That Letter Might Mean More Than You Think
Before it ends up in the junk pile, take a moment to check — it might be the letter you’ve been waiting for.
It’s easy to overlook Government-branded letters, sometimes they aren’t junk mail—in fact, if you receive a letter from My Aged Care, chances are, it’s an important one!
We get it! Government paperwork can be confusing, and while it’s tempting to simply set aside for “later,” this could be your key to unlocking the support you need at home—government funded, and tailored to your needs.
While you keep a lookout for this letter, here we reveal your fast guide to understanding the various letter types you could receive from My Aged Care.
1. The “You’re Approved” Letter — Congrats, you’re on the way!
After your ACAT assessment, you’ll receive a letter confirming your approval for a Home Care Package (HCP). It clearly outlines your assigned funding level (from Level 1 to 4), based on the support needs identified during your assessment.
What it means:
You’re now on the national waitlist. Nothing changes at home just yet, but you’re officially in the system.
Next step:
Keep this letter handy. It’s proof of your approval. If things get worse while you wait, you can request a reassessment.
Keeping in mind, the standard wait period for a funded Home Care Package (HCP) to arrive, is anywhere up to 12 months from when you first received your letter of approval.
2. The ‘Approval for a Home Care Package’ Letter—It’s go time!
When you (finally) receive this letter, it’s the big one! This means your funding for a Home Care Package is now ready to be used. In this letter, you’ll find a referral code (sometimes called a referral number, or simply, a MAC code, which simply stands for ‘My Aged Care’ referral code)—this is the code you’ll need to use for what comes next.
What it means:
You have 56 days to use your referral (or MAC) code before the offer expires. After this time period, the allocated funding goes back into the pool, and you may need to rejoin the waitlist.
Next step:
There’s no need to stress or risk missing out on receiving the support you need, simply call our CareAbout team. We’ll help you to quickly and easily compare trusted, high-quality providers so you can get the right support in place, fast. These are providers that we’ve thoroughly vetted, and if we wouldn’t leave them to our families—then we wouldn’t leave them to you.
3. The ‘Notification of Home Care Package Assignment’ Letter – A partial win!
Think of this letter as your interim letter—while awaiting funding for a higher package, this letter confirms the level of the interim package that you’ve been assigned for. It will also explain that you’re still on the waitlist for a higher-level package, but will provide a referral code together with an outline of what comes next (until your full package is allocated).
What it means:
You can start receiving some support now. It won’t cover everything, but it’s better than waiting empty-handed—think of this as your partial support until you’re provided the full support you need.
Next step:
Activate your interim package and get started. You’ll be automatically upgraded when your full package becomes available.
4. The “You Didn’t Respond in Time” Letter — But there’s still hope!
If you missed your 56-day window to accept your package, this letter will let you know the offer has expired (just remember, only within the 56-day period, you can call My Aged Care to ask for a 28-day extension if needed).
What it means:
After the 56-day period has ended (and you haven’t applied for an extension), you’ll need to contact My Aged Care to be re-added to the waitlist. It’s frustrating but fixable.
Next step:
Call us. We’ll help you get back on track and avoid missing out again.
5. The ‘Reassessment’ or ‘Change in Circumstances’ Letter — It’s time for an update!
If your needs have changed, or you’ve asked for a review, you may receive a letter confirming a reassessment or adjustment to your package level.
What it means:
You could be eligible for more support, or a different kind of service. It’s worth paying attention to—of course, our CareAbout team can help you to understand what your options look like.
Next step:
Talk to us about how this change might impact your funding or services. You might be able to get more hours or different types of care.
Still not sure what your letter means? We’ve got you.
After all, when it comes to government letters—there is still room for interpretation. As we know, these letters are important but they can also be hard to decode, especially if you’re already juggling care needs, health concerns, or just day-to-day life.
That’s where CareAbout comes in.
No jargon or fancy language, no pressure—just support.
We’re here to CareAbout you, always. We’ll explain exactly what your letter means, what your options are, and how to move forward as efficiently as possible.
We provided this essential support at no cost to you—completely free. CareAbout continues to help families all over Australia to get the right support quickly, simply, and at no cost.
Simply give our CareAbout team a call today, and we’ll walk you through it.
We’re here to CareAbout you—and at no cost.
