CAPS Funding Scheme

If you suffer from incontinence, you may be eligible for financial assistance. Have a look at this video, it explains how you can apply for your CAPS funding scheme.

 

What is CAPS?

CAPS stands for Continence Aids Payment Scheme and is an Australian Government program which financially assists eligible people - with a permanent or severe incontinence condition - to help with some of their costs of buying continence products. 

 

 

 

 

Why is CAPS important?

 

More than 4.8 million Australians rely on incontinence products. Purchasing incontinence supplies can become really expensive.

CAPS can help ease the financial pressure to help eligible people suffering from incontinence cover some of the costs to manage their incontinence.

 

Who is eligible for CAPS Funding?

To qualify for CAPS funding, you need to meet the CAPS eligible conditions. These criteria are:

• You need to be an Australian citizen or a permanent Australian resident:
• You need to be 5 years or older;
• Experience permanent and severe bladder and/or bowel incontinence confirmed by a registered health professional: a GP, continence nurse, registered nurse, Aboriginal health worker, medical specialist;
• Experience permanent and severe loss of bladder and/or bowel function caused by an eligible neurological condition;
• Experience permanent and severe bladder and/or bowel incontinence caused by another eligible condition, provided you have a Pensioner Concession Card from the Australian Government or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Pensioner Concession Card. See CAPS eligible other conditions. 

 

For the full list of eligible conditions, visit the Department of Health website.

 

If you are already receiving funding for incontinence products from NDIS, Home Care Packages or other funding schemes, you may not be eligible for CAPS.

 

How does CAPS work?

 

CAPS consists of a direct payment from Services Australia to the customer. The payment for 2023-2024 is $676.50 and can be made directly in one or two annual fixed payment(s) into the customer’s designated bank account. CAPS offers the choice and flexibility for the payments: either directly to you or to the custodial parent of a child receiving CAPS or an authorised nominee.

You can also nominate to have it paid to a provider of continence products such as Bettercaremarket. We can then organise your incontinence supplies so you get the products delivered to your home. Please mention this in the application form on page 11.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When will you get the CAPS payment?

 

You can opt to receive one full payment after the 1st of July, or two half-yearly payments in July and January each year. 

This amount usually increases a little each year and is decided by the 1^st of July.

 

 

How can you apply for CAPS?

• First of all, check to assess if you are eligible for CAPS funding.
• Download the CAPS Application Form. 
• Make sure to get your registered health professional to complete the Health Report Component in Section 3. This is a medical assessment certificate to check if you have an eligible condition.
• Submit the application to the Department of Health and Aged Care - Medicare Services (either via post or fax) to:

Department of Health and Aged Care

Continence Aids Payment Scheme

Medicare Services

GPO Box 9822

Sydney NSW 2001

 

For Fax: 0298953523

 

You can also apply online through your Medicare account on myGov or in the Express Plus Medicare mobile app.

Don’t forget to upload the health report section from the registered health professional to your online application through your Medicare online account.

 

A CAPS processing officer will assess the application and will make the payment into your designated bank account number.

 

Have a look at this video, it explains how you can apply for your CAPS funding scheme.

 

 

 

You can choose Bettercaremarket for your CAPS funding

 

If you would like your CAPS payments to be paid to and managed by Bettercaremarket, you can choose us as your authorised CAPS nominee. Give us a call and we will fill in the ‘Organisation details’ on page 11 of the form.

It’s an easy way to ensure you never run out and always have your supplies on hand!

Once your application has been approved and we have received the payment, we will ship your incontinence products straight to your door as and when you need them.

 

Why Bettercaremarket?

 

At Bettercaremarket, we care about our customers and their continence needs. Our quality MoliCare, Dailee and IDCare incontinence products can be purchased under CAPS. We have a range of incontinence supplies we send directly – in discreet packaging - to your door:

• Incontinence pads
• Pull up pants
• Skin care products 
• Adult diapers and all-in-one slips
• Children’s pull ups
• Urinals
• Bed protectors, chair pads and absorbent mats

For the full range of incontinence products, see our continence care section.

 

 

We add new incontinence products regularly, so keep an eye on our website.

• We are Australian owned and operated; you deal directly with us
• We offer free samples
• Just order online or give us a call
• Our continence products are delivered discreetly to your door
• Our products are manufactured to the highest standards

 

If the product you are looking for is not in our range, we will be happy to source it for you. Give us a call on 1300 172 151 or send us an email on customercare@bettercaremarket.com.au.

 

 

 

 

Would you like more information on CAPS?

 

For more information on how to apply for CAPS, visit the Services Australia website.

 

For other information on continence, we recommend you to visit the Continence Foundation of Australia website or the National Continence Helpline. You can call them on 1800 33 00 66.

 

See your GP for further information or help with incontinence.