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The National Disability Insurance Scheme is called the NDIS. It’s a new way for people with a disability, under the age of 65, to get the care and supports they need.
The NDIS is for people with a permanent and significant disability which impacts on their ability to take part in everyday activities.
If you are eligible, you will work out what reasonable and necessary supports you need to live your life and achieve your goals. You’ll then receive funding to pay for these supports.
Find more information on the NDIS website.
Before the NDIS was introduced, disability services in Australia had been a lottery.
The funding you received depended on how, when and where you acquired your disability, as well as where you lived. Some people got enough funding, some people got none! Really, it was all just a bit unfair!
So, after they held an enquiry, the Federal Government agreed that people with a disability deserved a fairer system. And, more control!
The NDIA is the National Disability Insurance Agency.
It is a government agency and its role is to implement and manage the NDIS and make sure people with disability continue to get the support they need.
Eligibility for the NDIS depends on a few different things such as:
For more information, visit Am I eligible
With the NDIS, you will work out what reasonable and necessary supports you need to live your life and achieve your goals. You’ll then receive funding to pay for these supports. Reasonable and necessary supports help someone with a disability to:
This support may include education, employment, community and social participation, independence, living arrangements, and health and well-being.
There are 3 different ways you can manage your NDIS plan. You don’t have to choose only one of these options. You can use a combination. For example, you might self-manage some parts of your plan while the NDIA may look after other parts. The three options are:
Yes you can! If you are not happy with the disability service provider, you can change to make sure you are getting the support you need.
The NDIS will only fund reasonable and necessary home modifications. This often means they will give you funding to help you use certain rooms in your home such as your bedroom, living area, meal area and bathroom. Some examples of common modifications are:
The NDIS also only funds home modifications to a person’s primary residence. If you are renting, the owner must provide a written agreement and you will also need to intend on living there into the future. Before the NDIS will fund modifications, other possible solutions such as assistive technology will also be looked at. For example, bathroom modifications won’t be funded if equipment, such as a shower stool, could make the bathroom safe and accessible for you.
If you are not able to use public transport because of your disability, you may be able to get NDIS funding to cover transport such as taxis. If you previously received funding through a taxi subsidy scheme, the NDIA will also take this into account. The NDIS will not provide funding to carers or family members to transport a person with a disability to everyday commitments. The NDIS can also fund supports that help you build confidence and learn how to travel or use public transport independently. For example, if your goal is to get your driver’s licence, the NDIS may be able to support you to achieve this.
