Allowance
• however, if they have a partner who receives a Centrelink means tested income support payment/rent assistance they may not need to lodge a form
• receive a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) non-means tested payment
• for example, a War Widow(er)’s Pension (without an Income Support Supplement)

When is an online Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care application or the SA456 not required?

An online application or the SA456 is not required for care recipients who:

• receive a Centrelink means tested income support payment
• examples include Age Pension and Disability Support Pension
• receive a DVA means tested income support payment
• examples include Age Service Pension, Invalidity Service, and Income Support Supplement
• receive Age Pension (Blind) or Disability Support Pension (Blind) from Centrelink and have a partner who receives a Centrelink means tested income support payment/rent assistance

If an online application or the SA456 is not required:

• the means assessment will complete automatically when the care recipient enters care
• where the care recipient has not yet entered care, it is not possible for the means assessment to complete automatically:
• where a means assessment is requested prior to entry to care it will need to be undertaken online, verbally or via an SA456

A residential aged care means assessment is required for care recipients who:

• enter or are considering entering permanent residential aged care for the first time after 1 November 2025
• re-entered permanent residential aged care after a break in care of more than 28 days on or after 1 July 2014
• enter permanent residential aged care prior to 1 July 2014 and are considering opting in to a post 1 November 2025 assessment scheme

The residential aged care means assessment determines:

• the daily means tested care fee for post 1 July 2014 assessment scheme,
• the hotelling contribution and or the non–clinical care contributions for post 1 November 2025 assessment scheme, and
• liability for accommodation costs for both the post 1 July 2014 and post 1 November 2025 assessment schemes

Liability for accommodation costs

The care recipient’s status is set at the date of permanent entry to care. It determines liability for accommodation costs. The status will be either low means or not low means.

A low means care recipient is eligible for assistance with their accommodation costs. They can be asked to pay either:

• an Accommodation Contribution. This is a partial contribution towards the accommodation cost (the government will pay the remainder)
• no accommodation costs. The government will pay the full accommodation cost

A not low means care recipient is not eligible for government assistance with their accommodation costs. They must pay an Accommodation Payment (the accommodation price they agree to with the registered provider). The accommodation price must be agreed to before entry to care.

The care recipient’s status will not change following entry to care, even if there are changes to their circumstances.

For low means care recipients, a change in circumstances after entry to care:

• may affect the amount of accommodation contribution and/or means tested fee payable
• will not make them liable for an accommodation payment while they remain in the same facility

For not low means care recipients, a change in circumstances after entry to care:

• may affect the amount of means tested fee payable
• will not affect the accommodation price that was agreed to prior to entering care

A previously low means care recipient may be reassessed and found to be not low means at date of entry to care. Any accommodation supplement paid to the registered provider is recovered and the care recipient asked to pay an accommodation payment.

Note: if the means assessment was incorrect at the date of entry, any review of the means assessment may be backdated.

The Resources page contains:

• calculation examples of residential aged care means assessments
• fee calculation worksheets for manual calculation of residential aged care fees, and
• links to Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's Schedule of Fees and Charges for Residential and Home Care Recipients - Pre and Post 1 July 2014 assessment schemes

When is an online Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care application or a Residential Aged Care – Calculation of your cost of care (SA457) form required?

An online application or the SA457 must be lodged for care recipients who:

• are self-funded retirees (includes care recipients who receive a foreign pension)
• receive a Centrelink non-means tested income support payment. Examples include:
• Aged Pension (Blind), Disability Support Pension (Blind), Carer Allowance and Mobility Allowance
• homeowners who have a partner who receives a Centrelink means tested income support payment will need to provide principal home details verbally
• non homeowners who receive rent assistance or who have a partner who receives a Centrelink means tested income support payment will need to provide principal home details verbally
• receive a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) non-means tested payment
• for example, a War Widow(er)’s Pension (without an Income Support Supplement)

When is an online Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care application or a Residential Aged Care Property details for Centrelink and DVA customers (SA485) form (online or paper form) required?

For care recipients who receive a Centrelink or DVA means tested income support payment:

• where the care recipient has entered care:
• for non-homeowners, the means assessment completes automatically
• for homeowners, principal home details need to be provided verbally or via an SA485
• DVA care recipients should contact DVA to discuss if they are required to complete an SA485 form or can lodge a verbal assessment
• where the care recipient has not yet entered care and has requested a pre-entry assessment:
• an automatic means assessment cannot be triggered. This needs to be undertaken verbally or by completing the online application, or an SA485 form

When is an online Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care application, SA457 or SA485 paper form not required?

