New Changes Could Make It Easier to Challenge Your Support at Home Assessment 

ce November 2025, My Aged Care assessments have been generated by software called the Independent Assessment Tool (IAT), not just by the assessor you meet. If your funding package doesn’t match your actual needs, you can appeal to My Aged Care right now. Assessors can also escalate cases for a human override in extenuating circumstances, and a bill in Parliament may soon allow backdated reassessments for anyone assessed since 1 November 2025. 

Contact Our Team at Home Care Assistance! We can help you prepare and lodge an appeal — call 07 5491 6888.

What is the IAT, and why does it matter?

The Independent Assessment Tool (IAT) is the algorithm that now generates the classification and funding outcome behind most My Aged Care assessments. An assessor still visits and asks the questions. But the outcome, what level of support you’re approved for, is largely decided by the tool, not by the assessor’s own judgement.

Since the IAT started in November 2025:

• Complaints and reassessment requests have risen sharply
• Many families say their classification didn’t match their actual day-to-day needs
• Reassessment requests have been taking up to 90 days to process

If that sounds familiar, you’re not imagining it. Home Care Assistance works with Sydney East families on exactly this issue every week, contact us or call 07 5491 6888 to talk through your options.

Can an assessor override the algorithm?

Short answer: sometimes, at their discretion.

The Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Sam Rae, recently announced a new escalation option. If an assessment organisation’s own clinical judgement disagrees with the tool’s outcome, they can now escalate the case to the system governor for review.

This is new, previously, assessors had little room to depart from what the algorithm produced. But it’s a case-by-case, discretionary process, not an automatic right to appeal. That gap is why the change hasn’t fully settled the debate.

Is there a bigger change coming?

Possibly. A cross-party bill, the Aged Care Amendment (Restoring Human Override for Aged Care Needs Assessments) Bill 2026, was introduced by independent Senator David Pocock with support from the Coalition and the Greens.

The bill proposes three changes:

Change	What it would mean
Restoring assessor discretion	Human assessors get real authority to override the algorithm, not just an escalation option
Transparency in decision notices	Families can see exactly how a classification was reached
Backdated reassessment	Anyone assessed under the IAT since 1 November 2025 could apply to have it revisited

Important: the bill has passed the Senate only, it isn’t law yet. The Government hasn’t confirmed its next steps, so the backdating and full-override provisions aren’t available today.

What can you actually do right now?

There’s one clear, active option:

If your approved Support at Home funding package doesn’t cover your actual needs, you can appeal to My Aged Care for a reassessment now.

If the bill’s backdating provision does come into force later, anyone assessed since 1 November 2025 may also get the chance to have that assessment revisited. It’s worth keeping a copy of your original outcome letter and any concerns you raised at the time, in case that becomes relevant.

Either way, your existing care arrangements continue as normal while any reassessment or appeal is underway, nobody’s support stops while you wait.

Not sure whether your package reflects your real needs? Talk to our team at Home Care Assistance before you lodge anything with My Aged Care, so your case is as strong as possible from the start. Get in touch or call 07 5491 6888.

How Home Care Assistance can help

This is a fast-moving, technical area, and it’s easy to feel like you’re chasing a moving target. As your local Sydney East team, we:

• Stay across every change to the IAT, escalation process, and any legislation as it happens
• Help you gather the clinical evidence and documentation an appeal needs
• Submit the reassessment or appeal request on your behalf
• Make sure nothing gets missed while rules are still evolving

Don’t navigate this alone. Call our local team at Home Care Assistance on 07 5491 6888, or visit our I Want Help Getting Reassessed page for a no-obligation chat about your options today.

Is my aged care assessment outcome really decided by an algorithm?

Yes. The Independent Assessment Tool (IAT) generates the classification and funding outcome based on the information gathered during your assessment. Assessors can escalate a case to the system governor if their own clinical judgement disagrees with the tool’s outcome, but this is discretionary, not automatic.

Can I get my assessment reviewed if I think the algorithm got it wrong?

Yes. If your approved funding package doesn’t reflect your actual needs, you can appeal to My Aged Care for a reassessment now. Broader override and backdating rights are part of a bill that has passed the Senate but is not yet law.

Will my services stop while a reassessment or appeal is underway?

No. Existing care arrangements continue as normal while you wait for an outcome.

Who can help me prepare an appeal or reassessment request?

My Aged Care (1800 200 422), the Aged Care Advocacy Line (1800 700 600) for free independent advocacy, and your current provider — including Home Care Assistance Sydney East— can all help.

How do I get started with Home Care Assistance?

Call 07 5491 6888 or contact us online. Our local Sydney East team will talk through your situation and next steps, with no obligation.