Funding eligibility

The three access requirements

To become a participant you generally need to meet all three of the following.

1. Age

You must be under 65 when you make your access request. If you are already a participant when you turn 65 you can stay in the scheme.

2. Residence

You must live in Australia and be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or the holder of a Protected Special Category Visa.

3. Disability or early intervention

You meet either:

• The disability requirements — you have an impairment that is likely to be permanent and that substantially reduces your functional capacity in at least one area such as mobility, communication, social interaction, learning, self-care or self-management; or
• The early intervention requirements — support now is likely to reduce how much support you will need later. This is the usual path for young children with developmental delay.

How to apply

1. Call the NDIA on 1800 800 110, or ask a Local Area Coordinator or early childhood partner to help you.
2. Complete an Access Request Form and gather evidence of your disability from your treating professionals.
3. Submit it. The NDIA will tell you its decision, usually in writing.

Good evidence matters more than anything else in this process. It should describe not just your diagnosis but what you can and cannot do day to day, and why that is not expected to change.

If you are not approved

You can ask for an internal review of the decision, generally within three months of being notified. If the internal review does not change the outcome, you can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal. A disability advocate can help you with both, usually free of charge.

There are also supports outside the NDIS — community health, state programs and carer services — that may be available regardless.

Already have a plan?

Read understanding your plan for what the budgets mean, or talk to our team about the supports you want to put in place.