Supported Residential Services

Last amended: 1 August 2014

What are supported residential services?

Supported Residential Services (SRS) operate privately in the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. They offer supported accommodation to older people and people with a disability. They vary greatly in terms of the accommodation and the level of care.

There are SRS that specialise in, or have a majority of pension age residents. Some SRS are located within a retirement village complex. Others provide more basic bedrooms (possibly shared) in a house or complex, for frail older adults and/or people with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities.  SRS must be approved and registered with either their state or local governments and operate according to state or local government legislative requirements. SRS are not funded under the Aged Care Act 1997, nor are they required to meet aged care provider accreditation requirements. Any person can apply for SRS accommodation and no aged care assessment is required.

SRS fees and charges

SRS do not receive government funding. Residents essentially fund the SRS via the recurrent fees payable, which cover accommodation, meals and the level of care provided. Generally, to enter SRS accommodation the facility does not require a payment for accommodation costs, or apply a means test. A resident is free to leave at short notice. However, SRS facilities at the upper end of the market may charge residents an entry contribution.

SRS residents are not aged care residents

SRS are primarily regulated by  State Governments through health, residential or community services legislation. In South Australia, SRS are regulated through local government. Any person can apply for SRS accommodation and no aged care assessment is required. The definition of an aged care resident in subsection 5NC(5) of the VEA makes reference to approved care and approved provider under the Aged Care Act 1997. As SRS are not funded under the Aged Care Act 1997, nor are they required to meet aged care provider accreditation requirements, they are not approved aged care facilities and SRS residents are not regarded as aged care residents for income support purposes.

SRS residents may be considered to be “in care” in certain circumstances

The level of care provided in SRS vary. Some SRS residents will be living independently with very limited support. However, some residents may have a need for considerable support. A person living in a SRS may now be regarded as being in care if they can demonstrate that they have been receiving or are likely to receive a substantial level of care for at least 14 consecutive days. If a person living in an SRS is regarded as being in care, the in care assessment rules apply. Each case needs to be carefully considered on its own merits. Please contact Policy Advisings Income Support for advice regarding any affected cases and clarification of backdating.    

Considering SRS premises as a retirement village

The Commission has the discretionary powers to determine that r — esidential premises constitute a retirement village if the premises have similar functions.

SRS premises requiring an entry contribution can generally be considered as a retirement village under the discretion cited above, unless there is any evidence that the premises are not primarily intended for people over 55 years of age.

However, in making such a determination, the delegate should still look at all the circumstances of the case, taking into account:

• the age of the residents,
• the nature of accommodation provided,
• the obligations of the residents, and
• the contractual agreement actually entered into by the resident.

Assessment of an SRS resident

The following table demonstrates how a resident in SRS premises should be assessed.