NDIS FAQs

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!

In July 2013, the NDIS was introduced and was rolled out across Australia over a number of years.

The rollout was completed in mid 2020. Read more about the NDIS rollout here.

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:

• Age: You need to be under 65 years at the time of your application
• Residency: You need to be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen who holds a Protected Special Category Visa
• Disability: You must have a permanent disability that significantly affects how you can communicate, move, care for yourself, or manage your life.
• Early Intervention: You might be eligible if early intervention would substantially improve your functioning, or delay or decrease a decline in functioning, for you or your child.

For more information, visit Am I eligible

With the NDIS, you will work out what reasonable and necessary support you need to live your life and achieve your goals. You’ll then receive funding to pay for this support.

Reasonable and necessary support helps someone with a disability to:
• pursue their goals, objectives and aspirations.
• increase their independence.
• increase social and economic participation, and
• develop their capacity to take part in the community actively.

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:

• Your plan is managed by someone from the NDIA
• Your plan is managed by a Plan Manager
• You manage your NDIS plan

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.