What Is The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)?
Your Guide To The NDIS
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an Australian Government initiative that assists with funding the costs of 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.
The NDIS Guide provided on this page will help you to better understand the NDIS and how Sapphire Support can assist you with the scheme.
Call us today on 1300 881 884 to see how the NDIS can work for you or click the button below to learn more from the NDIS website.
NDIS PRICE GUIDE
Participant funding for the NDIS is something you need to understand to ensure you are getting the correct funding for your particular needs.
Funding can also be affected by certain events, for example the Coronavirus required certain addendums to be added to the pricing guide, so it is important that you keep yourself informed.
Click the link below to go to the NDIS portal and view the price guide information: Understanding The NDIS Price Guide
NDIS FUNDING
NDIS funding begins with working out what reasonable and necessary support you require to enable you to live your life and achieve your goals. Your NDIS plan will then outline how you’ll receive funding to pay for these supports.
Support may include education, employment, community and social participation, independence, living arrangements and health and well-being.
Click the link below to visit the NDIS portal to see questions and answers about NDIS funding: NDIS Funding Questions and Answers
Offering NDIS Support
Sapphire Support provides a number of mental health and disability support services across the Sunshine Coast that can be funded through your NDIS plan.
Your NDIS ELIGIBILITY
There are a number of criteria that need to be met to determine your NDIS eligibility. These include:
Location
The NDIS scheme has not been rolled out to all areas of Australia. You need to be living in an area where the scheme is already rolled out. If you don’t know about your area, then call us on 1300 881 884 and we will find out for you.
Disability
You must have a permanent disability that significantly affects how you can communicate, move, care for yourself, or manage your life.
Age
The NDIS is designed for people under the age of 65 at the time of submitting an application.
Residency
You need to be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen who holds a Protected Special Category Visa.
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.
Can I start planning before my first meeting with the NDIS?
You sure can! Sapphire Support can assist you to understand the NDIS Client Intake Form and link you with a LAC who may help with your application and eligibility. Go to our Contact Page Here
What Is Covered Under NDIS?
The are a number of participants supports that the NDIS may fund. These include:
- Modifications to vehicles
- Mobility equipment support
- Assistance with household tasks to facilitate independence
- Home design and modification
- Daily personal tasks and activities
- Transport assistance to participate in community, social, economic and daily life activities
- Workplace and employment assistance, and
- Therapeutic supports, for example behavioural support
Supports that cannot be funded or provided by the NDIS include supports that are:
- The responsibility of another government system or community service not related to a person’s disability
- Related to day-to-day living costs that are not related to a participant’s support needs, or is likely to cause harm to the participant or pose a risk to others.
Further information can be obtained from the NDIS website here.
More NDIS FAQ’S
Why Was The NDIS Introduced?
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.
What Is The NDIA?
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.
What happens to my current Mobility Allowance with the NDIS?
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.
Is transport covered under the NDIS?
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.
Will the NDIS fund home modifications?
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.
Can my family be included in the NDIS process?
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.
What if I am a Sapphire Support customer but am not eligible for NDIS support?
If you are not eligible for the NDIS but are already receiving support from Sapphire Support, 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.
How will my funding be managed?
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
GET NDIS SUPPORT HERE
We know that you still may have a lot of questions about the NDIS, so click the button below to go to our contact page and leave a message or simply call us on 1300 881 884 to see how we can help you.