By Steve Hadfield, AgedCareActionPlan.au · Last updated: 15 May 2026
The aged care assessment team applies a scoring algorithm — the Integrated Assessment Tool — across multiple areas of daily functioning. The classification it produces determines your quarterly funding for years. The difference between Classification 3 and Classification 4 is $7,730 per year. That gap is often decided by what was documented about cognition and daily functioning. Most families walk in without knowing what's being scored.
The algorithm is not a secret. The government publishes the IAT framework in legislation — but doesn't explain it to families. The assessor scores functional impact, not diagnoses. A person with diagnosed dementia who manages independently scores differently to a person with diagnosed dementia who cannot manage medications, orient to time and place, or stay safe at home. Specific incidents with dates score more accurately than general descriptions of difficulty.
This guide explains what each area of the assessment measures, what questions assessors ask, and what specific information produces an accurate classification. Use the assessment preparation tool to generate a printable written statement covering all key areas — hand it to the assessor when they arrive.
The classification the assessor produces determines your quarterly budget — the government's contribution toward Support at Home services. The gap between adjacent classifications is significant. The difference between Classification 3 and Classification 4 alone is $7,730 per year.
| Classification level | Quarterly budget | Annual value |
|---|---|---|
| Classification 1 | $2,683 | $10,731 |
| Classification 2 | $4,009 | $16,034 |
| Classification 3 | $5,491 | $21,966 |
| Classification 4 ← most common home care level | $7,424 | $29,696 |
| Classification 5 | $9,924 | $39,697 |
| Classification 6 | $12,029 | $48,114 |
| Classification 7 | $14,537 | $58,148 |
| Classification 8 | $19,527 | $78,106 |
Source: DoHAC "Support at Home program – classifications and budgets" PDF. Effective 1 November 2025. Exact figures: Classification 4 $7,424.10/qtr; Classification 8 $19,526.59/qtr. Recheck after 1 July 2026 indexation.
For what each classification level buys in actual care hours, read the classifications in hours guide.
The written statement has to exist before the visit — not after. The assessment preparation tool generates it in the time you have.
The Integrated Assessment Tool covers multiple areas of daily functioning. For each area, the assessor is looking for functional limitations — what the person can't do, or can only do with support. The algorithm is governed by the Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025. Cognition and activities of daily living carry the highest weight in producing the classification.
What assessors score: Whether the person can walk safely, transfer (sit to stand, bed to chair), use stairs, and move around the home without help or with aids.
Key detail: Falls history in the last 12 months is specifically scored. A documented fall scores differently to 'some instability.' The algorithm responds to specifics — frequency, circumstances, whether help was needed to get up.
What assessors score: Whether the person needs prompting, supervision, or physical assistance for personal care. 'Needs prompting' and 'needs physical help' score differently.
Key detail: The distinction between 'I manage' and 'I manage because my daughter helps me every morning' is critical. The algorithm scores independent function — not what gets done with help.
What assessors score: Memory, orientation, decision-making, medication management. Cognition and activities of daily living carry the highest weight in the classification algorithm.
Key detail: Specific incidents score more accurately than general descriptions. Left the stove on, forgot a GP appointment, got confused in a familiar place — dated examples give the assessor what the algorithm needs.
The difference between Classification 3 and Classification 4 is $7,730 per year. Cognition is the area most likely to determine which side of that line the algorithm lands on. Specific documented incidents — not general descriptions of memory difficulty — are what shifts the score.
What assessors score: Bladder and bowel control, use of continence aids, whether management is independent or requires assistance.
Key detail: Continence issues are consistently underreported because people feel embarrassed. 'Occasional accidents' and 'wears pads daily' score very differently.
What assessors score: Falls history, near-misses, environmental hazards in the home, and ability to respond in an emergency.
Key detail: The algorithm scores falls by frequency, not just severity. A person who has minor falls twice a week scores higher than someone who had one serious fall requiring hospitalisation. Specifics matter.
