How does the NDIS support individuals with a disability?

December 20, 2021

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was designed to empower Australians with disabilities to have more choice and freedom in their life. By funding individualised supports for people with disabilities, the NDIS can provide eligible participants the opportunity to curate a plan that meets their needs, wants, and overall goals.

So, how does the NDIS support individuals with a disability? We explore this frequently asked question in detail throughout this blog.

How does the NDIS support individuals with a disability?

Did you know there are 4.3 million Australians who have a disability? To support these individuals, the NDIS provides billions of dollars each year in funding to ensure they receive the appropriate support they require.

The NDIS funds supports for individuals across three different categories – core supports, capital supports, and capacity building supports. As a brief overview, the NDIS may fund supports such as:

• daily personal activities
• home modifications (e.g. wheelchair ramps or shower handrails)
• transport for a person’s daily life activities or to enable their community, social or economic participation
• therapeutic supports, and much more. 

Eligible participants can receive funding determined on what is outlined in their NDIS plan, as long as the supports are ‘reasonable and necessary’, related to your permanent disability and help achieve your set goals. 

How to use NDIS funding

Before you calculate the different ways you could utilise NDIS funding, you need to determine your eligibility for NDIS funding. The NDIS website has a short questionnaire you can complete to determine your eligibility before you dive head first into your NDIS journey. 

If you are eligible for the NDIS, you will need to contact the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to make an ‘Access Request’. This process will require you to answer questions about yourself and your disability. You may need to ask your doctor and/or other health professionals to provide evidence about your disability and the impact it has on your life.

After going through the access request process, you’ll likely be asked to have a planning meeting. This is where you’ll discuss your disability, the supports you currently receive, your short and long-term goals, and how you intend on managing your funding once receiving an approved NDIS plan. After this meeting, you should receive your approved NDIS plan. The approved plan is valid for 12 months unless otherwise stated.

If you’re reading this and are worried about how you’ll utilise your NDIS funding or handle the paperwork required from your NDIS providers, it might be worth considering a plan manager. 

A plan manager can help you to make the most of your NDIS funding, while also taking away the stress of paperwork, invoices, claims, fund-tracking, financial reporting, and more. 

The best part? Plan management is no extra cost to you, so you won’t have to worry about cutting something out of your NDIS plan to make way for a reputable plan manager like Disability Plan Services. All you have to do is request Disability Plan Services as your plan manager during your planning meeting with the NDIS or contact us beforehand to discuss your options.

What the NDIS doesn’t fund

If you haven’t assessed your eligibility for the NDIS yet, you might not be aware of what the NDIS does not fund or provide assistance for. Firstly, if you’re over the age of 65, you are not eligible to receive funding for the NDIS. However, you may eligible to access other government or community supports. 

While an NDIS plan is fairly flexible and will fund the majority of reasonable requests, it will not fund the following items:

• anything illegal (e.g. home modifications that do not meet the required legislation in Australia or your state/territory);
• income replacements 
• dangerous items that may cause you harm
• anything unrelated to your disability 
• daily living expenditure items like groceries
• anything that duplicates other supports provided by the NDIS under alternative funding.

If you’re still wondering how does the NDIS support individuals with a disability, or have any other questions about the NDIS, we’re here to help. Disability Plan Services is a registered NDIS Provider. Our team are friendly, experienced NDIS Plan Managers who know how to make the most of your funding. To receive assistance in managing your NDIS plan or support coordination from people you can trust, contact our team by calling 1800 312 870 or email info@disabilityplanservices.com.au.