National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
What is the NDIS?
The NDIS is a new way of providing support for Australians with a disability, their families and carers. The NDIS will double the amount of funding currently provided by the Federal Government to Australians under the age of 65 who have a permanent and significant disability so that participants can lead an ordinary life. This includes people with a psychosocial disability.
As an insurance scheme, the NDIS takes a lifetime approach, investing in support for people with disability early to improve their outcomes later in life. This is in contrast to the current disability support system which is criticised for offering siloed responses with no security around future funding arrangements.
Once the NDIS commences in a region, people will be able to test their eligibility for the scheme. The NDIS will support people who meet the following entry requirements:
- Have a permanent (or likely to be permanent) and significant disability that affects their ability to manage everyday activities.
- Be aged less than 65 when they first access the scheme.
- Be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen who holds a Protected Special Category Visa.
Assistance from the NDIS is not means tested and has no impact on income support such as the disability support pension and carers allowance.
Eligible participants will be offered assistance to develop a plan that meets their identified needs and goals. The NDIS will then fund the ‘reasonable and necessary’ supports required for participants to achieve their goals. NDIS plans will have an explicit dollar value.
For more information about the NDIS visit www.ndis.gov.au
