NDIS eligibility checklist: Am I eligible for NDIS funding?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) aims to support individuals with disabilities in living more fulfilling and meaningful lives. It supplies essential funding to eligible Australians, which can be used to help Australians with disabilities to achieve their goals.

The process can be a little confusing, so If you are wondering if you are eligible to receive NDIS funding, we’ve pulled together this checklist of the criteria you will need to meet to receive NDIS funding.

It’s important to note that this checklist is designed to be a guide. It is not a formal assessment. To receive NDIS funding, you will need to follow the application steps outlined at the bottom of this guide.

Like Family believes that everyone deserves to feel connected and supported. Our support workers are more than just carers; they're your companions, your friends, and your community.

Who is eligible for the NDIS?

There are three main components for NDIS eligibility: Basic requirements, disability requirements, and the need for ongoing support. We’ve broken down each component below:

1: Basic eligibility requirements

All NDIS participants must meet all three of these basic requirements to be considered for the NDIS. If you don’t meet all three, there are other support platforms that might be able to help, like My Aged Care for people over 65.

1. Are you under 65 years of age?
2. Are you an Australian citizen, permanent resident or protected Special Category Visa (SCV) holder?
3. Do you have a physical, intellectual, cognitive, neurological, visual, hearing or psychosocial impairment that results in disability that is likely to be permanent?

2: Does your impairment substantially impact your ability to perform everyday activities?

To be eligible for the NDIS, you will need to demonstrate how your disability has significantly incapacitated your ability across these daily life areas:

1. You have trouble moving about your home or the community, have trouble getting in or out of bed, and struggle with fine motor skills and gross motor skills.
2. You have trouble understanding and remembering new information, and struggle to develop and practice new skills.
3. You have trouble communicating, and it can be difficult for you to understand, or be understood, in either spoken, written or sign language. This might mean you need an NDIS-funded communication device or speech pathology.
4. You struggle to look after yourself with everyday tasks like showering, getting dressed, cooking and eating meals or caring for yourself. This might mean you need support from a carer or a support worker for daily activities.
5. You find it difficult to interact socially, and struggle to make and keep friends while managing your feelings and emotions.
6. Managing daily tasks like decision-making, problem-solving and managing money is hard for you.

3: Do you need help with improving your functional ability and social participation?

The NDIS is not designed to replace medical treatment or therapy provided by doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists. This is all a part of the health system’s responsibility.

Instead, the NDIS is designed to deliver a tailored plan to support your individual needs, so you can increase your independence and pursue your goals.

1. Do you need financial support to develop skills for education, work or personal growth?
2. Do you need support to live independently?
3. You require help to connect with others and maintain relationships?
4. You need assistance to elevate your life skills for overall wellbeing?
5. You need assistance to find and participate in social activities.
6. Does your disability impact housing needs? If so, NDIS support can help find suitable accomodation.
7. You require support to bring together NDIS supports with your medical mental health treatments.

If you’re unsure about your eligibility, speak to your doctor or medical specialist.

Special Note: The Early Intervention pathway

The NDIS has a separate pathway for early intervention, specifically designed for children under nine years to provide support as early as possible. The goal is to reduce the impact of their disability on their future life and development.

While the residency eligibility requirements are the same, the early intervention pathway does have some differences:

1. The child has a developmental delay or a disability.
2. Early intervention support will help improve the child's functional capacity and social participation.
3. The support will likely reduce the amount of support the required later in life.

To help identify if your child meets those requirements, the NDIS has pre-approved lists of medical conditions that help determine eligibility.

List A conditions: If a child has a condition from this list (e.g., Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy), they are likely to meet the eligibility requirements without needing to provide extensive evidence of functional impact. A formal diagnosis is often sufficient.

List B conditions: These are also permanent conditions (e.g., some types of autism, intellectual disability), but the NDIS requires more evidence of how the condition substantially impacts the child's daily life.

It is always best to speak with your doctor or an NDIS early childhood partner service to gather the correct evidence for your application.

How to apply for the NDIS

If you've checked all the boxes in part one; one or more in part two and at least one in part three, you might be eligible for NDIS support. Here’s how to apply:

Step 1: Talk to a medical professional

Your first step is to discuss your situation with your doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist. To apply, you will need formal documentation for the NDIS that they can supply.

Step 2: Gather your documents

To receive NDIS funding, you need to prove beyond a doubt the impact of your disability. To achieve this, you will need evidence. Collect any medical reports, letters, or assessments that describe your condition and how it affects you, paying close attention to the sections listed out in this checklist.

Step 3: Contact the NDIS

Once you have your documentation, it’s time to contact the NDIS. Head to the NDIS website or call them directly. Someone from the NDIS will guide you through the application process, which includes filling out an NDIS application form and submitting your supporting documents.

Step 4: Attend the planning meeting

Once your application has been accepted, you will need to attend a planning meeting, where an NDIS planner will work with you to discuss your specific needs and create a plan to support your needs directly. This includes the best services, funding, and support options to help you achieve your goals.

Step 5: Approval and support

If the NDIS approves your plan, you’ll receive your funding to help you with the agreed-upon supports. The NDIS will review your plan regularly to make sure you are always getting the support you need.

How Like Family can support your NDIS plan

Like Family's social carers can help provide support across five key NDIS support categories across the Core Supports and Capacity Building funding categories. These include:

• Assistance with daily life
• Assistance with social and community participation
• Increased social and community participation
• Improved daily living
• Improved health and wellbeing

Like Family is a registered NDIS provider, and our hourly rates are below the NDIS price limit.

If you have any questions about how you can use your NDIS plan with Like Family, get in touch with our friendly team and we will be happy to help! Call us on 1800 545 332 or email hello@likefamily.com.au

Frequently Asked Questions