How long does reassessment take?

4-8 weeks from request to outcome. Assessment visit is 60-90 minutes.

Is there a fee to reassess?

No — reassessment through My Aged Care is free.

Can I reassess more than once a year?

Yes if a new trigger event occurs. No practical limit but frivolous re-requests can be declined.

Does the classification change immediately?

The new classification takes effect from the outcome date — usually 4-8 weeks after the request.

Do I need medical evidence to reassess?

Helpful but not required. Specialist letters or GP notes strengthen the request.

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When to Request a Reassessment and When Not To

Q: What if the reassessment downgrades my parent?

You can request a formal review within 28 days of the outcome letter.

Reassessment can move your parent up (or down) a classification. Here's when it's worth asking, when to hold off, and what the process actually looks like.

By Wayly EditorialReviewed by: Wayly EditorialPublished 3 February 20263 min read

A reassessment is a formal reappraisal of your parent's care needs by My Aged Care. It can move them up a classification (more funding) or down (less funding). The decision to request one shouldn't be automatic — here's when it's worth asking and when it's better to hold off.

Trigger events that usually justify a reassessment

Any of the following is worth reassessing for:

New medical diagnosis — dementia, Parkinson's, stroke recovery, cancer, mental health condition.
Hospital discharge with new functional needs that weren't there before.
A fall causing loss of mobility or new equipment needs.
Carer availability change — a spouse-carer becoming unwell or unavailable.
Home environment change — moving from independent living to shared living, or vice versa.
Progressive decline — a slow drop in function over 6+ months.

If none of these apply, the participant's classification probably still fits.

When NOT to reassess

Reassessment isn't magic — asking for one when nothing has materially changed can lead to a DOWNGRADE if the assessor's clinical judgement differs from the previous assessor's. Situations where holding off is usually smarter:

The participant's care needs are stable and the current funding covers them.
You're within 3 months of the last assessment and nothing has changed since.
The frustration is with the PROVIDER, not the funding level — switch providers first.
You want more services but the classification doesn't limit you (you have unspent quarterly funds).

How to request the reassessment

Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or log in to myagedcare.gov.au. Include: the trigger event, the date it occurred, and what has changed in your parent's daily function.

Wayly's Letters & Follow-ups tool drafts this request letter automatically, citing the trigger event with clinical language that assessors recognise.

What the assessment process looks like

An Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) or Regional Assessment Service (RAS) will visit — usually in-person, sometimes by phone — to review the participant's needs. The assessment covers activities of daily living, cognitive function, mental health, and carer situation. Total time: 60-90 minutes.

Outcome typically arrives 4-8 weeks later. The new classification (if changed) takes effect from the outcome date, not the request date.

What if the reassessment goes the wrong way?

If the classification is downgraded and you disagree, you can request a formal review within 28 days of the outcome letter. Include any clinical evidence (specialist letters, GP notes) that supports the higher classification. The review is conducted by a different assessor.