How the NDIS Works

Who can access the NDIS?

You must be at least eight years old and have a permanent disability or injury that prevents you from undertaking certain day-to-day activities without assistance.

You must also be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to access the NDIS.

How does the process of Accessing the NDIS work?

The NDIS is a new way of providing support to people with disabilities. It’s a needs-based scheme that funds things like equipment, aids and services. The Commonwealth government funds the NDIS and it’s run by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

The NDIA works with states and territories across Australia to develop policies about how best to deliver these services in your area. They also provide information about accessing funding and services under the NDIS for individuals who are eligible for them, their families or careers.

What kinds of things can I get funding for?

You can get funding for a wide range of things, including:

• Support to live in the community. This could include support with cooking meals, cleaning your house, doing laundry or other household chores.
• Support to get a job or study. The NDIS may pay for training courses and equipment like computers or phones that you need to work or study efficiently. It can also help fund an assistant who will help you do your job better (for example by making sure that you don’t miss important meetings).
• Support learning new skills such as driving a car or riding a bike if this is something that would make life easier for you and would allow you more independence (for example if walking around town was difficult).

What does the NDIS cover?

The NDIS offers hope and help for Australians living with a disability. The NDIS covers a wide range of support and services. It does not cover everything, however. For example, it doesn’t pay for travel costs or things like food or accommodation.

To be eligible for funding under the NDIS:

• You must have a permanent disability (or be diagnosed with one) that has been officially recognised by Centrelink as having an impact on your daily life.
• The condition must be expected to last at least two years.
• You must meet the income requirements set out by Centrelink.
• You need to have been receiving a Disability Support Pension (DSP) for 12 months before joining the scheme.
• You can access the NDIS if you are at least eight years old and have a permanent disability or injury that prevents you from undertaking certain day-to-day activities without assistance.
• Personalised support packages for people under 65 years old who have an eligible permanent disability;
• Respite care for those aged over 65;
• Home modification works including structural alterations or additions;
• Equipment such as wheelchairs, walking frames etc.;

Who can access the NDIS?

The NDIS is available to you if:

• You are an Australian citizen or permanent resident; and
• Your impairment or condition makes it hard for you to live independently in the community; and
• Your impairment or condition affects your ability to perform everyday tasks, like washing yourself and cooking meals; and
• You have not been excluded from the Scheme (e.g., because of fraud); and
• The Department of Human Services has assessed that your needs fall within its scope (i.e., they meet certain eligibility criteria).

Your NDIS Blueprint: Defining Goals, Needs, and Financial Coverage

The plan is an agreement between you and the NDIA. It’s a legal document that outlines your goals, support needs and how the NDIS will pay for them.

Each year your plan will be reviewed by an NDIS planner to make sure it’s still working for you. If anything has changed since last year’s review, they’ll work with you to update the plan so it continues to meet your needs.

Understanding NDIS Payment Caps and Support Allocations

The NDIS has an annual cap on how much it will pay to support you each year. You can receive funding under this cap or choose to buy extra support from your plan.

If the NDIS doesn’t cover the services you need, there are different options available:

• You may be able to access other government programs that provide funding for disability services such as Medicare and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
• If your support needs are high but still not high enough for these programs, you might need to purchase additional private insurance.
• If your support needs are very high and there is no other way of getting financial help from any government or private sources, then some people may have no choice but to go without any kind of assistance at all.

What are the different types of support that you can receive through the NDIS?

The NDIS provides support for people with disability, their families and careers. It’s a way of providing funding to help you get the services you need to be as independent as possible.

There are three main categories of support:

• Assistive technology devices (such as wheelchairs)
• Home-based support (carers who come into your home)
• Community-based options like respite care and day programs

How to get a Referral to start Accessing the NDIS

The first step to accessing the NDIS is to get a referral from your doctor or other health professional. The NDIA will ask you questions about your disability and goals and then assess your eligibility for the NDIS.

If you are eligible, they will give you a plan that outlines how much funding they think you need each year, how long this will last (for example, until age 65) and what supports they think would best support your goals as an adult or child with a disability.

What is the design of your plan?

The design of your plan is how the NDIS will support you. It includes goals and objectives, and how the NDIS will help you achieve them. The NDIS will work with you to design a plan that suits your needs.

NDIS’s Role in Promoting Health and Happiness

The NDIS helps disabled people get the support they need to live a happy, healthy life. The NDIS has been designed to be flexible and responsive to your individual needs.

You can choose what services you use, who provides them and how often you use them. You can also decide if you want one service provider or several different ones for different things (like therapy). Your plans will change as your needs change over time. If something happens in your life that affects your ability to access supports or manage them effectively then we’ll work with you on ways of fixing this problem together so it doesn’t happen again in the future.

The NDIS’s Role in Transforming Disability Support

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an important milestone in Australia’s approach to supporting people with disability. The scheme provides funding for disability support and services, which are individualised according to each person’s needs.

The NDIS started on 1 July 2013 and continues to roll out across Australia. It has four main objectives:

• Better lives – People will live more independently, participate in the community and enjoy a quality of life equal to that of other Australians.
• Increased choice – People have more control over their lives.
• Better support – Supports are designed around the needs of individuals.
• Improved efficiency – The system is easier to navigate.

Conclusion

The NDIS is a great opportunity for people with disabilities to get the support they need. It’s important to remember that the NDIS is not just about money- it can also provide you with more freedom and choice over how your disability is managed. If you think you may be eligible for the NDIS, we encourage you to talk with one of our professionals today!