Accessing The NDIS

With the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) being the new system to provide people with disability (PWD) the supports they need, there are a lot of areas of uncertainty when accessing the scheme. The Access Assessors at the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) use a set criteria in order to grant people NDIS funding. It is reported that the NDIS has a budget of 22 billion a year and only let in 10% of most serious cases. The numbers of entrants are monitored very carefully in order to keep it affordable. The Scheme has 5 tests to gauge the validity of a PWD upon accessing the NDIS, which are:

1. Impairment – note this does not have to be a diagnosed disability, as long as there is a way to prove the physical/mental impairment.
2. Access Accessors are trained and have the highest levels of specialists on this. A separate form for mental illness which should, in theory, make it easier to apply.
3. Functional Capacity – how your impairment affects day to day living. Application form on NDIS website Proof from family with help of GP or specialist social worker
4. Early Intervention If accessing the NDIS is seen as an early intervention, it is seen as financial and human interest that coincides with the government scheme. This can be an exception to permanency with the possibility of by-passing the requirement for a disability to be ‘permanent’.
5. Developmental delay – for kids under the age of 6-7 years old This can by-pass permanency too.

To be granted successful entry to the scheme, applicants must meet the requirements for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd test. Not every condition has to go through all three steps. Autism has a high success rate of being granted entry. There is also a preference to being diagnosed on the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) rather than the previous versions, e.g. DSM-4. Please note that the NDIA must not require an applicant to order a new test that will cost or inconvenience the applicants. Applicants should be under the age of 65 when applying for the scheme.

You may find these links helpful:

Applying To Access the NDIS

Incorporating plan management into an NDIS Plan