The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides eligible people with funding for disability-related supports. These supports can help participants undertake everyday activities, build skills and independence, participate in their community and work towards their goals.
The supports included in an NDIS plan are different for every participant. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) determines what funding is included based on the participant’s disability-related support needs, circumstances and goals.
Around one in five Australians is currently living with a disability. This equates to approximately 5.5 million people nationally. When a disability is significant enough to interfere with a person’s ability to undertake personal care activities or participate in their larger community, the right support is essential.
Everyday Independence is not the NDIS or the NDIA
Everyday Independence is an independent NDIS-registered provider of therapy and employment supports. We do not determine eligibility, approve NDIS plans or decide what the NDIS will fund.
For questions about an application, plan or funding decision, visit the official NDIS website or call the NDIS on 1800 800 110.
NDIS supports are services, items and equipment that can be funded through an NDIS plan.
Depending on a participant’s individual needs and approved plan, NDIS supports may help them:
An item or service must meet the NDIS requirements and be included within the participant’s approved plan before NDIS funding can be used for it.
The NDIS may fund a range of supports related to a participant’s disability. The exact supports depend on the person’s needs, goals and approved funding.
The NDIS may fund support to help a participant undertake personal and everyday activities. This could include assistance with:
NDIS funding may cover therapy that helps a participant improve or maintain their functional capacity, independence and participation.
Depending on the participant’s needs and plan, this could include:
The NDIA decides whether a therapy support meets its funding requirements and can be included in a participant’s plan.
Assistive technology can include equipment or devices that help a participant undertake activities they cannot complete, or cannot complete safely, without support.
This may include:
The assessment and approval requirements vary depending on the type, cost and complexity of the equipment.
The NDIS may fund disability-related modifications that help a participant access and use their home or vehicle safely.
This could include:
These supports must meet NDIS funding requirements and may require an assessment or supporting evidence.
The NDIS may fund disability-related assistance that helps participants take part in social, recreational and community activities.
Funding may support the assistance a participant requires to participate. It generally does not cover the ordinary cost of the activity, such as an entry ticket, meal or membership that a person without disability would also pay for.
NDIS funding may support eligible participants to prepare for, find and maintain employment.
Depending on the person’s needs and plan, employment supports may help them:
Some plans include funding for assistance with implementing or managing an NDIS plan.
Support coordination can help participants understand and use their plan, connect with providers and build their ability to coordinate supports.
Plan management helps participants manage the financial administration of their NDIS funding, including processing provider invoices. A plan manager does not decide what the NDIS will fund or add funding to a participant’s plan.
The NDIS may fund disability-related home and living supports for eligible participants. Depending on individual needs, this could include assistance with daily life or specialised housing options such as Specialist Disability Accommodation.
The NDIA considers home and living requests individually. Funding is not automatically provided to every participant.
The NDIA creates and approves NDIS plans. It considers the participant’s disability-related support needs, goals, circumstances and the evidence provided.
NDIS funding can only be used for supports that:
A service being provided by an NDIS-registered provider does not automatically mean the NDIS will fund it. The support must also be appropriate for the participant and covered by their plan.
The NDIS does not fund every service, product or expense that may be helpful to a participant.
NDIS funding generally cannot be used for:
There are official lists of supports that are and are not considered NDIS supports. In limited circumstances, a participant may be able to request approval for a replacement support.
Check the current NDIS supports lists or speak with your NDIS contact before purchasing something if you are unsure.
There is no standard amount of NDIS funding that every participant receives.
The type and amount of funding in a plan depend on the person’s disability-related support needs and the supports the NDIA approves. Two people with the same diagnosis may receive different plans because their everyday lives, functional capacity, goals and support needs are different.
A provider cannot guarantee that a particular service, recommendation or amount of funding will be approved.
To be eligible for the NDIS, you must meet the age and residence requirements. You must also meet the disability requirements, early intervention requirements or both.
In summary, you may be eligible if:
The NDIA assesses applications and makes all eligibility decisions.
Learn more about NDIS eligibility requirements.
The NDIS and Centrelink provide different types of assistance and have separate eligibility requirements.
You can apply for or access NDIS services while claiming or receiving the Disability Support Pension. Receiving one does not automatically make you eligible for the other.
Contact Services Australia for advice about your Centrelink payments and personal circumstances.
If you think you may be eligible for NDIS support, apply for scheme access online via the NDIS website today.
Everyday Independence provides therapy and employment supports for children, young people and adults. Our services include occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy, positive behaviour support, early childhood supports, habit coaching, group programs and youth employment and vocational services.
If you have an approved NDIS plan and want to discuss starting services, contact Everyday Independence.
If you need help understanding a funding decision, applying for the NDIS or changing your plan, visit the official NDIS website or call the NDIS on 1800 800 110.
We understand that navigating the NDIS can feel overwhelming. While Everyday Independence can provide general information and support, we are not part of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). The NDIA is responsible for determining whether a person is eligible for the NDIS and what supports may be funded. Our team is ready to support you and navigate the next steps once you have received your plan.
The NDIS provides funding through an approved plan. How providers are paid depends on whether the participant’s funding is NDIA-managed, plan-managed or self-managed.
NDIS funding must only be used for approved disability-related supports that are in line with the participant’s plan.
The NDIS may fund therapy when it relates to a participant’s disability, meets the NDIS funding requirements and is included in their plan.
Therapy funding may cover services such as occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy, positive behaviour support and other capacity-building supports.
The NDIS does not generally fund services that are the responsibility of the health system, such as diagnosing and treating illnesses, hospital care, medications or appointments with a GP.
It may fund disability-related supports that help a participant improve or maintain their functional capacity and participation.
The NDIS does not generally fund ordinary living expenses such as groceries, rent, utilities or standard household items. It may fund additional disability-related support a participant requires to undertake everyday activities.
The NDIA decides what supports and funding are included in a participant’s NDIS plan. Service providers, support coordinators and plan managers cannot approve funding or change a plan.
Everyday Independence can explain the therapy and employment services we provide and how they may relate to common NDIS funding categories. However, we cannot confirm what the NDIS will fund, approve a support or change your plan.
For questions about your plan or a funding decision, contact your NDIS representative or call the NDIS on 1800 800 110.
No. Everyday Independence is an independent NDIS-registered provider. We deliver therapy and employment supports but do not administer the NDIS, assess eligibility or approve funding.
We understand that navigating the NDIS can feel overwhelming. While Everyday Independence can provide general information and support, we are not part of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). The NDIA is responsible for determining whether a person is eligible for the NDIS and what supports may be funded. Our team is ready to support you and navigate the next steps once you have received your plan.
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