NDIS FAQs

Posity’s top 5 NDIS FAQs

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is called the NDIS. It’s a new way for people with a disability, under the age of 65, to get the care and supports they need.

The NDIS is for people with a permanent and significant disability which impacts on their ability to take part in everyday activities.

If you are eligible, you will work out what reasonable and necessary supports you need to live your life and achieve your goals. You’ll then receive funding to pay for these supports.

Find more information on the NDIS website.

Before the NDIS was introduced, disability services in Australia had been a lottery.

The funding you received depended on how, when and where you acquired your disability, as well as where you lived. Some people got enough funding, some people got none! Really, it was all just a bit unfair!

So, after they held an enquiry, the Federal Government agreed that people with a disability deserved a fairer system. And, more control!

And in July 2013, the NDIS was introduced.

The NDIA is the National Disability Insurance Agency.

It is a government agency and its role is to implement and manage the NDIS and make sure people with disability continue to get the support they need.

Yes, Posity was one of the first service providers to provide NDIS supports.

We have been providing NDIS supports since 2013, and we since that time we have supported thousands of people with their NDIS plans.

The rollout is due to be completed by 2020.

Until the scheme has been rolled out in your area, existing Commonwealth, state and territory government funded disability services will continue.

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Eligibility for the NDIS depends on a few different things such as:

  • Location: You need to have been living in an area where the scheme is already rolled out
  • Age: You need to be under 65 years at the time of your application
  • Residency: You need to be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen who holds a Protected Special Category Visa
  • Disability: You must have a permanent disability that significantly affects how you can communicate, move, care for yourself, or manage your life.
  • Early Intervention: You might be eligible if early intervention would substantially improve your functioning, or delay or decrease a decline in functioning, for you or your child.

With the NDIS, you will work out what reasonable and necessary supports you need to live your life and achieve your goals. You’ll then receive funding to pay for these supports.

Reasonable and necessary supports help someone with a disability to:

  • pursue their goals, objectives and aspirations
  • increase their independence
  • increase social and economic participation, and
  • develop their capacity to actively take part in the community.

This support may include education, employment, community and social participation, independence, living arrangements, and health and well-being.

Yes, you can!

In fact, service providers such as Posity can help you pre-plan. We can support you to understand the NDIS, find out if you’re eligible, identify goals the NDIS may fund, and apply.

There are 3 different ways you can manage your NDIS plan.

You don’t have to choose only one of these options. You can use a combination.

For example, you might self-manage some parts of your plan while the NDIA may look after other parts.

The three options are:

  • Your plan is managed by someone from the NDIA
  • Your plan is managed by a Plan Manager
  • You manage your NDIS plan

Yes you can! If you are not happy with the disability service provider, you can change to make sure you are getting the support you need.

Yes! You can invite family members to be a part of your planning process and really every step of the way.

You might like your family members included a lot, or a little – the choice is yours.

If you are not eligible for the NDIS but are already receiving support from Posity, you will still be able to access the same level of supports you already have in place.

Governments have agreed that no one should be disadvantaged by transitioning to the NDIS.

The NDIS will only fund reasonable and necessary home modifications.

This often means they will give you funding to help you use certain rooms in your home such as your bedroom, living area, meal area and bathroom.

Some examples of common modifications are:

  • Ramps
  • Lifting platforms
  • Stair climbers
  • Hand rails
  • Bathroom modifications such as removal of a bath or enlarging a shower
  • Widening doorways
  • Kitchen modifications

The NDIS also only funds home modifications to a person’s primary residence.  If you are renting, the owner must provide a written agreement and you will also need to intend on living there into the future.

Before the NDIS will fund modifications, other possible solutions such as assistive technology will also be looked at.

For example, bathroom modifications won’t be funded if equipment, such as a shower stool, could make the bathroom safe and accessible for you.

If you are not able to use public transport because of your disability, you may be able to get NDIS funding to cover transport such as taxis.

If you already receive funding through a taxi subsidy scheme, the NDIA will also take this into account.

The NDIS will not provide funding to carers or family members to transport a person with a disability to everyday commitments.

The NDIS can also fund supports that help you build confidence and learn how to travel or use public transport independently.

For example, if your goal is to get your driver’s licence, the NDIS may be able to support you to achieve this.

When you join the NDIS you will no longer be eligible for the Mobility Allowance.

Remember to tell your Planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) that you get the Mobility Allowance at your planning meeting. That way they can make sure it is included in your new NDIS plan.