NDIS Basics

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an Australian Government scheme that funds supports for eligible people with disability. It is run by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

The NDIS aims to help people with disability build their independence, take part in their community and work towards their own goals. Funding is based on each person's individual disability support needs, rather than a fixed package.

The NDIS is one part of a wider support system. It does not replace services such as health care, education, housing or income support, including Medicare and the Disability Support Pension.

The NDIA checks several requirements when someone applies. A person must be younger than 65 on the day their application is received, be an Australian citizen, permanent visa holder or Protected Special Category visa holder, and live in Australia.

They must also meet the disability requirements, the early intervention requirements, or both. The disability requirements generally involve an impairment that is likely to be permanent, substantially reduces the person's ability to do daily life activities, affects their social life, work or study, and means they are likely to need NDIS supports for life. The early intervention requirements apply when getting support early is likely to reduce a person's need for support in the future.

Children younger than 9 are usually supported through the NDIS early childhood approach. Meeting these requirements is never automatic. The NDIA decides each application individually based on the evidence provided, and many people with disability are supported through other services instead.

The official NDIS website, ndis.gov.au, explains each step of applying, including the identity documents and disability evidence the NDIA asks for. Evidence often includes assessments, reports or written statements from treating professionals.

An NDIS partner in your area, such as a Local Area Coordinator, can help you understand what evidence is needed and support you to gather it. You can also call the NDIS on 1800 800 110.

NDIS rules have changed under recent legislation, and the NDIS website notes that some pages are still being updated. Always check the official website for current requirements before you apply.

If an application is approved, the person becomes an NDIS participant and receives an NDIS plan. The plan sets out the participant's goals and the NDIS supports funded to meet their disability support needs.

Funding can only be used for NDIS supports that are reasonable and necessary and in line with the plan. When a plan is approved, the NDIA offers a plan implementation meeting to help the participant understand it and start using it.

Plans can change. If a participant's support needs change significantly, they can ask for a plan reassessment using the official request form and recent evidence. In some cases the NDIA may vary the existing plan instead of creating a new one.

According to the NDIS, every plan is organised into four support budgets: core supports, capacity building supports, capital supports and recurring supports. Not every participant has funding in all four. Each budget is divided into support categories, such as assistance with daily life or consumables.

Some funding is flexible, meaning the participant can choose which NDIS supports to buy within that budget. Other funding is stated, meaning it can only be spent on the specific support described in the plan.

There are three ways to manage plan funding. With self-management, the participant or their nominee pays providers directly. With plan management, a registered plan manager handles payments. With NDIA-management, the NDIA pays providers. Different parts of a plan can be managed in different ways, and participants can ask to change their management option.

This page is a brief introduction only. The official sources below have the most current information. For more plain-language guides, see the Cenplus Care links at the end of this page.