Commonwealth Continuity of Support Programme
More than $125.3 million will be provided over three years to replace the Commonwealth Continuity of Support Program with a new Disability Support for Older Australians program to ensure older Australians with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS continue to receive the supports.
https://communitycarereview.com.au/2020/10/06/budget-delivers-massive-investment-in-home-care/
1.1 Disability Support for Older Australians - Program Overview On 6 October 2020, the Treasurer handed down the 2020-21 Federal Budget which included changes to the Commonwealth Continuity of Support Programme (CoS). From 1 July 2021, the Disability Support for Older Australians Program (DSOA) will replace the existing CoS Programme.
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/02/disability-support-for-older-australians-program-program-manual.pdf
The CoS Programme was a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) commitment for the Commonwealth, to continue to support older people who were accessing state-managed disability services and were ineligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Implementation of the CoS Programme was staged and commenced from 1 December 2016 in line with the rollout of the NDIS. A 2020 review of the CoS Programme included consultation with providers, clients and peak bodies such as the National Disability Services. The review identified the need to modernise the Programme to better align with the NDIS pricing and service delivery rules. The Australian Government remains committed to continuing support for older Australians who were receiving state-based disability services but ineligible for the NDIS. DSOA will provide improved parity with the NDIS and a more client-centred program through:
1. funding for disability services being better aligned with market pricing and consistency across states and territories;
2. moving all clients to an Individual Support Plan (ISP) overseen by a single DSOA service coordinator for each client, will refocus service delivery on individual client needs; and
3. meeting the Commonwealth commitment to continue supporting DSOA clients with complex needs to live at home or in supported accommodation, and to access increased support as their needs change. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission will regulate DSOA service coordinators and subcontracted providers under the DSOA Program. A new online portal to make it easier for DSOA service coordinators to meet program reporting requirements will be activated. Like the CoS Programme, DSOA remains a closed program with no new client entrants. Appendix B outlines the main differences between CoS and DSOA.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has agreed that as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) rolls out nationally, it is a priority to ensure continuing support for older people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS.
A summary of services available under the Commonwealth Continuity of Support (CoS) Programme Sub-Programmes - 06 February 2021
https://agedcare.health.gov.au/programs/commonwealth-continuity-of-support-programme/services-offered
Eligibility
To be eligible for the CoS Programme the following criteria must be met.
A person with disability is:
In order to be an NDIS participant, a person needs to have acquired their disability and enter the scheme before the age of 65.
To meet this COAG commitment, the Australian Government will provide continued support to older people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS, either through a new Commonwealth Continuity of Support (CoS) Programme, or through existing aged care programs such as the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), if that better suits a client’s needs.
The new Commonwealth CoS Programme is being implemented to ensure that older people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS continue to receive disability support. The Programme will ensure that older Australians currently receiving state and territory-managed specialist disability services are supported to achieve similar outcomes to those they were achieving before transitioning to the new arrangements.
Under these arrangements, it is not expected that services for clients will need to change or that people will need to move. The continuity of support arrangements will aim to enable clients to continue to receive services without significant disruption to their support arrangements. If for some reason a service provider does not become a CoS service provider, then the Australian Government will seek to put in place suitable arrangements with another provider to ensure clients continue to receive supports that meet their needs. It is expected that around 8,500 older people with a disability will be supported under the CoS Programme.
Implementation
Transition to the new CoS Programme started on 1 December 2016, and has been phased across states and territories. In Queensland, from 1 January 2017 to 1 July 2019. A client’s transition to CoS will be based on where they live and when the rollout of the NDIS is occurring in their area. This phased approach will support minimal disruption to care and services for both older people with disability and their service providers. Until the CoS Programme is implemented in a region, clients will continue to access the current state and territory-managed disability system. Clients will not need to do anything in order to move to the CoS Programme and will not need to be re-assessed prior to entering the CoS Programme.
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Continuity of Support program rollout enters next phase
By Linda Belardi on February 15, 2018 in Community Care Review
Older people with disability accessing direct cash budgets under state-run disability schemes have commenced the transition to a national model.
The transition to the Commonwealth’s Continuity of Support (CoS) program for seniors with disability who have been accessing direct cash budgets under state disability schemes began on 1 January this year, with those in NSW and South Australia joining first.
Community Options Australia, a not-for-profit specialising in case management and assessment, was appointed by the Department of Health in October to deliver the direct funding model under the CoS program.
