With our population rapidly ageing, the demand for quality Aged Care in Australia is increasing. 

Currently, there are over one hundred thousand older Australians who have been assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package but are still waiting for one to become available.

So how does the government allocate Home Care Packages and how long can you expect to wait in national queue before you’re able to access services?

Joining the wait list

After your ACAT assessment, you will receive a letter confirming your eligibility for a Home Care Package and the level you’ve been approved for. You will now join a queue of other people also waiting to receive their package.

There is a significant demand for these packages and wait times may vary. Packages are supposed to be allocated as fairly as possible and are based on the approval date and priority level stated in the letter you receive from My Aged Care.

Your priority status is based on your specific circumstances and needs. If you have been assessed as having an urgent need for care, you will be prioritised and your wait time will be less.

Checking your expected Home Care Package wait time

The amount of time between being approved for a Home Care Package and being allocated a Home Care Package changes depending on the current demand and the amount of Home Care Packages available. If you’d like to check the current, average wait times for a Home Care Package, the My Aged Care website updates this as things adjust.

Currently, as at March 2024, the average wait times for a Home Care Package are as follows:

For people with a medium priority, the expected wait time for an approved Home Care Package (starting from the date on the letter of approval) is:

  • Level 1: Less than 1 month
  • Level 2: 3-6 months
  • Level 3: 9-12 months
  • Level 4: 6-9 months

*Obtained from www.myagedcare.com.au

Using your My Aged Care online account to check your wait time

After registering with My Aged Care (which you will have done in order to be assessed and approved for a Home Care Package), an online account is created for you. You don’t need to do anything other than give your approval for this account to be created, the My Aged Care team will take care of it for you.

You can use your online account to check your current wait time and get a good idea about when you’re going to receive your Home Care Package.

In order to view your My Aged Care online account, you will first need to link it to your myGov account. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this. Make sure you have your Medicare card or your Aged Care ID number handy!

If you don’t already have a myGov account, follow this guide on how to set one up.

If you’d prefer to speak to someone instead of using your online account, you can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and ask them what your current wait time is.

What to do while you are waiting

Although you may feel frustrated having to wait for your package to become available, there are things you can do during this period so you’re ready to access care services once the funding becomes available.

This is a good opportunity to think carefully about the services you think you need and research providers in your area who are able to provide these services. Not sure where to start? Simply give us a call today and we’ll help you determine the type of services that best suit your needs and start looking into available providers in your area – at ZERO cost to you.

We’ve vetted a large network of high-quality providers, Australia-wide, and offer free, no-obligation access to our team of Aged Care Specialists. So you can save hours of time and stress, and quickly find a local provider who will meet your needs.