ACAT Assessment: How Aged Care Assessment Works in 2026
How the ACAT assessment works in 2026: how it became part of the Single Assessment System, the comprehensive assessment, and what to expect on the day.
What ACAT meant
What changed
Comprehensive versus home support assessment
What the assessor looks at
How to arrange one
What the outcome means
If circumstances change
Frequently asked questions
Is the ACAT assessment still called that in 2026?
People still widely say ACAT, but it is now delivered as a Comprehensive Assessment within the Single Assessment System, introduced in December 2024. The old assessment teams were merged into one workforce, so the process is unified.
What is the difference between the two assessment types?
A Home Support Assessment covers lower-level needs and generally leads to the Commonwealth Home Support Programme. A Comprehensive Assessment, the successor to the ACAT, covers higher or complex needs and leads to Support at Home, respite or residential care.
How do I arrange an assessment for my parent?
Contact My Aged Care by phone or online, or ask the GP to make a referral. After some initial questions, an assessor arranges a visit, usually in the home, and you later receive an outcome letter explaining what is approved.
What happens after the assessment?
For Support at Home you receive a funding classification and budget; for residential care, confirmation of eligibility to enter a home. Approval may not mean support starts immediately, so ask about interim options while any wait applies.