What assessors score: Depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, changes in mood or behaviour from the person's baseline.
Key detail: Changes from baseline are more meaningful than current state alone. Someone who was previously social but now refuses to leave the house is a significant change — the algorithm is looking for deterioration, not just current level.
What assessors score: Hearing in conversation, vision affecting daily life, ability to express needs and understand others.
Key detail: Diagnoses alone score lower than functional impact. 'Hearing loss diagnosed' vs 'cannot follow a conversation, misses phone calls, doesn't wear aids reliably' are scored differently.
What assessors score: Social connections, activities, isolation, engagement with community.
Key detail: Isolation doesn't need to be absolute to score. Reduced frequency of contact, loss of activities, reliance on family as the only social contact — all relevant.
The assessment preparation tool generates a printable written statement covering all these areas — structured to hand over at the start of the visit, before the conversation begins.
The assessor will ask questions across all key areas. Having specific information written down before the visit produces a more accurate result than recalling incidents on the day. Prepare these before the assessor arrives:
Hand over the written document before the conversation begins. Most families try to recall everything verbally on the day. They describe good days. They minimise. The assessor sees 45–90 minutes and scores what they observe and hear.
If the person is having a better day than usual when the assessor arrives, name it directly.
"I want to make sure you have an accurate picture. Today is actually a better day than normal. On harder days — which happen [X times per week] — I struggle to [specific example]. I've written down specific incidents across each area. Can I give that to you now?"
Five rights most families don't know to use:
Request a formal review. Under the Aged Care Act 2024, you have the right to request reconsideration within 28 days of your Notice of Decision. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
When requesting a review, bring specific documented evidence not captured in the original assessment — incidents, functional limitations, dates. A GP letter confirming functional limitations strengthens the case. Use the reassessment letter tool to generate a formal review request.
If the review is also unresolved, the escalation ladder guide covers who to call next — including OPAN (1800 700 600) for free independent advocacy.
Most families wish they'd had this before the assessment
A Classification 4 is worth $29,696 in care funding every year. The difference between Classification 3 and 4 often comes down to one conversation. The $97 action plan gives you the written list framework, the exact areas the algorithm scores, and the scripts for every call from registration to 56-day provider sign-up.
Full refund if it doesn't tell you something useful you didn't already know. 374:1 ratio in Year 1 alone. Available immediately after purchase — 30 minutes to read, designed for the morning of the assessment.
Get your action plan — $97 →Generate a printable written statement covering all key assessment areas — hand it to the assessor when they arrive.
The assessment team uses the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) to assess functional needs across mobility, cognition, self-care, continence, falls risk, behaviour, communication, and social engagement. The algorithm produces a classification from 1 to 8. Classification 1: $2,683/quarter ($10,731/year). Classification 4: $7,424/quarter ($29,696/year). Classification 8: $19,527/quarter ($78,106/year). The assessment scores functional impact — what the person cannot do — not diagnoses.
Questions cover: mobility (walking, transfers, stairs, falls history), cognition (memory, orientation, medication management), self-care (showering, dressing, eating), continence, falls risk (incidents, home hazards), behaviour (mood changes, withdrawal), communication (hearing, speech), and social engagement (activities, isolation). Specific incidents with dates score more accurately than general descriptions.
Cognition and activities of daily living carry the highest weight. Falls history, medication management, and home safety are also heavily scored. The assessment scores functional impact — not diagnoses. Specific documented incidents score more accurately than general descriptions of difficulty.
Yes. Request a review through My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 within 28 days of your Notice of Decision. Document specific incidents the assessment missed. A GP letter confirming functional limitations helps. Contact OPAN on 1800 700 600 for free advocacy support.
You can request a reassessment at any time. There is no minimum time between assessments. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. If needs have increased significantly, you may be eligible for a higher classification.
Free preparation tool
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Start the free preparation tool →This guide is for information only — not legal, medical, or financial advice. Verified against the Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025. Check myagedcare.gov.au for current rates and rules.