The department estimates 120 clients nationally will be supported under the direct funding model.
The Commonwealth established the CoS program to continue the supports that were provided through state specialist disability schemes. As a grandfathering scheme, it will cease once all existing clients exit the program.
The broader CoS program started a phased rollout in December 2016 and is expected to support around 8,500 seniors with disability, who were ineligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. In addition to the direct funding packages the program provides intermediary and provider-managed packages as well as block funding for community supports and accommodation.
The direct funding model is the first national program of payments to seniors with disability in Australia.
The Australian Government is working closely with state and territory governments to finalise the arrangements to implement the CoS Programme and to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements.
Shared support arrangements
If a client lives in a group home, it is a priority to ensure that they remain living in their current arrangements under the CoS Programme. This includes clients who are living in a house where there are also people under the age of 65 who will be receiving support under the NDIS. It is not expected under the CoS Programme that services for clients will need to change or that people will need to move. If a service provider decides to discontinue their provision of disability support, the Australian Government will identify another suitable provider to ensure a client receives a similar level of support.
NDIS 2016 ‘Becoming a Participant’ Rules
Some clients may be able to make an access request for the NDIS before they turn 65, depending on when their date of birth is and when the NDIS rolls out in their region. The NDIS 2016 (Becoming a Participant) Rules allow for people to make access requests for the scheme prior to the scheme being rolled out in their region. Eligibility rules for making NDIS access requests are available on the NDIS website.
Guidelines
Commonwealth Continuity of Support (CoS) Programme Guidelines Overview
The Commonwealth CoS Programme Guidelines form the basis of the business relationship between the Department of Health and the CoS grant recipient. They provide an overview of the CoS Programme and its related activities, selection criteria, performance management and reporting.
Department of Health
17 December 2021
More than $125.3 million will be provided over three years to replace the Commonwealth Continuity of Support Program with a new Disability Support for Older Australians program to ensure older Australians with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS continue to receive the supports.
https://communitycarereview.com.au/2020/10/06/budget-delivers-massive-investment-in-home-care/
1.1 Disability Support for Older Australians - Program Overview On 6 October 2020, the Treasurer handed down the 2020-21 Federal Budget which included changes to the Commonwealth Continuity of Support Programme (CoS). From 1 July 2021, the Disability Support for Older Australians Program (DSOA) will replace the existing CoS Programme.
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/02/disability-support-for-older-australians-program-program-manual.pdf
The CoS Programme was a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) commitment for the Commonwealth, to continue to support older people who were accessing state-managed disability services and were ineligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Implementation of the CoS Programme was staged and commenced from 1 December 2016 in line with the rollout of the NDIS. A 2020 review of the CoS Programme included consultation with providers, clients and peak bodies such as the National Disability Services. The review identified the need to modernise the Programme to better align with the NDIS pricing and service delivery rules. The Australian Government remains committed to continuing support for older Australians who were receiving state-based disability services but ineligible for the NDIS. DSOA will provide improved parity with the NDIS and a more client-centred program through:
1. funding for disability services being better aligned with market pricing and consistency across states and territories;
2. moving all clients to an Individual Support Plan (ISP) overseen by a single DSOA service coordinator for each client, will refocus service delivery on individual client needs; and
3. meeting the Commonwealth commitment to continue supporting DSOA clients with complex needs to live at home or in supported accommodation, and to access increased support as their needs change. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission will regulate DSOA service coordinators and subcontracted providers under the DSOA Program. A new online portal to make it easier for DSOA service coordinators to meet program reporting requirements will be activated. Like the CoS Programme, DSOA remains a closed program with no new client entrants. Appendix B outlines the main differences between CoS and DSOA.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has agreed that as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) rolls out nationally, it is a priority to ensure continuing support for older people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS.
A summary of services available under the Commonwealth Continuity of Support (CoS) Programme Sub-Programmes - 06 February 2021
https://agedcare.health.gov.au/programs/commonwealth-continuity-of-support-programme/services-offered
Eligibility
To be eligible for the CoS Programme the following criteria must be met.
A person with disability is:
- an older person with disability who is currently receiving state-administered specialist disability services, but who are ineligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), will be provided with continuity of support.
- Continuity of support means supporting clients to achieve similar outcomes to those they were achieving prior to transitioning to the new arrangements. Continuity of support will apply to a broad range of people considered ineligible for the NDIS, including those accessing Commonwealth programmes that are transitioning or ceasing.
