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Funding support
There are many forms of support available in community that could help people in need. Sadly, many of the supports are hard to find, hard to understand, have complex eligibility rules, and can be hard to work with once you are in. We are here to help.
For some people, we simply help find and deliver all the services they need. Others cannot get the help they need without financial support.
LINK works with you and your family to help identify the financial support that is available and helps you navigate through the eligibility rules and ongoing administration.
People are not all the same. Funding support is not all the same. People may be eligible for different forms of funding and support under different programs, different levels of government or other services and organisations. Its complex, messy, hard to find, and sometimes frustrating.
LINK will help bring this together into something that works for you. We will deal with the complexity so you don’t have to.
Help with financial support and eligibility rules
We identify and deliver the services that best fit your needs – and help source available funding and eligibility for those in financial need.
NDIS
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides $22Bn in funding to ~500,000 Australians who qualify under the scheme, out of 4.3m Australians who have some form disability.
We help you navigate to get the best out of your NDIS eligibility.
LINK is accredited to deliver our high quality care and transport services to agency managed, plan managed or self managed clients – directly or through your plan manager – as a stand-alone service or in partnership with councils, community health and other providers.
No funding? Self Funded? Already registered? Just starting now? With another provider? Feel like you are missing out? Just plain confused!….
HACC PYP
The Home and Community Care Program for Younger People (HACC PYP) is a Victorian program that provides services to support younger people with disabilities, and their carers.
We help you navigate to get the best out of your HACC PYP eligibility.
LINK is accredited to deliver our high quality care and transport as a stand-alone service or in partnership with councils, community health and other providers.
No funding? Self Funded? Already registered? Just starting now? With another provider? Feel like you are missing out? Just plain confused!….
CHSP
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is a Commonwealth program that funds services for older people to live independently in their homes and communities, and respite services to give carers a break. The program aims to: help people live as independently as possible; work with them, rather than doing things for them, and give a small amount of help to a large number of people. CHSP is supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
LINK helps you get the best out of your CHSP eligibility, delivering quality services directly, in combination with other service, other support, and links to health services, community programs and other support.
CHSP Fee Policy
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) offers essential, entry-level support to help older individuals maintain their independence. Our CHSP Fee Policy outlines how LINK Community & Transport collects client contributions, ensuring fairness and flexibility, particularly in cases of financial difficulty. The fee schedule may be updated as needed.
Please expand below to see the full policy.
LINK Community & Transport CHSP Fee Policy
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) offers essential, entry-level support to help older individuals maintain their independence. This Fee Policy outlines how LINK Community & Transport collects client contributions, ensuring fairness and flexibility, particularly in cases of financial difficulty. The fee schedule may be updated as needed.
Key Principles
- Consistency: Clients able to contribute to their care costs are expected to do so, but fees will not exceed the actual cost of services.
- Fairness: Contributions are based on the client’s ability to pay and will not surpass the actual cost of service delivery, considering partnered clients and compensation payments.
- Financial Hardship: Provisions are in place for clients who are unable to meet the requested contributions.
- Reporting: Compliance with grant agreements requires providers to report the amount collected from client contributions.
- Sustainability: Contributions support ongoing and expanded service delivery.
Client Access
Clients will be informed about LINK Community & Transport’s CHSP Fee Policy before services commence. Any changes to the fee schedule or policy will be communicated at least 30 days in advance.
- Support will not be denied due to an inability to pay fees.
- The rights of clients and carers are respected in the fee assessment, setting, and charging process.
Invoicing and Payment Options
- Monthly invoices will be issued and emailed or posted based on client preference.
- Payment options include Credit Card, Electronic Funds Transfer or payment at the Commonwealth Bank payable monthly in arrears.
Our Commitments to Clients
- Fees are determined transparently, accessibly, and fairly.
- Invoices and statements are clear and easy to understand.
- Fees will be reviewed if there are changes in financial circumstances.
- No client will be denied services due to an inability to pay fees.
Client Responsibilities
- Pay the agreed fees or work with LINK Community & Transport for an alternative arrangement if financial circumstances change.
- Provide sufficient information for LINK Community & Transport to determine an appropriate repayment plan.
CHSP Client Contribution Framework
- Fees are only sought from clients with the capacity to pay.
- Fees will not exceed the actual cost of services.
- Clients unable to pay can request a financial hardship consideration.
- Clients should request a fee review if their financial situation changes.
- The Fee Policy is publicly available in electronic and, upon request, hard copy formats.
Handling Non-Payment of Fees
- LINK Community & Transport will contact clients who are over 30 days in arrears to discuss non-payment reasons.
- A review of the client’s ability to pay will be conducted, considering instalment payments or fee reductions if necessary.
- Efforts will be made to agree on a fee with the client, who will be informed of their right to appeal and use advocacy services.
- If the client still fails to pay, a written reminder will be issued, requesting payment within 30 days. The Finance Manager will decide how to manage the debt. Services may be ceased at the discretion of LINK Community & Transport if payment is not made within 60 days of the original due date. The client will be notified in writing and informed of their right to appeal the decision.
No funding? Self Funded? Already registered? Just starting now? With another provider? Feel like you are missing out? Just plain confused!….
Home Care Packages
Home Care Packages are a Commonwealth program to deal with your higher care needs, where consumers have more control over who delivers the care and services that best benefit your health and wellbeing needs at home and in the community.
There are four different tiers of Home Care Packages (HCP) available for basic, low, intermediate or high care, with amounts allocated on the basis of an assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team service (ACAT).
We help you navigate to get the best out of your HCP eligibility.
LINK is accredited to deliver our high quality care and transport services – directly or through your plan manager – as a stand-alone service or in partnership with councils, community health and other providers.
No funding? Self Funded? Already registered? Just starting now? With another provider? Feel like you are missing out? Just plain confused!….
Self-Funded
Self-funded should not mean unsupported. People may be self-funded because they are not eligible for certain programs, and, quite commonly, because they do not need to, or want to rely on public funding.
Much of the mainstream health, disability and aged care system is designed around getting services for disadvantaged people who cannot afford to pay,
Ironically, the design of the system means that self-funded clients have a huge battle to get the support they need to support their independent wellbeing at home – even though they can afford to pay.
Self-funded clients deserve the very best advice, guidance and service to help them live well and independently at home, and stay connected to services and community.
Self-funded clients should still be offered classes, outings, social opportunities, fit-for-purpose assisted transport, an ability to get to family and community functions, and all of the things that contribute to being able to live your best life.
LINK is here to help.
No funding? Self Funded? Already registered? Just starting now? With another provider? Feel like you are missing out? Just plain confused!….
Other funding
Others forms of support
There are many many other forms of support available in the community that do not necessarily take the form of funding programs.
LINK will help identify, meet eligibility requirements and engage you with all of the different services and support that can help you live your best life.
This includes:
- Companion card (for carer access to services)
- Local council events programs
- Community health programs
- Advocacy and elder rights programs
- Legal and financial services
- Seniors discounts from utilities & services
- Seniors discounts from entertainment & companies
- Mental health services
- Seniors clubs and social groups
- Community, ethnic and religious groups
- Active aging exercise and social groups
- Counselling and grief support groups
- Dementia support groups
- Continence support groups
- Hearing and sight support groups
- Assisted mobility technology and equipment
- Vehicle modification options and advice
And much much much more.
No funding? Self Funded? Already registered? Just starting now? With another provider? Feel like you are missing out? Just plain confused!….