An online application, SA457 or SA485 is not required for care recipients who receive:

• a Centrelink means tested income support payment (examples include Age Pension and Disability Support Pension); and are non homeowners
• a Centrelink means tested income support payment (examples include Age Pension and Disability Support Pension); and are homeowners and the record shows the partner (if applicable) is living in the home
• a Centrelink non means tested income support payment (for examples include Age Pension (Blind) or Disability Support Pension (Blind)); and receive Rent Assistance or have a partner who receives a Centrelink means tested income support payment:
• have already provided income and asset details to Centrelink
• will be required to provide principal home details if they are a homeowner
• these assessments will need to be completed manually as they are not eligible for auto completion
• a Centrelink means tested income support payment, has not yet entered care and has requested a pre-entry assessment:
• an automatic means assessment cannot be triggered and needs to be undertaken verbally or by completing the online application
• DVA care recipients should contact DVA to discuss if they are required to complete an SA485 form or can lodge a verbal assessment

Prior to 1 July 2014, a means assessment was known as a Residential Care Assessment (RCA). The RCA covered 2 different types of assessment:

• Residential Care Income Assessment (RCIA), and
• Residential Care Assets Assessment (RCAA)

Income Assessments

Aged Care Income Assessments (previously known as RCIA) are applicable for care recipients who:

• first entered permanent residential aged care after 1 March 1998 and prior to 1 July 2014, and
• have not had a break in care of greater than 28 days since 1 July 2014

The income assessment determines the daily income tested fee amount. If no means assessment is completed, care recipients are liable for the full cost of their care, with a determination of Means Not Disclosed (MND). An income assessment could be completed at the time of entry or a care recipient could subsequently choose to complete an income assessment at a later date.

Assets Assessments

Aged Care asset assessments (previously known as RCAA) are required for care recipients:

• who first entered permanent residential aged care after 1 July 2005 and prior to 1 July 2014, and
• have not had a break in care of greater than 28 days since 1 July 2014

Applying for an assets assessment is voluntary. It is compulsory where the care recipient wishes to claim either:

• Concessional
• assisted, or
• supported resident status

Assets assessments can be completed either prior to, or after entry into care.

Prior to 1 July 2005, the registered provider completed these.

The assets assessment determines the resident status and if applicable the amount payable for accommodation costs. The care recipient will be liable for one of the following:

• Accommodation Bond:
• For those in low level care and extra service places
• Amount payable is dependent on the assets assessment
• Can be paid as a daily amount or as a lump sum and is negotiated with the registered provider
• Accommodation Charge
• For those in high level care
• Can only be paid as a daily amount
• Depending on the date that the care recipient first entered care, different rules about this charge apply. More details about these rules are available on the Resources page. This includes links to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing– Residential Care Fees and Charges for residents that entered care before 1 July 2014

Form options for pre 1 July 2014 residential aged care recipients are:

• SA456 for an income assessment
• Advise the care recipient to disregard the instructions on the form that state they are not to be used for residential aged care. This only applies to care recipients who first entered care on or after 1 July 2014
• SA485 for an assets only assessment where the care recipient is in receipt of a Centrelink means tested income support payment
• See below note regarding information about debts
• SA457 for an assets only assessment where the care recipient is a self-funded retiree or is not in receipt of a Centrelink means tested income support payment
• see below note regarding information about debts
• SA457 to obtain an estimate of fees if they are considering opting in to the post 1 November 2025 assessment rules

The Resources page has links to forms.

Note: pre 1 July 2014 residential aged care recipients cannot complete an online Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care.

Care recipients assessed under pre 1 July 2014 schemes can deduct the value of debts from their assessable assets. Further information regarding any outstanding debts, other than a mortgage on their principal home, need to be provided in addition to the information requested on the SA457 and SA485.

Debts include:

• Credit card debts
• Personal loans
• Utility bills
• Medical bills

Specific details required include:

• The amount owing
• The name of the creditor
• The care recipient’s percentage of share in the debt
• Their partner’s percentage of share in the debt

It may be possible to obtain this information verbally, but in most cases a Request for information letter will need to be sent.

