NSW Meals on Wheels - How It Works

How It Works

Arrange meals for yourself or a loved one

We provide meal support to anybody who needs it, whether it’s a temporary arrangement as you recover from an illness or injury, or on a more permanent basis. We offer a range of meals to suit a client's personal requirements and can accommodate special dietary needs, cultural and taste preferences.

Meals on Wheels has no waiting list, and there are no contracts!

To arrange meals for yourself or a loved one, please contact your local Meals on Wheels Service or call us on 1300 679 669.

Eligibility

You are eligible to receive meals if:

You're 65 years or older,
Are registered for My Aged Care,
Are registered with the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), or
Are registered with a Home Care Package (HCP), or
Are registered with the Support at Home program (SaH), or
Are younger with a disability and registered under National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

Referrals

People can refer themselves, or be referred by a health care professional, relative, friend or hospital.

Registration

To register for Meals on Wheels NSW services, you need to contact your local Meals on Wheels NSW service. to locate your local service, click here. Alternatively contact us on 1300 679 669.

My Aged Care

My Aged Care is an Australian Government scheme designed to assist senior Australians on their journey to aged care. My Aged Care gives you the ability to find and connect with any services you may need.

The gateway is available to seniors who have noticed changes in their activity and memory, have been diagnosed with a medical condition or reduced mobility, experienced a change in care arrangements, experienced a recent fall or hospitalisation and are 65 years or older (50 and older for Indigenous peoples).

If you are eligible for My Aged Care, please contact your local Meals on Wheels NSW service.

Click here to find out more about applying for My Aged Care.

Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is designed to assist senior Australians to access assistance while maintaining their independence and living in their own home.

In order to be eligible for CHSP, you must be 65 years or older (50 years or older for Indigenous citizens) OR 50 years or older (45 years for Indigenous Australians) and on a low income, homeless or at risk of being homeless.

If you are eligible for CHSP, contact your local Meals on Wheels NSW branch to register to receive meals.

Please click here to find out more.

Support at Home

Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) services provide entry level supports, whereas the Support at Home (SAH) program, which is being introduced to replace the Home Care Package (HCP) program for new entrants to in-home care, is for older Australians with higher-level ongoing care needs. Existing recipients of the Home Care Package (HCP) program will continue on their current package.

SAH funding can be used for a range of services, including meals. Most of the meal cost is covered by your SAH package, but you are required to pay the raw food cost (usually about 30% of the total meal cost). Depending on your income and assets, you may also need to make a contribution towards the overall cost.

The way your raw food contribution is collected may vary between Support at Home providers. Some providers will invoice you directly for the payment split. Others may ask you to pay the cost of ingredients directly to Meals on Wheels, and they will then invoice you for any co-contribution you are required to pay. Any remaining costs will be deducted from your Support at Home budget.

To access meal services under SaH, you must be approved for Support at Home through My Aged Care, following an assessment. You need to be 65 or older (50 or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people).

Home Care Packages

Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) services provide entry level supports, whereas Home Care Packages (HCP) provide a higher level of ongoing support in the aged care system. The HCP program tailors services to help older people with more complex needs to continue living independently at home.

The Support at Home (SAH) program has been introduced to replace the Home Care Package (HCP) program for new entrants to in-home care, however, those who are already on an existing Home Care Package can continue to use it for Meals on Wheels

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

Meals on Wheels NSW offers support to individuals with disabilities under NDIS. To check your eligibility to receive meals, please call NDIS on 1800 800 110 or visit your local NDIS office.

To find out more about the benefits of Meals on Wheels for NDIS individuals, click here.

If you already come under an NDIS plan which allows you to receive funding for meals, please contact your local Meals on Wheels NSW branch or contact us on 1300 679 669.