NDIS FAQs

You must have a permanent disability that:

• Reduces your ability to perform tasks, actions or your ability to participate effectively in activities without support
• Affects your capacity for social and economic participation
• Means you are likely to require lifelong support under the NDIS

You must also:

• Be an Australian citizen, or
• Hold a permanent visa, or Protected Special Category Visa, and
• Be aged under 65.
• Check out the NDIS Access Checklist https://www.ndis.gov.au/ndis-access-checklist

The NDIS covers a wide range of disability supports, services and equipment that are deemed reasonable and necessary. These can include therapies, behaviour support, transport assistance, support in the home, education, living arrangements, home and vehicle modifications, communication assistive technology, mobility equipment, community participation activities, daily personal care assistance, funding to attend training and events, and support in gaining and maintaining employment.

Supports that can be covered by the NDIS must assist with:

• Achieving your goals
• Increasing and maintaining independence
• Developing necessary skills for everyday life, etc.
• Facilitating participation in your community
• Gaining employment and working

The NDIS does not cover support if it is:

• Not related to a person’s disability
• A duplicate of another support within a participants personal support plan
• Normal daily living expenses (e.g. rent, groceries)
• Better addressed through an alternative support system (e.g. healthcare system)
• Likely to cause harm to a participant or pose a risk to others
• Related to income replacement.
• Gym or club membership and personal training. Exercise physiologists may be approved.
  Medications

You can choose to self-manage, to have your plan finances managed by a registered agency, such as Interchange Outer East, or the NDIA can manage your plan on your behalf. You can also choose a combination of these three options. We have put together a document to let you see the advantages and disadvantages of each option – see Plan Management. The NDIS website has lots of information on this topic. If you want an agency such as IOE for Plan Management you must request it be included in you plan.

Again it is up to you. You can self-manage the coordination of your services and supports or request coordination by an agency such as IOE. They will source the most suitable services and supports for your needs and connect you with providers. Your Service Coordinator will also help you decipher your plan and assist you with any issues and reviews. Unless you want to do your own coordination you must request this in your plan.

Certainly, it’s your choice. The scheme is person focused, giving you the freedom to choose which service provider can best meet each specific need. Some service providers are more specialised, focusing on just one or two service outcomes, such as 1:1 in home support, occupational therapy or employment skills. However, providers like Interchange Outer East offer a much broader range of tailored services and supports, while still providing continuity of care and a personalised, individualised service. If you are unhappy with the service you are receiving you can change to another provider at any time.

All our current services for children and adults will be available to you under NDIS plus more. You can use you funding to join in our existing group programs or create your own 1:1 program, services and supports. See the Services page of our website.

There are two components to the costing of activities – the actual cost of the activity and the cost of the participant’s support. NDIS will only cover the cost of support and you will need to have included an activity participation component in your NDIS plan. You will be responsible for payment of the activity cost such as accommodation, transport, food and any entry fees. These costs will vary depending on the activity type and will be advertised with each program’s application information.

To check IOE’s program support costs under NDIS go to http://www.ioe.org.au/ndis/ndis-stories-news/

Funding from NDIS is not means tested and has no impact on income support such as the Disability Support Pension and Carers Allowance.

Your Core Support budget is flexible, and includes four categories of support:

• Consumables (e.g. purchasing everyday use items such as continence aids)
• Daily Activities (e.g. assistance with self-care activities during the day or evening)
• Assistance with Social and Community Participation (e.g. supports to enable you to engage in social or recreational activities)
• Transport (e.g. if you are unable to use public transport because of your disability).

You can generally use Core budget funds allocated against one support category to purchase supports under another support category unless funds have been set aside for a specific purpose.

Before you receive service from a provider you will need to make a written Service Agreement which sets out how and when your supports will be delivered and terms of payment. If you have a Support Coordinator you should ask them to help you negotiate your Service Agreements.

Myplace is a secure website for participants or their nominee to view their NDIS plan, request payments and manage services with providers. Basically it enables you to keep track of all things to do with your plan
To use the portal you must first create a myGov account. Click the participant portal link at the top of the NDIS website homepage for directions.
Your providers can view relevant parts of your plan on the Providers Portal but they must first have your consent to do so.

The amount of allowance will have been calculated depending on your circumstances and needs (reasonable and necessary) and is paid weekly, fortnightly or monthly into your account. It’s a contribution to your transport costs if you are unable to travel independently or use public transport. No need to keep receipts except to help you to keep track of your funding. If you were receiving the Mobility Allowance, this will cease once your NDIS plan is in place

When you receive your plan if you see any obvious errors (incorrect information) you can call the NDIS Help Line or speak to your planner or local area coordinator (LAC).

Your plan will generally be reviewed yearly – it will be assessed to see how it is meeting your current and future needs and goals. If you want early review due to a change in circumstances or needs you must complete the NDIS review form or contact the NDIS Help Line.