Guide to NDIS
Your Guide to NDIS
NDIS Guide
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is changing the way Australians with a permanent disability manage their treatment, empowering them to tailor their support to their particular needs and goals.
The Australian Government began rolling out the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in June 2016 to all eligible Australians. The rollout is expected to be complete by 2019 and by that time around half a million Australians will be receiving assistance under the NDIS.
This guide is designed to introduce individuals and their carers to the NDIS and provide information on how to access the scheme and what assistance is available.
For more information on the NDIS, and to check your eligibility and apply to be a participant, visit the government NDIS website.
What is the NDIS?
The NDIS is a nationwide disability scheme that aims to provide individualised support to help the thousands of Australians with a permanent disability or impairment. The NDIS was put in place after a productivity commission found the existing disability support network was “underfunded, unfair, fragmented and inefficient.”
The scheme is open to all Australian residents under the age of 65 with a permanent impairment or condition that substantially reduces the ability to perform tasks or actions without the help of someone else and/or an assistive device.
The NDIS covers a range of disability, including intellectual disability; neurological disabilities; physical disability; acquired brain injuries; visual impairment; psychosocial disability; hearing impairment; and sensory or speech limitations.
Funding is allocated to the individual, based on their particular requirements and in consultation with the participant, and their carers, if relevant. Once a plan is approved, the participant can get funding for things like:
- assistance with daily tasks at home, such as personal care, cleaning and household management;
- assistive technology to help you get around or with activities, such as wheelchairs;
- occupational therapy, speech therapy and physiotherapy;
- transport to appointments and social activities.
How NDIS Plans are Managed?
There are a number of ways that a plan can be managed, depending on the specific needs of the individual.
Self-Managed
Once you have been assessed by the NDIA. they will determine whether or not your situation is suitable for you to self-manage your NDIS funding, completely or partially.
As a self-managed NDIS participant, you’ll receive funds directly into your NDIS bank account which you can then use to pay for specific equipment and services. You’ll be responsible for choosing and arranging your own support services, and to ensure invoices are paid on time.
The benefit of managing your own NDIS plan is that you have more freedom when it comes to choosing your providers, regardless of whether they are NDIS registered.
If you choose to self-manage your NDIS plan, it’s important that you keep an accurate record of your invoices and payments. You’ll need to request invoice details from providers and then submit a claim to the NDIS in order to receive the funds to pay for them; or pay upfront and then seek reimbursement.
A fully self-managed plan may not be appropriate for all participants, and you can choose to work with an agency or your plan manager to get assistance with managing your plan.
Agency Managed
You can opt to have the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) manage your plan for you. If you choose this option, the NDIA will pay your support providers directly on your behalf. If you choose this option, you will need to make sure your providers are NDIS registered. Look for the NDIS button, like what you see on our website, or ask them directly if they are registered.
• The service provider claims directly to the agency or plan manager
• The NDIA or plan manager is responsible for payment to the service provider
• You can only access services from approved Providers
• You receive regular statements from your service Providers
Plan Manager
Alternately, you can have a third-party plan management look after your NDIS funds and payments. Your plan manager will manage your funding and pay your Providers one your behalf. These are server Providers who are private companies that specialise in working with persons who require multiple supports and therefore there will be a fee charged for services rendered. The cost of this service can be included in your NDIS plan, if appropriate for your situation. Need to explain that these are Registered Providers and will charge a fee for service
Combination
You can also choose to have your plan managed in a combination of the above options. Perhaps you’d like to manage more frequent costs and have payments for things like equipment come directly from the NDIA.
You may also be entitled to set up automated payments to cover transport services you use regularly.
How the NDIS works?
If you’re eligible to become a participant under the NDIS, the first stage is to develop a plan which outlines your specific goals and what you need to achieve them.
