Frequently Asked Questions About NDIS
Why have I not heard back from NDIS yet about my funding?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding to support people with disability in their everyday lives. However, the application process can be quite long and it may take a few months for you to hear back from NDIS about your application outcome. Being patient, and applying as soon as possible is the only thing that can be done to speed up this process.
Can NDIS help with home modifications?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is aware that the majority of Australian homes are not equipped to suit people with disability, and do provide funding for certain necessary home modifications. However, this is something that needs to be put on your NDIS plan and needs to be applied for with NDIS. People who have a high level of needs can contact NDIS directly, and be placed into a Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).
Alternatively, if you need small modifications in your home, you could request your manager or the homeowner to implement these.
What is funded by my NDIS plan and what should be funded by other services?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme(NDIS) is designed to help you live a full life and become more and more independent. While they can fund a lot of your supports and services, it is good to keep track of other programs that can fund your needs so that you don't depend entirely on NDIS, or run out of your NDIS funding too soon. For example, while NDIS can fund transportation services, it is not the only provider that does so. You can also get transport services through state funding, or even council funding. Sometimes universities or education institutes also have schemes available to help you out. This is why it is always important to keep a look out for other funding schemes that provide the services you require. Just because you can use the NDIS funding for something, doesn't mean it's your only option.
Can support workers help with cleaning and housework?
No, the role of support workers is to assist you in your day-to-day activities and look after your general well-being. Support workers help individuals with physical or mental health difficulties, become more independent in their lives by providing them with constant physical and emotional support. This does not include housework or cleaning services. However, if one does need a cleaner, NDIS can cover the cost of the service. Just as a cleaner can not take you shopping, a support worker can not vacuum your house.
No, the role of a support worker is to help you in your day-to-day activities and look after your general well-being. Support workers are there to help people with physical or mental difficulties become more independent in their lives. They provide constant physical and Emotional support to accomplish this. This does not include housework or cleaning services. However, if you do need a cleaner, NDIS can cover the cost of the service. Just as a cleaner can not take you shopping, a support worker can not vacuum your house.
Can NDIS be expected to pay for my meals?
To put it simply, no. Not exactly at least. While NDIS does not pay for your meals, they can be expected to pay for a support worker to come prepare your meals for you. Now you may be wondering, ‘Doesn't that mean NDIS paid for my meal?’, and sure, it does seem that way. However, the difference here is that NDIS does not pay for your grocery shopping or the ingredients you need to make the meal. You do. So while they’ll pay any reasonable and necessary cost to have your meal prepared, you do have to ensure that the ingredients are available for a worker to do so. If the ingredients required aren't at home, you can sometimes give the support worker money, so that they may go down to the shops and buy everything needed.
Essentially, it is up to you how you manage your funding and expenses, and this could mean you spend some of your core support funding on meal preparation amongst other things. Attached below is a website link with more information.
Does the NDIS cover treatments, medication, and diagnostic assessments?
Unfortunately, no. The NDIS itself is not designed to pay for any treatments, medication, or diagnosis assessments. Basically, anything that falls under the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) or the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) or Medicare Gap fees, is not covered by your NDIS funding and is instead the responsibility of the health care system.
However, NDIS can in fact pay for therapy services such as speech pathology sessions, physiotherapy sessions, occupational therapy sessions, and psychology sessions, amongst other things that improve you level of independence.
What kinds of support does NDIS pay for?
Despite the common misconception, NDIS does not cover all types of support required for a person with a disability. In fact, the standard practice is for NDIS to fund any necessary and reasonable support services that help a person with a disability live an ordinary life. These can be placed into 3 categories: core support: which includes support that helps with daily life activities, capital support: which includes investments such as assistive technologies, vehicle modifications, etc, and lastly, capacity building support: which includes any support that helps you become more independent and builds on your skills.
What types of evidence do I need to prove my medical condition?
Applying for funding can be a long process, made even longer when you don't submit the right documents the first time around. This is why it is important to do your research and ensure to gather all your documents. When applying for funding, you need to include:
- Name of medical condition
- The impairment caused by the health condition
- The date of diagnosis and how long you have been affected by this impairment.
- Evidence of how it affects your day-to-day life.
- What is the nature of the condition? Is it degenerative or terminal?
- Confirmation of diagnosis for the health condition.
- Description of any treatment options for the future, and their expected outcomes.
If you have more than one disability, provide the above information for the issue that impacts your day-to-day life the most. However, it can also be beneficial to add a list of your other health issues.
Read more
Is NDIS different from NDIA?
Great question! Yes the NDIS and the NDIA are to separate things that exist within the same field. The NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) is a government funding that helps people with chronic health disabilities. On the other hand, the NDIA, the National Disability Insurance Agency, is a government agency that manages the NDIS itself, to ensure a better lifestyle for people with chronic health conditions, as well as the people who help support them.
Read More
Is there any age restrictions for the NDIS funding?
