Services Australia is a government organisation that offers free support to help you navigate aged care and financial matters. Their Aged Care Specialist Officers (ACSOs) can guide you through your options and make the process less challenging.
Aged Care Specialist Officers (ACSOs) can:
• Explain different aged care services
• Check your eligibility for government-funded care
• Refer you for an aged care assessment
• Help you appoint a representative for My Aged Care
• Provide financial info about aged care
• Connect you with local support services
How to book an ACSO appointment
You, your family or nominee can call the Aged Care line on 1800 227 422 or visit a service centre to book an appointment with an ACSO. Appointments are available in-person or via video chat. When you book, they will give you a booking reference number.
Need information to help with financial decisions?
Services Australia’s Financial Information Service (FIS) can also help you:
• increase your confidence with financial matters like investment, salary sacrifice and superannuation
• understand your own financial affairs and options
• understand financial planners and how to use their advice
• know how to use credit sensibly
• save and plan for the future through investing
• plan for your retirement
• understand what happens when you move into aged care.
Be aware these FIS officers are not financial planners or counsellors, so there are limits to the financial advice they can provide.
For example, they cannot:
• sell or give advice
• prepare financial plans or tax returns
• recommend investments
• tell you how to invest your money
• buy investment products
• make decisions about your pension
• recommend financial advisers.
Talk to Services Australia
If you get a payment from Services Australia, call the same number you use to call Centrelink. If you don’t get a payment from Services Australia, call them on the Centrelink Older Australians line. When asked why you’re calling, say ‘Financial Information Service’. Depending on your circumstances, the FIS Officer may book a face-to-face interview for you, either online through video chat or in person at a local service centre. If you join their free financial webinars live, you can also ask us questions during the event using the chat function.
(Article supplied)
