There are a number of government allowances and schemes for aged care residents. These are generally provided through Centrelink.

There are many Government financial support services for older Australians and carers including:

• Age Pension (if you are over a certain age and meet an assets and income test)
• Centrepay (having regular amounts deducted from Centrelink payments)
• Disability Support Pension (for those under the Age Pension age and older than 16 who cannot work due to a disability)
• Lump sum advance payment (an advance from Centrelink)
• Pension loan scheme (for those whose capital is tied in assets and are eligible for pension under an income and assets test)
• Utilities allowance (paying for your utilities bills)
• Mobility Allowance (for disabled workers or trainees over 16 to meet travel costs)
• Carer Payment (providing income-support payment for those whose caring prevent them from working significantly)
• Carer Allowance (providing income supplement for those who provide care and attention at home to someone with a disability or severe medical condition)

Generally, if you are seeking assistance from the Government for the cost of accommodation and nursing care at a nursing home or retirement home, you will need to undergo an assets assessment. You will need to fill out a Request for an Assets Assessment form, which you can acquire online, via the Aged Care Information Line (1800 500 853) or from your Aged Care Assessment Team.

There is also a free Financial Information Service provided by Centrelink, where you can get independent financial planning advice.

If you are a war veteran and you don’t have a Gold or White Repatriation Health Care from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), then you should get your income assessment managed by Centrelink rather than the DVA. However, if you are veteran from another Commonwealth country, you should contact the DVA to assess your status. Although veterans from other countries are not eligible for Veteran Home Care Services through DVA, they are eligible for other Australian Government aged and home care services.