How do I apply for the NDIS?

There are many different disabilities, and no two people with the same disability will have the same experience. The NDIS provides services and support to individuals with disabilities. However, to apply you must first meet the requirements.

If you are already receiving disability support services, you do not need to apply for the NDIS. As soon as the NDIS becomes available in your area, the NDIA will contact you.

If you do not currently receive disability supports but wish to join the scheme, you will need to contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110 and request an Access Request Form.

As part of the access request process, you will:

• be asked to confirm your identity and/or a person’s authority to act on your behalf

• be asked questions to see if you meet the NDIS access requirements

• need to provide evidence of your disability.

Check your NDIS eligibility!

There are many different disabilities, and no two people with the same disability will have the same experience. The NDIS provides services and support to individuals with disabilities however you must meet the requirements first. At Hand in Hand (VIC), we like to think of people as being differently abled. What is right for one person may not be right for another person.

Not everyone who has a disability is eligible for assistance through the NDIS. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is responsible for determining who is eligible to access the NDIS. The NDIA requires you to meet disability or early intervention requirements.

To apply for the NDIS you must be eligible:

• You must have a permanent disability that significantly affects your ability to take part in everyday activities;

• You must be an Australian citizen or hold a permanent visa or hold a Special Protected Category visa.

• You must be under 65 years old at the time of applying;

• *Note: A person who qualifies for NDIS, can continue to have a NDIS package after they turn 65 years old, until they take up a residential aged care funded support.

As the NDIS is being progressively rolled out, only people within those geographic areas currently being serviced by the NDIS can be assisted

Because the National Disability Insurance Scheme is a government system, there are a range of factors that determine whether a person is eligible for direct support. And there are a range of different disabilities that

You need to be able to provide information about your disability, including what your disability is, whether it is permanent (how long is it expected to last), and how it impacts the way you function in your life. Also, depending on your age, for example, children under 7 years old, may need to provide evidence to meet the early intervention access requirements.

If the evidence of disability you provide is unclear, the NDIA can ask for more information, delay your request, or refuse your request.

What evidence do I need to be eligible?

When applying for the NDIS, we recommend you provide as clear information as possible about your disability and how it impacts on your daily functioning. Ideally, the evidence you provide should:

• confirms your primary disability type and the date it was diagnosed (if available)

• confirms the impacts of your disability on all aspects of your life (for example,   mobility/motor skills, communication, social interaction, learning, self-care and self-management).

• describes how long the disability will last, and what treatment options (including previous treatments and outcomes and if possible future treatment options and expected outcomes of those treatments)

• be relatively recent (ie in the past 6-12 months)

• be completed by a professional relevant to your primary disability.

Examples of common treating health professionals include:

• General Practitioner (GP)

• Paediatrician

• Orthopaedic surgeon

• Occupational Therapist

• Speech Pathologist (Therapist)

• Neurologist

• Psychologist or Psychiatrist

Ideally, the professional providing evidence should be the most appropriate person to provide evidence of your primary disability and have been seeing you for some time (for example, 6 months or more).

These professionals should know which assessments or reports they need to provide. The NDIA provides a list of relevant assessments that professionals can use (and which you may need to get).

Check the NDIA access lists

The NDIA maintains lists which its staff use to determine who will get entry to the scheme. These lists are updated from time to time.

National Disability Insurance Agency lists of conditions:

1. List a – conditions which are likely to meet the disability requirements in section 24 of the NDIS act

2. List b – permanent conditions for which functional capacity are variable and further assessment of functional capacity generally is required

3. List c – defined programs

4. List d – permanent impairment/early intervention, under 7 years – no further assessment required