The NDIS provides funds for various services and aids outlined in your care plan. These things must be linked to a particular outcome, and help you improve your lifestyle and activities. Funding can be applied to:
- help with day-to-day activities that increase your social or economic participation;
- equipment or modifications that allow you to carry out tasks without assistance, or increase your mobility;
- therapy and training to help you live the life you want.
Once you apply, you’ll be put in touch with someone from the National Disability Insurance Agency who’ll speak with you to develop your plan. This first plan runs for 12 months, and will then be reviewed to ensure you receive enough funding to help you achieve your goals.
How much funding can I get under the NDIS?
The aim of the NDIS is to offer flexibility and appropriate funding to meet your needs, rather than broad solutions that may not be suitable for everyone.
The NDIS is designed to cover all “reasonable and necessary supports”. Your funding can be used to pay for services, products, and assistive devices that will help you become more independent and engage more within the community. The specific things this covers is broad and it’s up to you, your carers and the NDIS to determine the exact type of support you need.
As a result, NDIS funding is determined on an individual basis – no two plans look the same, and there isn’t a set amount of funding for each person.
When you meet with your NDIS representative, they’ll ask you questions about your daily support needs, how you manage day-to-day activities, and what goals you have for increased social, economic and community interaction. From there, they’ll help you come up with a set of goals and outcomes, and determine the funding you need to achieve these.
Your initial plan runs for 12 months, but you can ask for it to be reviewed at any time if you feel it’s not helping you meet your goals.
Some things the NDIS can be used to pay for include:
- Daily consumables related to your disability like continence aids or food for an assistance dog. The NDIS can’t be used to cover your regular groceries, but you can use funding to pay for delivery or help with getting to the shops, if needed.
- Walking aids, communication devices, or prosthetics.
- Health services, physiotherapy and other occupational health services to improve mobility, social interaction or work activities.
- Home modifications, personal care and at-home services to assist with you remaining at home.
- Mobility aids and equipment such as wheelchairs, lifts, hearing aids and adjustable beds.
Find out more about how the NDIS can be used to purchase mobility aids and products for home, work and social activities here.
Getting started with the NDIS and creating your first plan
The NDIS process is as follows:
- Determine if you’re eligible for NDIS funding.
- Consider your current lifestyle, the support you currently have, and what is and isn’t working.
- Identify your goals and the type of lifestyle you’d like to have or activities you’d like to take part in.
- Gather all the information you need, including recommendations from treating providers and carers, and anything else to support your plan.
The NDIS focuses a lot on goals and outcomes, and if you haven’t done much goal setting in the past, it can the daunting to consider these things
While your NDIA representative can help, it’s a good idea to go to your first meeting with a few of your goals written down and the specific things you need to help you reach them. It can help to speak with your family, healthcare professionals and carers (both informal and formal), to talk about what a positive outcome could look like for you.
For more on coming up with your goals and preparing for your first meeting, click here.
Does the NDIS Work with Other Support Systems?
The NDIS is part of a broader support system designed to improve the lives of people with disability. It’s not intended to replace clinical, community and some government support services.
Instead, it’s intended to offer more choice and self-determination when it comes to engaging with service providers.
Some disability support and health services you use will still be provided under state and federal programs, including things like medication, acute care, and health services.
Where to next?
Where to next?
The NDIS is a relatively new scheme and there is a lot of conflicting information around about how to access it and what is covered.
Help is available to assist you in the process, including understanding your eligibility and developing and managing your plan. Some of this assistance can even be funded under the NDIS.
As you develop and implement your plan, it’s important that you ask any questions as they come up, reach out to experienced providers and gather as much information as you need.
You can also speak with registered NDIS providers about the type of support you may be able to receive and how to incorporate them into your plan. Aidacare are a registered NDIS provider and our expert team is able to help you with: finding the right assistive technology for your needs; trialling a range of assistive technology and products either in our showroom or at home, and home modifications advice and fittings help you live more independently.
To speak with one of our team, call 1300 017 592 and we will connect you with an Equipment Specialist.
For more information about the NDIS, visit the website at https://www.ndis.gov.au/
