Frequently Asked Questions 

The NDIS is designed to provide support for individuals with permanent and significant disabilities to help them enhance their independence and achieve their goals. NDIS eligibility is determined based on specific criteria, including:

• Age (under 65 years)
• Residency (being an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or Special Category Visa holder)
• Impact of the disability on daily life. To qualify, the disability must be permanent and substantially reduce the individual’s ability to complete everyday tasks without assistance.

You can apply for the NDIS by submitting an Access Request Form, either online, via phone, or with the help of a local area coordinator. You'll need to provide documentation about your disability and how it impacts your daily life. 

Once you have done this, the NDIS will review your application and may contact you if they need more information. If your application is approved, you’ll be invited to a planning meeting where you’ll work with an NDIS planner or local area coordinator to create an NDIS plan.

Once you’ve had your planning meeting and your NDIS plan is approved, you can manage your plan in the following ways:

• Self-Managed: You control your budget, choose providers (both registered and non-registered), negotiate prices, and pay invoices directly while keeping track of your spending.
• Plan-Managed: A plan manager handles payments, tracks spending, and helps manage your budget, allowing you to use both registered and non-registered providers.
• NDIS-Managed: The NDIS manages all your payments and paperwork and pays registered providers directly, but you can only use NDIS-registered providers.

NDIS-Managed: The NDIS manages all your payments and paperwork and pays registered providers directly, but yo

The NDIS provides funding to eligible individuals based on their specific disability-related needs. Supports funded by the NDIS are designed to help individuals reach personal goals, gain skills and independence, and participate in work and the community. 

NDIS supports can include services, items, and equipment related to an individual's disability and are considered reasonable and necessary. It consists of a range of support categories, such as education and training, employment, community participation, skill building, supported independent living arrangements, and health and wellbeing.

"Reasonable and necessary" refers to the supports and services that the NDIS will fund for someone with a disability. For something to be considered "reasonable and necessary," it needs to: 

• Directly relate to the disability 
• Exclude day-to-day living costs that aren’t related to the disability, e.g. groceries
• Provide value for money 
• Be likely to contribute to positive outcomes for the individual
• Not duplicate other supports available through mainstream government services or the community

The NDIS does not cover expenses like rent, utilities, groceries, or items unrelated to your disability. It also doesn’t fund supports that are the responsibility of other systems, such as healthcare or education.

The NDIS is designed to give individuals and their families choice and control over their service providers. If your plan is NDIS-managed, you must choose registered NDIS providers, but self-managed and plan-managed participants can access both registered and non-registered providers.

Yes, you can change your NDIS provider if you're unhappy with the services. You have the right to choose a provider that suits your needs, and you can switch at any time.

NDIS funding lasts for the duration of your plan, which is usually reviewed every 12 months. At the end of each plan, you'll meet with your planner to discuss your progress, goals, and any changes needed. If you're still eligible for the NDIS, you'll receive a new plan with updated funding.

To receive funding for home and living supports, you’ll need to demonstrate how these kinds of supports align with your goals and needs. To do so, you’ll need to provide evidence from relevant health practitioners (allied or otherwise) that explain:

• Your daily support and housing needs
• Your functional capacity
• Other home and living options you’ve explored and why they don’t meet your needs

Your eligibility under the NDIS for these kinds of supports will be determined during this meeting, so it’s important that you come prepared with all relevant supporting evidence or documentation. But don’t worry—we’ll help you plan for that!

No, the NDIS does not cover everyday living costs such as rent or mortgage payments. It is designed to assist with support and services related to a participant's disability.

Yes, you can combine different types of home and living supports under the NDIS as long as they align with your goals and needs. The NDIS is flexible and offers various support options, such as personal care, assistive technology, home modifications, and more.

Social and communication participation in your NDIS plan refers to the support you may receive to help you engage in social activities and communicate effectively with others.

To get the most out of social and community participation funding, it's important to set clear goals. We recommend working with a plan manager to help you make the most of your funding—after all, they are experts in the field. They can guide you in choosing the best services and help you track your spending in this category.

What can I access with social and communication participation funding?

You generally cannot move funding between different categories, including capacity-building categories, unless there's a clear reason for the change and the NDIS approves it. The categories are designed to support specific needs, and funding is allocated accordingly. However, if your needs change, you can discuss adjusting your NDIS funding with your planner or plan manager during your plan review.

Yes, the capacity-building category of your NDIS plan can include funding for a support worker as long as the support aims to build your skills and independence. This could include assistance with daily tasks, skill development, social participation, or improving your ability to manage your life.

At an NDIS plan meeting, you'll sit down with an NDIS planner to talk about your goals and the support you need to achieve them. The planner will ask about your disability, how it affects your daily life, and what support you already receive. You’ll discuss the types of help you need, like personal care, therapy, or equipment.

The meeting is your chance to share your goals for the future and how the NDIS can assist you. They will also go over your funding and how it can be used to cover different supports.

Bring reports from your healthcare providers, a list of your goals, and any other information that might help illustrate your needs and the supports that benefit you.

Don’t worry if this all sounds a little confusing to you; at Local Care Solutions, we offer pre-planning services where we guide you through the process, help gather the necessary documents, and make sure you're fully prepared for your NDIS planning meeting.

Yes, you can bring someone with you to your NDIS planning meeting. Many choose to bring a support person, advocate, or family member to help them understand the process, take notes, or provide emotional support. The support person can help you communicate your needs and goals to the planner.