Balance now offers a convenient and cost-effective video appointment Australia wide for people moving into residential aged care. Having helped 30,000 over the past 25 years with retirement village and aged care we wanted to provide a financial service that wouldn’t charge over $2,000 like most financial planners in this space. If your loved one […]

In helping our clients move into aged care, on occasions we see their wills to ensure that whatever strategy they adopt to pay for their aged care does not conflict with their testamentary intentions.  However, we frequently come across problems in the will that have not been picked up that may cause a problem after the […]

If both members of a couple are in aged care and one of them were to pass or if one is in care and the other at home (but the one at home passes first) then if they have left assets to the survivor, then the aged care fees for the survivor are highly likely to increase significantly. […]

The proposed changes to aged care fees aired to the public on the 12th of September will bring quite radical change to the aged care system. This will deliver more funding from the Government to the aged care system (which is drastically needed by facilities).  However, it will also cost the residents more money as […]

How can you transfer assets to your family without affecting your pension OR enable you to receive some pension? A Granny flat right might be the answer AND there does NOT need to be any Granny flat built! Imagine if you needed more support or care, or wanted to be closer to your family BUT […]

Are you not getting the right amount of pension? Are you having problems getting your pension entitlements fixed, or getting the pension at all? Are you having trouble getting aged care fees corrected? Is it possible to get more? Do you think you might be entitled to some pension? Understanding Centrelink & DVA policies, procedures […]

When someone moves into an Aged Care facility and sells their home to pay the Accommodation Payment as a Refundable Accommodation Payment (RAD, or Lump sum), if they have residual funds left over after paying the RAD, then there may be an impact on: Age Pension and Service Pension The residual funds left over after […]

When a person dies, in most situations the executor needs to apply for Probate, the choices open to the executor are; Apply for Probate themselves Engage a Solicitor to apply for Probate on your behalf Engage a Trustee (like the NSW Public Trustee & Guardian OR Engage Balance Estate Management Probate is the Supreme court […]

We have been getting an increased number of clients coming back to us, advising that the Means Tested Fee being charged is more than we estimated it should be, or have been getting less pension than we estimated, or were not assessed as being supported residents, when they should have been & consequently they are […]

The Government has announced the following increases to Age Pensions, Disability Pension & the same applies to Service Pensions for DVA The maximum rate of Age, Disability & Service pension (DVA) per fortnight Basic rate Plus + Supplements Total pension Single $826.20pf $67.30 +$14.10 $907.60pf Couple $622.80 $50.70 +$10.60 $684.10pf each $1368.20pf combined Illness separated […]