Accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides essential support for individuals with disabilities. This is such a huge topic and process for those trying to do it on their own, so we have broken up the main topics into separate articles. For now, this is a quick guide of how to access an NDIS Plan:
Step 1: Check your Eligibility and Contact Your Local NDIS Office or Partner
First step is to check if you meet the conditions to receive funding from NDIS. Use the NDIS eligibility checker to make sure you’re eligible.
- Visit Local Office or Partner: Reach out to your local NDIS office, Local Area Coordinator, or an NDIS Provider for assistance in connecting with local disability support services and guidance through the application process. If the application is for a child aged 9 or below, you are encouraged to reach out to an early childhood partner because they can provide supports and help families understand if NDIS is the right pathway to helping the child/ren achieve their goals.
- Call the NDIS: Phone the NDIS at 1800 800 110 for application support.
Note: In some areas, there are no available early childhood partners or local area coordination partners. In such areas, NDIS is the best point of contact.
Step 2: Apply for an NDIS Plan – Requesting an NDIS Access Request Form
- By Phone or Office Visit: Contact your local NDIS office or call 1800 800 110 to request a form by mail or email.
- Download and Email: Download the form (PDF 1MB), complete it on your computer, and email it with supporting information to [email protected].
- Download and Mail: Download, print, and mail the form with supporting information to:
PO Box 700, Canberra, ACT 2601
Step 3: Providing Evidence of Your Disability
The NDIS requires specific criteria. Some disabilities need straightforward documentation, while others need comprehensive medical assessments from specialists. For detailed information on providing evidence, visit the NDIS website about ‘What information do we need in your application?’.
Who Can Provide Evidence of Your Disability?
Your treating health professionals can provide evidence of your disability. Common professionals include:
- General Practitioner (GP)
- Paediatrician
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Occupational Therapist
- Speech Pathologist (Therapist)
- Neurologist
- Psychologist
- Psychiatrist
- Physiotherapist
They should be the most suitable for your primary disability and have treated you for at least six months.
You can also refer to the helpful glossary of terms that can help you ensure you are using the correct terms that support with building a strong case of why you need to be on the NDIS.
What is the cost of getting evidence of you disability?
The average cost can range from $50-$1,000 or more. But there are also some GPs and clinics that will bulk bill the consultations for Medicare cardholders.
Some participants have also reported a reduced cost when using a private health insurance provider, but we are mindful that adults, immigrant households and Aboriginal/Torres Straight Islanders with minimal informal supports may not be afford this either.
If you need support with this, contact us to get connected with community support.
Step 4: Approval or Rejection Notification and next steps
Once your NDIS application is approved, you will receive a notification to schedule a planning meeting. While awaiting a response regarding your access request, there are several steps you can take to get ready for your child’s initial NDIS plan.
- Consider future objectives for both physical and emotional growth, remembering it must be related to the assessed disability.
- Educate yourself on the various supports available through NDIS, and their associated expenses.
During your planning meeting with a local area coordination NDIS officer, request to receive your plan or decision by mail, electronic text, large print, audio, or in your preferred language. You will also receive your NDIS participant plan in the mail and through the myplace portal.
Your early childhood partner, local area coordinator partner, or NDIA planner will guide you through the next steps and provide an estimate of when you can expect to receive your approved plan.
If you find issues or disagree with the content of your plan, you have the right to request an internal review to the NDIA by submitting your request within three months of receiving notice of the decision from the NDIA.
If the outcome of the request for internal review still does not meet your satisfaction, you have the option to apply for a review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), an independent body separate from the NDIA.
Need Help Making the Most of Your NDIS Plan?
At Marvel Care Australia, we offer training to help participants and workers understand how to utilize NDIS funding effectively. You can register for our next Free Information Session here:
Remember, you have choice and control over your NDIS plan within the guidelines.