Commonwealth Home Support Program
This program is right for you if you are an older person who can mostly – but not completely – live and cope on your own, and don’t yet need higher levels of support. It aims to help you stay independent and in your home and community for longer.
The government’s My Aged Care will work out what’s best for you, based on an assessment by the Regional Assessment Service (RAS).
The program can also help your carer. If he or she needs to be absent the CHSP can arrange for someone else to help you. The program also helps provide respite services for carers.
My Aged Care is the critical point for information and services. It provides:
- A central record so your information can be shared with assessors and Service Providers
- A consistent, streamlined assessment process
- Access to relevant and accurate information
- Referrals for assessments and services
My Aged Care also sets the priority for assistance, based on your need and the availability of carers.
To be eligible for this program you need to be at least 65 years of age or at least 50 if you identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person or you are on a low income, homeless or at risk of homelessness.
You will be expected to pay some money towards the cost of the services.
Under this program, you will be managing your services yourself, rather than having someone else do that. You make and cancel bookings as you need them and you handle the payments directly with a service provider.
