How Eligibility for NDIS is Determined
The National Disability Insurance Scheme or NDIS is a jointly governed and funded initiative by the Australian and participating state and territory governments that provides individualised packages of funding to support eligible Australians with disability along with their families and carers. The NDIS was established under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act in 2013 (NDIS Act). The NDIS Act also established the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) the independent statutory agency responsible for administering the NDIS.
So, how does one determine eligibility for NDIS support? The NDIA provides an eligibility checklist that details the determining factors required for an individual to qualify for NDIS. This checklist contains questions designed to determine if a person is eligible for individualized funding packages from the NDIS. Generally, to qualify for NDIS support, all questions on the eligibility checklist should be answered with a ‘yes’. However, individuals who do not qualify may still be able to access other supports.
The NDIS Eligibility Checklist – Who Can Apply for NDIS?
The following checklist helps individuals to understand who can apply for NDIS support. You can answer the series of questions found below to determine if you, individual/s you care are caring for, or people you know qualify for NDIS.
Age Requirements
Question #1 – Is the individual aged 65 or younger?
If the answer is ‘Yes’, proceed to the next question. If the answer is ‘No’, unfortunately you must be under 65 to access the NDIS. However, individuals aged over 65 can access other supports, click here to learn more.
Residence Requirements
Question #2 – Is the individual an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or a Protected Special Category Visa holder?
If the answer is ‘Yes’, proceed to the next question. If the answer is ‘No’ the individual may be able to access other supports.
Question #3 – Does the individual live in Australia?
If the answer is ‘Yes’, proceed to the next question. If the answer is ‘No’, unfortunately the NDIS only supports people living in Australia.
Disability Requirements
Question #4 – Does the individual have a disability caused by a permanent impairment?
If the answer is ‘Yes’, proceed to the next question. If the answer is ‘No’, unfortunately the NDIS is only available to individuals with disability caused by permanent impairment. The impairment may be intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, physical, or psychosocial.
Question #5 – Does the individual require disability-specific supports to carry out activities of daily life?
If the answer is ‘Yes’, the individual may be eligible. If the answer is ‘No’, proceed to the next question.
Early Intervention Requirements
Question #6 – Does the individual require some supports now to minimise the need for support in the future?
If the answer is ‘Yes’, the individual may be eligible. If the answer is ‘No’, proceed to the next question.
Question #7 – Does the individual require some supports now so family and carers can develop skills to help?
If the answer is ‘Yes’, the individual may be eligible. If the answer is ‘No’, the NDIS may not be the best option to provide support. A Local Area Coordinator (LAC) can help you connect with other government and community supports.
Do You, The Individual/s You Are Caring For, or Person/s You Know Qualify for NDIS?
After answering the NDIS eligibility checklist above, do you, the individual/s you are caring for, or person/s you know qualify for NDIS support? If yes, then an application can be made directly to the NDIS by visiting their website. A local NDIS coordinator in your area will assist with all the requirements. Our team here at Ability Assist can also provide some assistance in applying for NDIS support in Melbourne. If you need help in determining eligibility for NDIS, please feel free to get in touch with our team.
Once the application is approved, we here at Ability Assist can provide a wide array of Disability Support Services as a registered NDIS service provider in Melbourne. You can choose from our diverse range of disability care services tailored for adults, adolescents, and children, all funded by the NDIS. Our dedicated team is here to support individuals with disability as well as their families and carers every step of the way, providing high-quality, person-centred care that empowers individuals to lead fulfilling lives.
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