National Disability Insurance Scheme

Please note that significant changes are being made to the National Disability Insurance Scheme. This page will be updated as these changes take effect. You can read a summary of the changes on the National Disability Insurance Agency’s website.

If you have a disability, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) may be able to pay for the supports you need. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) manages the NDIS.

To get help from the NDIS:

you must have a disability that is likely to be permanent, or would benefit from early intervention to reduce your need for support in the future
you must meet the requirements to become a participant in the scheme
you need to live in an area where the NDIS is available.

Only certain kinds of supports will be funded through the NDIS. These supports are called NDIS supports. To get help from the NDIS, you must also be able to show that you need these supports.

About the NDIS

The NDIS is a way of providing support for people with disability. It started in July 2013 to help people with disability get the support they need to achieve their goals.

For example, the NDIS might be able to fund the support a person with disability needs to get out into the community, such as paying for a support worker or assistive technology.

How to apply for the NDIS in Victoria

For information on how to apply for the NDIS and access support, see the NDIS website. You can also visit the closest NDIA office to you or call the help line on 1800 800 110.

If you are unsure about contacting the NDIA yourself, you may be able to get help from an independent advocate. Find out how to get other support for mental health and disability.

Who can get support

You can apply for the NDIS if you:

are under 65 years of age at the time of your application
have a disability, or would benefit from early intervention to reduce your need for support in the future
meet certain residence requirements.

To be able to get support, you need to meet the NDIS eligibility requirements. You need to meet either the disability or early intervention requirements to join the NDIS.

Disability requirements

To meet the disability requirements for access, you need to have an impairment or condition that is likely to be permanent (lifelong) and that substantially reduces your ability to do everyday things by yourself and participate effectively in the community without support. The supports you need must be NDIS supports.

Early intervention requirements

The NDIS has early intervention provisions if supports are needed now to reduce the need for supports in the future.

To meet the early intervention access requirements you need to:

have an impairment or condition that is likely to be permanent (lifelong) and receiving supports now may reduce how much support you need in the future, or
be a child under six with a developmental delay that means you usually need more support with care, communication, learning or motor skills than another child of the same age.

The supports which you would benefit from must be NDIS supports.

What type of support you can get from the NDIS

The NDIA manages the NDIS. If your NDIS application is successful, the NDIA will consider what support you need for your disability/disabilities.

This includes:

giving you access to community services and activities
giving you equipment such as a wheelchair or communications device
helping you work out a plan for the support you will need in your daily life
providing support for your disability early, so you may need less support later in your life.

If you disagree with a decision

If you are not happy with a decision made by the NDIA, you may be able to ask for a review of this decision. Find out more about asking for a review and where to get other support for NDIS review.