Am I eligible for the NDIS?

Key points

• Before accessing the NDIS, you will need to meet specific eligibility criteria
• The NDIS will consider things like age, residency status, and disability
• Anyone who thinks they are eligible for funding can apply for the NDIS

General eligibility criteria

The NDIS provides support to people with disability in Australia and is available to anyone with a physical, mental or intellectual disability.

Before you can access support through the NDIS, you will need to meet the eligibility criteria.

To meet the NDIS eligibility requirements:

• you must be under 65 years of age;
• you must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or hold a Protected Special Category Visa (SCV);
• you must be living with a disability that affects your ability to perform everyday activities. The condition needs to be recognised under the NDIS as needing ‘reasonable and necessary supports’ OR you must be a child under the age of six with a developmental delay that can be targeted by early intervention supports

Explaining the requirements

Age requirement

Under the NDIS access requirements if you are over the age of 65, then you are not eligible to apply for NDIS support. This is because according to the NDIS principles, the scheme is ‘part of a broader system of support in Australia, [and] people over 65 should access the aged care system.’

However, if you started receiving NDIS supports before turning 65, you can continue to receive funding once you turn 65 and for years to come.

You will be given a choice to either continue to receive disability support under the NDIS or to change and receive support through the Commonwealth Aged Care System through My Aged Care.

Residence requirement

Residence requirements apply when a person is applying for the NDIS, and must be retained after a person becomes a participant.

You will meet the residence requirements if you:

• live in Australia; or
• are an Australian Citizen or hold a permanent residency visa or a Protected Special Category Visa (SCV).

If you stop meeting the residence requirements, your access to the NDIS may be cancelled.

Living with disability

You must be living with a disability that affects your ability to perform everyday activities including communication, social interaction, learning, mobility and self-care.

Your disability needs to be, or likely be, permanent to be considered for NDIS support.

The condition also needs to be recognised under the NDIS as needing ‘reasonable and necessary supports.’

For children under the age of 6 with developmental delays, access to the NDIS and early intervention support is available.

What support do you want to get from the NDIS? Tell us in the comments below.

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