Applying for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can greatly improve quality of life for individuals and families around Australia affected by disability. Like all government programs, there are certain bureaucratic steps that must be followed to access this funding. This article will investigate exactly what you need to do to apply for the NDIS.
Absolute Care & Health is a well-established registered NDIS provider. If you require supports and services to help you achieve the goals outlined in your NDIS plan, get in touch with us.
1. Determine your eligibility
Before you begin your application for the NDIS, you must ascertain whether or not you are eligible for funding. The NDIS has very specific requirements that must be met in order to receive the funding you need. Start by answering these core questions:
- Are you aged between 7 and 65? Help is available to people outside of these age groups, just not through the NDIS.
- Do you live in Australia and have Australian residency? The NDIS is available to citizens, people living in Australia, and certain Visa holders.
- Do you usually need support from a person because of a permanent and significant disability? Eligibility requirements differ based on your answer.
- Do you use special equipment because of a permanent and significant disability? You may be entitled to special provisions under NDIS.
- Do you need some supports now to reduce your future needs? If the answer is no, there may be more appropriate supports outside of the NDIS.
To learn about the specifics of the NDIS eligibility criteria, read more here.
If you are having difficulty answering the above questions, get in touch with Absolute Care & Health. We can guide to the right organisations who can help you complete your NDIS plan application.
2. Make an Access Request
Once the NDIA deems you to be eligible for NDIS funding, your next step is to apply for an Access Request. This can be done via phone or online. The initial part of this process will confirm:
- Your identity, or the identity of the person acting on your behalf
- What you are currently receiving in terms of disability support
- Your consent to enter the Scheme and share information with a third party
3. Provide information about your disability
The next step of the Access Request process is to advise the National Disability Insurance Scheme of your situation. This can be completed by providing evidence of your disability. This evidence should be able to:
- Confirm your primary diagnosis and how it impacts your life
- Advise on any past or future treatments or outcomes
This evidence needs to come from medical professionals aligned to your disability that have been treating you for at least 6 months. Types of medical professional that can provide the requisite documentation include:
- General practitioners and pediatricians
- Surgeons
- Speech pathologists
- Occupational therapists and physiotherapists
- Neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists
To access information for a child under the age of 7, you will need to contact an Early Childhood Partner office in your area. This office will support you in gathering evidence to continue with your Access Request for a child in your care.
Once you have gathered all the necessary information above, you can lodge this documentation in a number of ways:
- By emailing your reports and evidence to [email protected]
- By posting your reports and evidence to GPO Box 700, Canberra ACT 2601
- By dropping into your nearest NDIS support centre
- By completing and lodging a Supporting Evidence document online
If English is your second language, you can utilise the NDIS translating and interpreting service on 131 450. For other support in completing the Access Request process, for example, with hearing or vision loss, you can call the NDIS service on 1800 555 677.
4. Contact Absolute Care & Health
Once you are eligible for funding through the NDIS, you’ll want to start receiving your supports as soon as possible. Absolute Care & Health a registered NDIS disability care provider. Once your plan is in place, you can start receiving supports from our experienced support workers.
Under the NDIS, we provide a range of disability support services, including:
- Daily personal activities
- Domestic support
- Transportation
- Community nursing
- Community access
- Daily living and life skills
Better yet, we will continually re-evaluate your situation and living standards to ensure that you are always receiving the best in care.
If you’re ready to apply for NDIS funding for your disability, contact Absolute Care & Health. We can provide supports aligned to your plan that can help you achieve your goals.
