A lot of elders often have the problem when applying for home live a retired life allowance: will my personal assets and income affect the application for this allowance? The answer is no. A level of home live a retired life allowance granted to the elderly is related only to the level of personal care needs, but not to assets and income.
However, if the annual income of the elderly individual exceeds a certain amount, on the basis of ensuring that the total amount of allowances available to the elderly remains unchanged, the government will reduce the amount of funds issued, and the remaining part will be paid by the elderly themselves. Instead of being collected by the Authority, the funds will be entered into the Home live a retired life Allowance account for elders for use by elders.
Here is the concept of "income testing fees" that elders may be exposed to when introducing home live a retired life allowances. So what is the income measurement fee? what situation need to pay? how much need to pay? How to make the payment? This issue will provide a comprehensive answer to these questions.
what is the income test fee?
Upon the approval of the Home live a retired life Allowance (Home Care Package) for the elderly, additional contribution costs may be incurred depending on the individual`s financial position, which is referred to as the "Income Test Fee (Income Tested Fee)". This part of the fee is charged by the Ministry of Social Welfare (Centrelink) and can not be waived by the institution administering the allowance or paid using the home live a retired life allowance.
A senior official of the Ministry of Health (Department of Health) said in an e-mail :" If the administration does not charge an income test fee, this is an offence and the Ministry of Health will continue to investigate to prevent such a situation. "
You should also be reminded that elders who are using home live a retired life services may be required to charge the fee at the maximum daily limit ($30.86) unless they are receiving full pension.
How to do the income test?
The elderly can complete SA486 online form at: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/forms/sa486
Or call 1800227475(Chinese translation), contact the Australian Service (Services Australia), apply for SA456 paper form.
The Australian Authority will calculate the income testing fees to be paid by the elders and post the relevant information to the elders and their chosen subsidy authorities.
Evaluation criteria
The income that can be assessed directly includes subsidy funds received from government, rental income, business income, salary 、 overseas pension, family trust dividends, etc.
And the items that need to calculate income according to certain proportion include bank deposit, cash deposit, bond, stock, gold bar and so on;
Fixed assets projects will not affect income assessment, including real estate and interior furniture, vehicles, yachts, antiques, collections, insurance, farms, etc.
If the annual income of the elderly exceeds the following amount, the income test fee is payable:
- If the elderly live alone, annual income exceeds $$27,736.80;
- If elderly couples live together, annual income exceeds $$21,502.00;
- If the couple is separated by illness, the annual income exceeds $$27,216.80.
A maximum of A $30.86 per day is payable to elders when their annual income exceeds $following amount:
- If the elderly live alone, annual income exceeds $$53,627.60;
- If elderly couples live together, annual income exceeds $$41,017.60;
- If the couple is separated by illness, the annual income exceeds $A $53,107.60.
The elderly can also go to the following website to estimate the amount of the possible income test fee: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/fee-estimator, or call 1800200422 to contact the Department of Aging Services (My Aged Care) to estimate.
economic hardship allowance
in some special cases, for example, the elderly have spent much more on medical expenses than her income, resulting in financial difficulties can not pay the income test fee, can try to apply for economic hardship allowance to get help. If you wish to apply for economic hardship allowance, you must meet the following requirements:
- (b) Personal assets are less than 1.5 times the total annual government pension;
- Donations received in the past year do not exceed A $$10,000 or A $30,000 in the past five years;
- Personal income is assessed under the Elderly Care Act (1997).
The elderly can download the application form for economic hardship allowance at the following address SA462: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/forms/sa462, or call 1800 227 475. Application.
If you have any questions about the fee, please call the Chinese hotline at 1300 911 Learn more about happy life. Earnings testing fees have a vital impact on the introduction of the Home live a retired life Allowance.