Yes, there is an age limit for NDIS funding. People who apply for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding must be between 7 and 64 years of age to be able to access the service. While the NDIS funding was created to help people with disability, it still implemented age limits for when the funding can be used.
However, there are alternatives for those who do not fall in this age range. Children younger than 6 years of age may be able to access the Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) program, which is a support program related to NDIS. On the other hand, people above the age of 65 may be able to receive funding through the aged care system.
How do I know if I'm eligible for NDIS funding?
Anyone who is an Australian citizen, and living with a disability may be eligible for support through NDIS funding. You simply have to be between 7 to 64 years of age, be living with a permanent, chronic disability, and apply for funding. Although that is a long process, there are websites that list which disabilities make you eligible to apply for support. That being said, it does not mean that anyone who ticks all of these boxes will receive NDIS funding. These are simply guides on the basic procedure; the applications themselves are analyzed on a case-by-case basis and funding is not guaranteed.
Is it better to work with an NDIS disability advocate when making my application for NDIS funding?
While the NDIS scheme is quite useful in improving lives, it can be very hard to navigate the twists and turns of the application process. Having someone familiar with the application procedure, such as a disability advocate, can make the task easier. Additionally, it may also increase your chances of being approved to receive funding and ensure that you receive the service funding that you need.
What are Local Area Coordinators?
Local area coordinators are people who help you understand your NDIS plan and how to use it in a manner that benefits you. They work either as NDIA staff members or partners within communities that show you how to manage the NDIS world and its intricacies. For example, they show you how to reach out to NDIS-funded support providers or therapists working under NDIS, or how to use the myplace portal. Overall, Local Area Coordinators exist to make it easier for you to learn of, and access the services available to you as an NDIS-funded individual.
Read More
How can I get someone to manage my NDIS plan for me?
When it comes to the NDIS plan management, everyone has 3 options. They can either manage their own plan, get someone from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to manage their plan, or hire Plan Manager to manage their plan. A plan manager is a provider who supports you by appropriately managing your assigned NDIS funding. They know the NDIS funding systems well, and ensure all your support, and therapy providers are paid and your invoices are generated on time, so you don't have to spend up to 25 hours a week doing that yourself! As many people use a plan manager, your NDIS funding will include extra funding that can be used to pay for a plan manager, so it's of absolutely no cost to you!
Read More
Why isn't it enough evidence if my Health Professional says that I need NDIS funding?
While your health professional may be right in stating that you need funding for support, that does not guarantee that you fulfill all the criteria required to receive it. The National Disability and Insurance Scheme aims to provide support to those who most need it. According to the rules surrounding the application process, it is important to provide all the necessary information that shows evidence of impairment, whether it's a permanent situation or if it has any functional impact on your day-to-day lifestyle. There is a list of documents the NDIS requires with your application, and it is best to give as many of those as possible to improve your chances of receiving funding.
Read More
Why can't I use my Mental Health Referral Plan as a proof of diagnosis?
To put it simply, this is because your mental health care plan is not detailed enough. While it may provide information on the mental health conditions affecting you, it does not actually provide evidence of the effect they have on you as a person. An official diagnosis would include the impact of the mental health conditions and any psychological impairments caused by them. Your NDIS application needs to include a document that specifies the mental health condition that is diagnosed, so a professional diagnosis works best in these situations.
Supporting evidence FAQ | NDIS
Are the Child Disability Assistance payments linked to the NDIS?
No, the Child Disability Assistance payment, along with the Carer Allowance, the Disability Support Pension, the Carer Payment, and the Carer Supplement are not related to the National Disability Insurance Scheme. This means that any payment you receive for the above Schemes will not affect how much NDIS funding you receive, nor will it make you less likely to receive NDIS funding. That being said, if you were previously receiving a Mobility Allowance from Centrelink, and then received an NDIS funding with transport-related supports, then the Centrelink Mobility Allowance would stop.
However, it is especially important to note that simply receiving one of these disability or carer payments does not make you eligible for NDIS funding, and will not guarantee a positive outcome on your application.
Read More
What type of evidence proves my impairment is permanent?
In terms of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, an impairment is permanent if it can’t be healed, and/or significantly lessened, by typical treatments. A health professional could provide a detailed summary of your condition, any previous treatments you have undertaken, what their results were, the frequency of treatments, and whether any were successful in helping you return to full health. They could include the impact of your condition on you, your day-to-day life, and whether the health condition is expected to worsen with time. Any future treatment options should be described along with their expected treatment outcomes. However, if a certain treatment has not yet been tried, it can also be included in the report, along with a description of why it is not possible or unsuitable for you. This will not automatically remove you from being assessed for the NDIS funding.
What can NDIS fund if I'm in university or other training programs?
While the NDIS cannot actually pay for your course, they can consider funding extra support services you may require which help you complete day-to-day activities. These include:
- personal care support services
- If necessary, transport to and from the university or TAFE
- Supports that allow you to participate in certain university projects for individuals with disability
- And training from your university, TAFE, or employers to accommodate for your support needs.
Send your queries
