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Am I eligible for the NDIS?
NDIS stands for National Disability Insurance Scheme. The aim of the NDIS is to make sure that Australians with disability receive the disability support they need. These supports can help you achieve your goals, be part of your community and thrive in a job you love.
To receive the NDIS you generally need to meet the following criteria:
Be between 7 and 65 years old
If you are under the age of 7, there is a different system in place. This is called the early childhood approach and was designed to better suit the needs of children.
If you are over the age of 65, you will not be able to apply to the NDIS. You will likely be directed to access the aged care support system. This is because the NDIS has been designed to work alongside this broader system of support.
Live in Australia and have Australian residency
The NDIS is only available to:
- People who live in Australia
- Australian citizens
- Permanent visa holders
- Protected special category visa holders
Have a disability that is permanent
Your disability will generally need to be permanent to access the NDIS. This means that it is unlikely to ever go away.
Here in Australia the NDIS is designed to work in with other systems of support like the healthcare system.
If you are not sure if your disability would be considered permanent the best thing to do is speak to your doctor or specialist.
What to do if you believe you’re eligible
If you believe you could be eligible, you will need to apply through the NDIS. The NDIS calls this an ‘Access Request’ - this essentially means that you are wanting to receive NDIS supports and believe that you meet the eligibility criteria.
Before filling out the Access Request it’s important to know that you will need a treating professional (someone like a doctor or a specialist) to fill in parts of the form. It’s also very likely that you will need supporting documentation to go with the Access Request.
From there the NDIS will assess your application and let you know if you were successful or not.
What to do if you’re not eligible
It's always a good idea to talk with your doctor or specialist about what your options are.
If you’re not eligible, you might be able to receive support from another government organisation. If you are over 65 you might wish to look into the aged care system. If you do not have a permanent disability you could try seeking help from the healthcare system.
It’s worth noting that Endeavour Foundation may offer services to people who do not have an NDIS plan, you will need to pay for these services yourself. If you are interested in Disability Support Services the best thing to do is to get in touch with us so we can discuss your individual circumstances and give you the most up-to-date pricing.
