The Australian Government funds various aged care and disability support programs.
One of them is the Home Care Package program. It focuses on providing elderly Australians with the help and care they need so they can remain living at home.
The NDIS stands for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It's centred around people with disabilities that prevent them from completing daily life activities.
These are two separate government-funded programs with different eligibility criteria and focuses.
The question is - Can you have a Home Care Package and NDIS support simultaneously? Keep reading to find out.
Can You Receive Support Through Home Care Packages and the NDIS at the Same Time?
Let's get straight to the point. You can't receive support through both programs at the same time.
The reason you can't apply for Home Care Packages and the NDIS is the eligibility criteria.
To apply for a Home Care Package, you must be over the age of 65. The age requirement is lowered to 50 for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people.
To apply for the NDIS, you must be between the ages of 9 and 65.
So, it all comes down to your age.
The NDIS and Home Care Packages - What Is the Difference?
Home Care Packages focus on providing aged care support to elderly people. The NDIS focuses on providing support to younger people with disabilities.
Here are the main differences between Home Care Packages and the NDIS:
- Age requirements: You have to be at least 65 to apply for a Home Care Package and no older than 65 to apply for the NDIS.
- Assessment: Eligibility for an HCP is determined by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). Eligibility for the NDIS is based on meeting specific disability criteria.
- Services provided: Home Care Package services allow the elderly person to remain living at home. The NDIS focuses on providing services that make living with a disability easier and more manageable.
- Funding source: The HCP program is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Health. The NDIS is also funded by the Australian government, but it operates as a social insurance scheme.
Am I Eligible for Home Care Packages?
To determine whether you are eligible for this aged care program, take a look at the eligibility requirements:
- Age: You must be older than 65 to apply (50 for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people).
- Care needs: You have been diagnosed with a medical condition or have reduced mobility, which prevents you from completing everyday tasks.
- Care arrangements: You have experienced a change in family care arrangements, and you currently have no one to take care of you.
- Current condition: You have recently been admitted to a hospital, or you have experienced a recent fall.
Note that your current and long-term needs will be assessed. The ACAT looks at how independently you live at home and whether you need help completing certain tasks.
This includes considering the following factors:
- Your ability to perform activities of daily living (e.g., bathing, dressing, meal preparation)
- Mobility
- Cognition
- Any medical or health-related needs
Am I Eligible for the NDIS?
You can easily figure out if you are eligible for the NDIS with our NDIS eligibility checklist.
There are three types of requirements for accessing the NDIS:
- The age requirement
- The residency requirement
- The disability requirement
If you want to apply for NDIS support, you must be older than 9 and younger than 65.
You must also be an Australian citizen. This includes permanent visa holders and Protected Special Category visa holders.
Disability requirements are the most complex. You have to have a disability that somehow prevents you from living everyday life or makes it challenging to do so.
This doesn't only cover physical disabilities. To be eligible for the NDIS, you may also have:
- Mental conditions
- Intellectual disabilities
- Sensory issues
- Cognitive disorders
- Neurological illnesses
- Autoimmune diseases
- Genetic disorders
- Psychosocial disabilities
Who Should Apply for Home Care Packages?
You should apply for a Home Care Package if:
- You are 65 or over. Home Care Packages are primarily targeted at older Australians who need help remaining at home as they age.
- You have care needs related to aging. Home Care Packages are designed to support those with care needs related to aging. This includes help with personal care, household tasks, and mobility.
- You want to stay in your own home. If you prefer to continue living in your own home rather than moving into residential aged care, a Home Care Package can provide the support you need.
- You need help with daily activities. Home Care Packages offer services to help with activities of daily living. For example, bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and medication management.
Who Should Apply for the NDIS?
You should apply for the NDIS if:
- You are under the age of 65. The NDIS is for those under 65 years old who have a permanent and significant disability. Their disability must impact their ability to participate fully in everyday activities.
- You have a disability. The NDIS provides support to people with disabilities across a wide range of conditions. This includes physical, intellectual, sensory, and psychosocial disabilities.
- You have goals for independence and community participation. The NDIS aims to help individuals with disabilities achieve their goals. It also lets them participate in the community through tailored support and services.
- You need specialised support and services. The NDIS can fund a wide range of supports and services tailored to your individual needs. This includes therapy services, assistive technology, personal care, and social participation activities.
Can People Younger Than 65 Apply for a Home Care Package?
There may be an exception to the eligibility rule if you are a younger person with a disability.
People younger than 65 can apply for a Home Care Package under certain circumstances.
Home Care Packages are primarily targeted at older Australians. But they can also be accessed by younger people with disabilities or conditions that significantly impact their ability to live on their own.
Home Care Package eligibility is based on a person's care needs rather than their age alone.
So, if your needs aren't being met through other care programs, you may be able to apply for a Home Care Package.
That being said, look at the HCP program as your last option. Try applying for the NDIS first, and if that doesn't work out, you can try the Home Care Package program.
Home Care Packages vs. the NDIS
The Home Care Package program and the NDIS are both government-funded programs that provide support to Australians in need.
But they have different eligibility criteria, focuses, and funding sources.
You can't receive support through both programs at the same time. You have to choose one, and you should do so based on your eligibility criteria and care needs.
Whether you want to apply for the HCP program or the NDIS, Inclusive Home Care provides both. We offer aged care support and disability support.
Contact us if you are having trouble figuring out which care program is better suited for you.
