Everyone entering an aged care home for the first time from 1 July 2014 will need to complete and lodge an income and assets assessment form which will be used to determine their cost. Residents must lodge this form even if they currently receive a means-tested income support payment from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

The Depart of Human Services will use the means-test detailed below to identify whether a Resident is low-means:

Residents wtih low assets (at or below $175,239.20) plus very low income (below $28,472.60) will be assesed by the Australian Government as 'low-means' and may be eligible to pay only an assessed Accommodation Contribution. The Departments of Human Services will calculate the daily amount of this Contribution and will advise the Resident and Illawarra Diggers. Residents will be given the option to pay by Daily Accommodation Contributions or a combination of Refundable Accommodation Contribution and Daily Accommodation Contributions. Illawarra Diggers will also receive a daily accommodation subsidy from Government for these persons.

Residents with very low assets (at or below $51,500) plus income (at or below $71,781.32) will be assessed by the Australian Government as 'low-means' and may be eligible to pay only an assessed Accommodation Contribution. The Department of Human Services will calculate the daily amount of this Contribution and will advise the Resident and the Illawarra Diggers. Residents will be given the option to pay by Daily Accommodation Contribution or a combination of Refundable Accommodation Contribution and Daily Accommodation Contributions. Illawarra Diggers will recive a daily accommodation subsidy fo rthese persons from Government.

Residents with very low assets (below $51,500) plus very low income (below $28,472.60) will be assessed by the Australian Government is 'low-means' and no Accommodation Payment or Contribution is chargeable. Illawarra Diggers will receive a daily accommodation subsidy for these persons from Government.