Impact on self-funded retirees

Less than 10% of aged care residents have income or assets that preclude them from receiving an income support pension.

To enable the calculation of fees for self-funded retirees who enter aged care after 1 March 1998, Centrelink will initiate the assessment of income and will generally be responsible for providing income figures to DH&FS.

However, DVA will take responsibility for assessing one small group of self-funded retirees - those who receive disability pension and have qualifying service.  This will enable DVA to exempt disability pension from assessment as income, for the purposes of determining their aged care fees.