- The Commonwealth CoS Programme is an ongoing, grandfathering programme for older people with disability accessing state-administered services only. Once the NDIS completes its rollout in a region, there will be no new entrants to the CoS Programme and once all existing clients transition out, the programme will cease.
- 65 years and over or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at the time the NDIS commences implementation in their region; and
- assessed as being ineligible for the NDIS at the time the NDIS commences implementation in their region; and
- an existing client of state-administered specialist disability services at the time the CoS Programme commences in their region.
In order to be an NDIS participant, a person needs to have acquired their disability and enter the scheme before the age of 65.
To meet this COAG commitment, the Australian Government will provide continued support to older people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS, either through a new Commonwealth Continuity of Support (CoS) Programme, or through existing aged care programs such as the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), if that better suits a client’s needs.
The new Commonwealth CoS Programme is being implemented to ensure that older people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS continue to receive disability support. The Programme will ensure that older Australians currently receiving state and territory-managed specialist disability services are supported to achieve similar outcomes to those they were achieving before transitioning to the new arrangements.
Under these arrangements, it is not expected that services for clients will need to change or that people will need to move. The continuity of support arrangements will aim to enable clients to continue to receive services without significant disruption to their support arrangements. If for some reason a service provider does not become a CoS service provider, then the Australian Government will seek to put in place suitable arrangements with another provider to ensure clients continue to receive supports that meet their needs. It is expected that around 8,500 older people with a disability will be supported under the CoS Programme.
Implementation
Transition to the new CoS Programme started on 1 December 2016, and has been phased across states and territories. In Queensland, from 1 January 2017 to 1 July 2019. A client’s transition to CoS will be based on where they live and when the rollout of the NDIS is occurring in their area. This phased approach will support minimal disruption to care and services for both older people with disability and their service providers. Until the CoS Programme is implemented in a region, clients will continue to access the current state and territory-managed disability system. Clients will not need to do anything in order to move to the CoS Programme and will not need to be re-assessed prior to entering the CoS Programme.
=========================================================
Continuity of Support program rollout enters next phase
By Linda Belardi on February 15, 2018 in Community Care Review
Older people with disability accessing direct cash budgets under state-run disability schemes have commenced the transition to a national model.
The transition to the Commonwealth’s Continuity of Support (CoS) program for seniors with disability who have been accessing direct cash budgets under state disability schemes began on 1 January this year, with those in NSW and South Australia joining first.
Community Options Australia, a not-for-profit specialising in case management and assessment, was appointed by the Department of Health in October to deliver the direct funding model under the CoS program.
The department estimates 120 clients nationally will be supported under the direct funding model.
The Commonwealth established the CoS program to continue the supports that were provided through state specialist disability schemes. As a grandfathering scheme, it will cease once all existing clients exit the program.
The broader CoS program started a phased rollout in December 2016 and is expected to support around 8,500 seniors with disability, who were ineligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. In addition to the direct funding packages the program provides intermediary and provider-managed packages as well as block funding for community supports and accommodation.
The direct funding model is the first national program of payments to seniors with disability in Australia.
The Australian Government is working closely with state and territory governments to finalise the arrangements to implement the CoS Programme and to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements.
Shared support arrangements
If a client lives in a group home, it is a priority to ensure that they remain living in their current arrangements under the CoS Programme. This includes clients who are living in a house where there are also people under the age of 65 who will be receiving support under the NDIS. It is not expected under the CoS Programme that services for clients will need to change or that people will need to move. If a service provider decides to discontinue their provision of disability support, the Australian Government will identify another suitable provider to ensure a client receives a similar level of support.
NDIS 2016 ‘Becoming a Participant’ Rules
Some clients may be able to make an access request for the NDIS before they turn 65, depending on when their date of birth is and when the NDIS rolls out in their region. The NDIS 2016 (Becoming a Participant) Rules allow for people to make access requests for the scheme prior to the scheme being rolled out in their region. Eligibility rules for making NDIS access requests are available on the NDIS website.
Guidelines
Commonwealth Continuity of Support (CoS) Programme Guidelines Overview
The Commonwealth CoS Programme Guidelines form the basis of the business relationship between the Department of Health and the CoS grant recipient. They provide an overview of the CoS Programme and its related activities, selection criteria, performance management and reporting.
Department of Health
17 December 2021