A care recipient who does not complete a means assessment is not eligible for government assistance with their fees except for:

• annual and
• lifetime caps

They are deemed to be MND and are liable for the maximum care fee based on the cost of their care. Residential aged care recipients who are MND are also liable for an Accommodation Payment.

From 1 November 2025, care recipients may elect to not disclose their means or will be determined to be MND where they do not respond to the request to complete a means assessment. Those care recipients who elect to be MND, will only be able to have aged care fees reassessed from the date they provide their means if they choose to do so at a later date. Reassessments will not be backdated to an earlier date for an elected MND status.

MND Letters

Where a care recipient has:

• commenced care and does not have a valid means assessment:
• An MND initial letter is sent requesting they lodge an Aged Care Calculation of your cost of care
• If no response is received following the MND initial letter, an MND reminder letter is sent (unless the care recipient elects to not disclose their means)
• If no response is received following the MND reminder letter (or if the care recipient has elected to not disclose their means), the MND final letter is sent. The letter advises that they are now deemed to be MND and are liable to pay the maximum fees for their level of care
• not commenced care and has advised they do not wish to disclose their means (elected MND):
• MND letters will be sent for the pre–entry assessment
• When care has commenced, the initial fee set letter will be sent. This advises that they are deemed to be MND and are liable to pay the maximum fees for their level of care

Details of MND letter types are available in the Aged care letter codes and descriptions.

Where a calculation of your cost of care application has commenced, but documentation required to complete the assessment is not received, a written request for information will be issued. The care recipient is deemed to be MND if they fail to provide the requested information.

MND and responsible department/agency

For care recipients who entered care prior to 1 July 2019, the agency managed the MND process for all care recipients.

For care recipients entering care from 1 July 2019, the department/agency responsible for completing the means assessment manages the MND process.

Care recipients may commence Support at Home or residential aged care with the DVA as the responsible department. During their care period, the responsibility may change to Services Australia. Where change of responsibility occurs Process Direct will receive an entry event to create an RCA/HOM or RCA/NCL. The date of entry on RCIRC will display the date the responsible department changed. It will not show the actual date of entry into care. The change in responsibility date is the date of event for coding a means assessment.

Note: from 12 October 2024 onwards, Process Direct will receive all aged care entry and departure event notification instead of Customer First. Customer First will contain aged care event notification that occurred before 12 October 2024.

From 1 November 2025, DVA will be responsible for advising the MND status of the care recipients they are responsible for. This included both elected MND and failed to provide their means information MND statuses.

A care recipient may choose to opt into post 1 November 2025 assessment rules if moving to a new registered provider or at any time, and currently assessed under any pre 1 November 2025 scheme. To opt in, the care recipient:

• must be moving into the same service type (residential aged care to residential aged care)
• if the move is from home to residential aged care, the care recipient will automatically be assessed under post 1 November 2025 rules depending on their grand parented status
• can be remaining in the same service and changing their means tested fee arrangements
• must lodge an AC022 (Continuing residential aged care recipient opting into the new arrangements from 1 November 2025 form)
• the ACO22 must be lodged with the new registered provider before moving to the new service or before the date of effect on the AC022 form, or
• must be lodged with the current provider if changing the fee arrangement without moving, and
• the registered provider will then lodge the AC022 form as part of the entry or using the Aged Care Provider Portal (ACPP) for the Aged Care Payments Team (Health Service Delivery Division) to review the form prior to processing the event
• see the Resources page for a link to this form

When an 'anytime' opt in is chosen by the care recipient, their accommodation costs remain unchanged as the resident status is determined at the date of entry.

Care recipients who are outside of care (other than on approved leave) for more than 28 days after leaving their former home or residential aged care service are automatically subject to post 1 July 2014 assessment rules if they later re-enter care depending on their grandparenting status.

Once the care recipient has opted in, they cannot choose to return to their former fee arrangements. For more information see Opting into the post 1 July 2014 aged care means assessment arrangements.

• Pre 1 July 2014 care recipients are not able to opt in to the post 1 July 2014 scheme after 1 November 2025
• Post 1 July 2014 care recipients are not able to opt in to post 1 November 2025 Support at Home