NDIS Disability Services and Personal Care

If you qualify for NDIS, you will receive annual grants for the purchase of services, assistance, and equipment that you believe is based on your needs from selected service providers, such as: B. Range. In addition, you can choose whether to manage the funds yourself. In this case, you will personally file a complaint with NDIS or NDIA (the institution established to manage NDIS) and entrust the management of your funds. As individual circumstances, conditions or needs change, NDIS participants can request that their financial plans be adjusted accordingly.

NDIS is the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It is a new national support system for people with disabilities, their families and caregivers. Focused on providing real choice and flexibility through tailor-made grants. Disabled people participate in this project, known as "Participants". 

NDIA is the National Disability Insurance Agency. It is a government agency, implementing and managing NDIS and ensuring that disabled people receive the support they need. 

The NDIA will be the sole responsible agency for the NDIS once the rollout has been completed nationwide in 2019. The NDIA is a contact to discuss your needs and to clarify any questions that you may have. Of course, VITALICARE is happy to assist with any questions and will be able to explain, in simple terms, what is the best way to successfully transition to the NDIS. ​

Contact Details: 

NDIS and NDIA: Website: www.ndis.gov.au Phone: 1800 800 110 

Department of Communities Website: www.communities.qld.gov.au Phone: 13 QGOV (13 74 68)

To be eligible to receive NDIS funding, you must meet certain requirements. These requirements include:

• You must be under 65 years of age to access the Scheme.
• You must live in Australia and be an Australian citizen, hold a Permanent Visa or hold a Protected Special Category Visa.

To meet the disability requirements you will need to prove that you:

• Have a permanent disability.
• Your disability substantially affects your ability to participate effectively in activities without assistance from others or
• technology.
• You are likely to require lifelong support under the NDIS.

You can find the NDIS eligibility checklist here. https://www.ndis.gov.au/applying-access-ndis/am-i-eligible You can also contact the NDIA for more information on 1800 800 110.

If you think a NDIA decision is wrong, you can request an internal review of a decision. Any person directly affected by an NDIA decision can request an internal review.

https://www.ndis.gov.au/applying-access-ndis/how-apply/receiving-your-access-decision/internal-review-decision

Anyone who thinks they might be eligible for the NDIS, can download an Access Request Form (ARF), and a Supporting Evidence Form (SEF), work with their GP, allied health, and specialist medical professionals to prepare and provide the information required. 

Link for ARF - https://www.ndis.gov.au/how-apply-ndis/what-access-request-form

You can:

• Phone 1800 800 110 and make a verbal access request, or
• Download and complete the ARF on your computer and email it to the NDIA with supporting information, or
• Download the ARF on your computer, print it out, and mail it to the NDIA with supporting information, or
• Email [email protected] and ask for an ARF to be mailed, or

Contact your local NDIA office and ask for an ARF to be mailed to you.

It's time to prepare for your planning meeting with the NDIS - this is called pre-planning.

• Prepare any information you have around assessments and diagnosis
• List the supports you currently access and have a think about what you need going forward
• Work out what you would like to achieve in life - these are called your goals. They can be as short-term as getting out to meet friends for a coffee, or big things like finding a job or moving out of home.
• Decide if you'd like a friend, family member or an advocate to attend the meeting with you.

You'll then meet with an NDIA planner or Local Area Coordinator who will assess your needs, develop a budget and offer advice on the services you may access within your plan. After that, it's up to you to choose which provider you want to work with.

While the NDIS will change your plan in line with your evolving needs, plans tend to be made for one or two years.

NDIS plans come in all shapes and sizes and are tailored to your specific circumstances, so you won't know the answer to that question until you've been through the process. They'll look at your individual goals - and the reasonable and necessary supports you'll need to achieve them - your disability and functional impairment, personal circumstances, informal supports, age and stage of life before coming up with a figure.

The NDIS is not means tested, so it will not have any impact on your Disability Support Pension (DSP).

The NDIS doesn't fund everyday expenses such as utilities, food, rent and activities. However, it may fund the supports you need to, for example, live independently, prepare meals and participate in your chosen social activities.

A good place to start is the NDIS glossary - also available in Auslan and Easy Read.