NDIS Eligibility Checklist - Making Sure You Are Eligible

Those eligible for the NDIS can enjoy a wide list of support services. NDIS funding allows them to deal with everyday struggles and live more independently. 

Over half a million Australian citizens have been approved for the NDIS. It's believed that even more will receive support through the NDIS in the near future.

If you are interested in applying for the NDIS, take the time to check your eligibility. You can do this with no effort using the NDIS eligibility checklist. 

To be eligible for the NDIS, you need to meet the age, residency, and disability requirements. 

You can use the official NDIS website to check or read our simplified guide. 

What are the NDIS Qualifications for Eligibility?

When it comes to eligibility, the NDIS sets forth a straightforward list of requirements. Checking if you're eligible will only take a few minutes of your time. 

The NDIS website lists a seven-point checklist that is based on three eligibility criteria:

1. Age 
2. Residency
3. Disability

The final two questions are for those who need early intervention. We'll explain how early intervention works later.

We'll go through all six questions in detail to make the process easier for you. 

Question 1: How Old Are You?

The first question is easy enough. You need to be of a certain age to apply for the NDIS. 

To be more specific, you need to be between the ages of 9 and 65. 

If you fall somewhere in this category, you can contact a local area coordinator. They will help you understand how the NDIS works and make the application process easier.

If you're older than 65, you may be eligible for Home Care Packages. These are government-funded programs for elderly people. 

There are other supports you may be eligible for as well.

If you have a child younger than 7, they may be eligible for early intervention. 

Question 2: What Is Your Residency Status?

The next question is regarding your residency status.

To be eligible for the NDIS, you need to be:

1. An Australian citizen 
2. A permanent visa holder
3. A Protected Special Category visa holder

This means that you will have to provide the NDIS with evidence of your residency. Obviously, if you aren't from Australia, you won't be eligible for the NDIS. 

A Protected Special Category visa holder is only for some citizens of New Zealand. 

Question 3: Where Do You Live?

Being an Australian citizen is not enough. You also have to currently live in Australia. 

You might need to answer questions about where you live, where you work, whether you own property, and similar.

You might also be asked how much time you spend outside of Australia. The reason they might ask you this question is because you might not be able to use your plan. If you leave for more than six weeks, your plan will be suspended. 

Question 4: Do You Have a Disability Caused by a Permanent Impairment?

NDIS criteria for disability are the most important.

Namely, to be eligible for the NDIS:

• You must have a disability 
• The disability must be significant, permanent, or likely to be permanent.
• The disability must affect your everyday life. 

Your disability must be caused by a permanent impairment.  

It must affect you in a way that makes your life difficult. For example, it may hinder your ability to communicate, move, learn, or complete tasks.

The NDIS covers a wide range of disabilities, including:

• Physical 
• Mental
• Intellectual
• Sensory
• Cognitive
• Neurological
• Autoimmune
• Genetic
• Psychosocial

 If you are likely to need NDIS support your whole life, you are eligible for this program.

Note that the NDIS funding does not cover treatment. The goal of the NDIS is to improve your quality of life. This means the funds help you overcome the daily challenges caused by your disability. 

Question 5: Can Your Needs Be Met With Disability-Specific Supports?

This is another important question.

Your needs must be disability-specific for you to be eligible. This means that the daily challenges you face must be caused by your disability. 

For example, you may struggle working or learning because of a cognitive or intellectual disability. The disability-specific support should then help you handle these issues.

In other words, your disability must reduce your functional capacity.

This can refer to:

• Socialising
• Learning
• Communicating
• Mobility
• Self-care
• Self-management

The disability must also have a clear social impact on the person's life. This can also apply to their economic situation. 

The disability-specific support doesn't look the same for everyone. It can take the form of assistive technology. It can also include the help of a team of people. For instance, therapists, nurses, health professionals, etc. 

Question 6: If the Participant Is Younger Than Seven, Do They Need Support Now?

What if the person who needs NDIS doesn't meet the age requirement? If they are younger than seven, they can apply for early intervention. 

Early intervention is for those who are likely to need support in the future. 

The goal of early intervention is to provide support to the child now so they will need less support in the future. 

In some cases, NDIS can help improve the functional capacity of the child. In others, the goal might be to prevent it from getting worse.

When determining eligibility for early intervention, the NDIS looks at:

1. How long the child has had the impairment
2. How the disability might change in the future
3. If there has been a major change in the impairment
4. If the impairment might change soon

Question 7: Does the Participant Need Support for Their Family to Build Their Skills to Help Them?

This question is intended for the child's family members.

NDIS support doesn't only offer support to the participant. The participant's family members also receive valuable support and education. 

The NDIS can help them build skills to help their child deal with their impairment in the future. 

Are You Eligible for the NDIS?

When you go through these seven questions, you will be able to figure out if you are eligible for the NDIS. 

If you are still not sure, you can contact the NDIS directly. 

When you are approved, the next step is to find an NDIS provider. This is where Inclusive Home Care comes in.

We offer high-quality disability support to those who need it. Our goal is to empower you to live a fulfilling life and face everyday challenges with ease. 

If you are not eligible for the NDIS, but you can apply for Home Care Packages, we are also a Home Care Package provider.

Contact us for more information.