What Does The NDIS Cover? A Complete Guide
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a government-funded scheme, which provides funding for people with intellectual, sensory, physical, psychosocial, and cognitive disabilities. Surprisingly, the NDIS was only created in 2013, and it was fully rolled out across the country by 2020. With 4.4 million people in Australia living with a disability, this financial support is invaluable.
If you are someone living with a disability who needs to access some essential services and support, then you may be wondering ‘what does the NDIS cover?’. When the scheme is so new, many people still don’t understand the ins and outs of it and are confused by what exactly they can provide funding for. This article is a complete guide to what is covered under the NDIS and explains how much funding you can receive, and what it does not provide financial support for as well.
What Types of Services Can Be Funded by an NDIS Plan?
The services which are funded by the NDIS are intended to help people living with disabilities to live a full life, with access to all the same things that other people enjoy – such as a nice place to live, time with friends and family, hobbies, and even a job. Participants are given an allocated budget based on their goals, and they can choose from the budget to pay for any services and supports they require.
Categories of Support Provided by the NDIS
So what does the NDIS cover? Here are the main categories:
- Core: These are supports that assist people with daily living tasks, such as providing transport, access to community participation, and household cleaning and yard maintenance.
- Capital: Support for an investment – these can include assistive technology, accommodation, equipment, and home or vehicle modifications.
- Capacity Building: This type of support helps with building a participant’s skills and independence, which could include diet and health advice, assistance with keeping a job, and advice on interacting with others.
Types of Support Provided by the NDIS Can Include:
- Assistance with daily personal activities
- Transport which helps the participant engage in community, economic and social activities
- Helping the participant maintain their home environment by assisting them with household tasks
- Assistance in the workplace to help the participant maintain a job
- Therapeutic supports, such as behaviour support
- House construction and design modifications
- Skilled personnel helping them with aids or equipment assessment and training
- Access to mobility equipment and vehicle modifications
Who Is Eligible For These NDIS services?
To qualify for NDIS funding, you must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or special-category visa holder who lives in the country. Only people who are aged between 7 and 65 are eligible, as the aged pension usually begins at 65 and there is less need for NDIS funding. However, the main criteria you must fulfil is that you have a permanent and significant disability – according to the NDIS, this means you use specific equipment, require support from another person, or you require support in order to reduce future needs.
What Is Not Funded by the NDIS?
The support and services which the NDIS do not fund are pretty straightforward and clear, and the categories which the NDIS will not pay for are listed below:
- The NDIS will not cover costs that are already covered by another organisation, such as doctor’s bills – which are paid for by Medicare.
- Supports that are not for the person’s disability will not be paid for.
- A support will not be funded if it is the same as other supports delivered by the NDIS.
- The NDIS will not pay for everyday living costs that are not related to the participant’s support needs – like paying for groceries or rent.
- They will not fund something which may cause harm to the person or to others.
How Much Funding Can You Receive on an NDIS Plan?
According to the NDIS website, there is no set amount of funding that they provide to participants. Each person has a unique case, and they create an NDIS plan based on their specific circumstances and needs. You can request funding for any support or service that is considered ‘reasonable’ and ‘necessary’ to help you live a functional and enjoyable life with your disability. Your case will be reviewed by a National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) professional and if it is approved, you will receive the requested amount of funding.
Choosing a Reliable NDIS Registered Provider
If you are looking for NDIS service providers in Perth, then St Jude’s is the trusted, experienced choice. We have been providing expert disability services for over 35 years, and consistency of support is our point of difference. Every client who comes to us is allocated designated staff members, who will get to know you and support you when you need assistance with the NDIS.
St Jude’s is an NDIS registered provider, offering a wide range of tailored disability support services, without a required waiting period or a minimum NDIS funding amount. Our friendly team is available to answer any questions you may have, such as ‘what does the NDIS fund?’, and ‘how much funding will I receive?’. If you would like to find out more about our services, get in touch today.
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