Starting Your Journey With The NDIS

November 13, 2020

Whether you’ve just applied to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), have just started caring for someone with NDIS funding, or you think you may be eligible but want to know more before you consider applying, there is a lot you need to know about the NDIS.

Like any decision that impacts how you live your life, joining the NDIS may seem a little daunting at first, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right information and resources, your journey with the NDIS can be rewarding and enriching to your quality of life!

To help make your journey a smooth one, in this blog we’ve covered some of the most common questions we hear at Disability Plan Services. 

What is NDIS funding?

When first embarking on your NDIS journey, it’s normal to have questions about what NDIS funding actually is and how it works. To understand what NDIS funding is, it’s important to first understand what the NDIS is.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a single, national scheme that funds reasonable and necessary support to help people with disability in Australia to reach their goals. It also supports carers of people with disability.

If you are deemed eligible for the NDIS, you will be able to create an NDIS plan. Your plan decides how your individual funding will be allocated based on the areas of your life where you need support and what goals you want to achieve. To check your NDIS eligibility, click here. 

Because everyone is unique with different levels of ability and goals, no two plans will be the same. 

The types of supports that the NDIS may provide you with funding for within your plan include:   

• Daily personal activities
• Transport to community, social, economic and daily life activities
• Workplace funding to help you get or keep a job in the open or supported labour market
• Therapeutic supports including behaviour support
• Help with household tasks to maintain your home environment
• Professional help in arranging aids or equipment assessment, set up and training
• Home and vehicle modifications
• Mobility equipment

For an extensive list of all supports that the NDIS will fund and their descriptions, click here.

It is important to remember that not every person will receive the same funding. The NDIS will allocate funding to individuals based on their specific circumstances and any other factors such as access to informal family supports and goals. 

Goal setting is an important part of creating your plan and planning for a successful journey with the NDIS. Click here to read our blog about setting NDIS goals!

How to apply for ndis funding

After confirming your eligibility for NDIS funding, the next step is knowing how to apply for NDIS funding. The NDIS provide you with three options when applying to access funding.

1. Call the NDIS on 1800 800 110 and ask to make an Access Request
2. Complete and submit the Access Request Form and email it to NAT@dis.gov.au 
3. Contact a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)

If you choose option 3, use the NDIS search tool here to find a LAC office near you. 

No matter which option you choose, when you apply to access the NDIS you will be required to submit supporting documentation that confirms your identity and informational, such as letters or reports, about your disability. 

For more information about the supporting information required about your disability, click here. 

Once all documentation has been successfully submitted and you are approved, you will receive an ‘access decision’ letter. This is when you are ready to create your NDIS plan!

How to create and use your NDIS plan

To create your first plan you must have a meeting with the NDIA who are responsible for administering the NDIS. This is called a ‘planning meeting’ and can be conducted either in person or over the phone – whichever options suits you best.

Along with setting goals, as mentioned above, creating your plan also involves answering questions about what other types of support you’re currently receiving from informal supports such as family members. 

You also need to make a decision about how you would like to manage the ongoing administration of your plan funds. To learn more about your options for managing your plan, click here. 

Once you have created your plan, the next step is putting your plan into action! This is the exciting part about your journey with the NDIS because it’s where you can see your supports come to life and start making a positive difference to your quality of life.

The process of connecting with service providers to deliver your supports will look a little different depending on how you choose to manage your plan. 

For helping getting started with your first plan including connecting with service providers to deliver your supports, get in touch with the team at Disability Plan Services on 1800 312 870 or email info@disabilityplanservices.com.au.  

If you have any other questions about how to start your journey with the NDIS, the team at Disability Plan Services are always available to guide you in the right direction and ensure you’re making decisions that are the best to help you achieve your goals.