NDIS Eligibility

To be eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), individuals must meet certain criteria related to age, residency, and disability. Here are the key requirements:

1. Age Requirement:

To access the NDIS, you must be under 65 years of age at the time of your application.

2. Residency Requirement:

You must live in Australia and be:

An Australian citizen, or
A permanent resident, or
A holder of a Protected Special Category Visa.

3. Disability Requirement:

You must have a permanent and significant disability that affects your ability to take part in everyday activities. The NDIS assesses whether your disability substantially impacts your ability to perform tasks and participate in activities. Specifically, the disability must:

Be likely to be permanent (i.e., it is lifelong).
Result in substantially reduced functional capacity in one or more areas, such as communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, self-care, or self-management.
Require lifelong support from the NDIS to reduce the impact of your disability on your daily life.

4. Early Intervention Requirement:

In some cases, individuals with a condition that is likely to be permanent may be eligible for early intervention support. Early intervention aims to provide support at the earliest possible stage to improve long-term outcomes. You may be eligible for early intervention if:

You have a disability that is likely to be permanent and early support can reduce the future needs for supports.
You are a child under 6 years of age with developmental delay, where early intervention can help improve functional capacity.

To determine eligibility, you can contact the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) or visit the NDIS website. You may need to provide evidence of your disability and its impact on your daily life, such as medical reports, assessments, or letters from healthcare professionals. Once your eligibility is confirmed, you can start the planning process to develop a personalized NDIS plan tailored to your needs and goals.