Understanding NDIS funding packages | How does it work? 

For NDIS participants, every day is a challenge. Unlike ordinary people, the challenge mainly occurs in everyday living activities, including employment, communication, transportation, and health well-being.  

NDIS claims that there are nearly 4.3 million Australians with a disability; therefore, the NDIS supports over 500,000 Australians suffering from a permanent or significant disability. The number is expected to increase in 2024.

Irrespective of the challenges, the NDIA and NDIS have assisted millions of disabled participants in everyday life. While the NDIS participants enjoy the financial benefits, few individuals who have a disability are still at a distance from the NDIS support.  

This article mainly concentrates on understanding the NDIS funding packages, how the individual can apply for the NDIS support, how the support package works and who can help these individuals to attain their suited NDIS scheme.  

What is NDIS funding? A beginner-level understanding for the participants!  

Generally referred to as the NDIS, the National Disability Insurance Scheme is designed to support people with disabilities and their families and caregivers. 

The National Disability Insurance Scheme provides support for Australians under 65 and over 7 years with disabilities that are permanent and significant. 

Future generations of people with disabilities will be able to receive more flexible and customised support and services based on their individual needs. 

It’s indeed a funding package that makes sure that your needs are negotiated with the Government. 

The NDIS gives you more choices, control, and independence. NDIS funding packages will replace your existing disability services funding. 

In the NDIS, individuals with disabilities are directly in charge of their funding, so ‘one-size-fits-all’ approaches are no longer a concern. 

You can choose the provider of services you need. As a result, you have a more significant say in what’s essential in your life and have access to more support. 

As your individual needs and goals change, you may have an NDIS planning meeting to revise the existing support plan.  

NDIS Funding: How does it work? 

In the NDIS, funding is allocated based on an individual’s needs. Based on each participant’s personal needs and goals, reasonable and necessary support and service are granted. 

People with disabilities can find information about local community service through the NDIS support provider program. 

Before this, funding was accessible through the Disability Support Register (DSR) or similar. The amount you receive to access support may be familiar to you if you have used this.  

Taking up the NDIS funding, what determines the eligibility for NDIS? 

NDIS support packages are available to people who are: 

• A resident of an area that is eligible for the NDIS. 
• Under 65 years of age and over 7 years making NDIS access requests. 
• Have Australian citizenship, permanent residency or a protected special category visa. 

• Meets the requirements of listed disabilities or need for early intervention. 
• Meets any other relevant conditions. 

NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) provides you with a support package upon request.  

You may have automatic access if you are already receiving government-funded aid.  

In an NDIS funding package, how can support be funded? 

Your education, employment, social participation, independence, living arrangements, and health and well-being might be eligible for funding.  

Funding may cover: 

• A daily routine of personal activities. 
• Constructing and designing home modifications. 

• Transportation to community and economic actions, for everyday activities. 
• Support in getting or keeping employment. 
• Equip with mobility equipment. 
• Support for therapeutic behaviour. 
• Maintain home environment and assistance with household tasks. 

• Modifications of vehicles. 
• Assistance in setting up the training aids and equipment. 

What are the types of support budgets available for NDIS? 

Support services provided by NDIS assists in reaching your goals. 

Along with the support provided by family, friends, community and government services, your funding is based on what is deemed to be ‘reasonable’ and ‘necessary’, which is discussed in the next section of the article.  

However here we talk about the support categories for NDIS individuals. 

Core funding –

It covers the costs of functional support needed for daily living and participation, along with the costs to access community resources and services. 

There is flexibility in this category’s budget across its four subcategories. However, budgets for other support purposes cannot be reallocated from core support. 

As far as the core support budget is concerned, it offers the most flexibility, including assistance for daily living, transportation, consumables, and participation in social and community activities. 

Capital funding –

Purchasing equipment, technology, or modifications as a one-off expense is covered under capital funding. Specialist Disability Accommodations are also included in the funding.  

As part of this budget support, the NDIS may also cover costs associated with assessments, delivery, adjustment, maintenance, and set-up of the technologies.  

Participants may use this support only for the items specified in their plan and cannot use it for any other items. 

Capacity funding –

There is the coordination of funding for skill development, education, training, and learning.  

Assisted technologies are funded through this program, such as wheelchairs and home modifications like handrails in bathrooms or ramps into homes.  

How do you define ‘reasonable and necessary in the context of NDIS? 

To meet your needs and achieve your goals, the NDIS will provide you with ‘reasonable and necessary support. Reasonable and necessary supports here means: 

• Be identified in your NDIS plan in helping you to achieve your goals. 

• Assist you in finding paid or voluntary work or participation in the community. 
• You should consider the informal support you can receive from family, friends, and the community. 
• You must see it as beneficial and evidence-based. 
• Does not include non-disability-related daily living expenses. 
• Be related to your disability. 

Is there anything the NDIS won’t cover? 

Your needs and goals will only be met by the NDIS when you receive reasonable and necessary support. 

However, there will still be a need to fund education, health, medication, and other community services in addition to NDIS funding, which you need to talk with your support coordinator about. 

If you are disabled, for instance, you may be eligible to receive funding through the NDIS for a wheelchair or any assistive technology.  

NDIS does not cover asthma puffers, but health services cover them if you have one. 

There is no funding for everyday expenses like rent, utilities, food or public transportation. 

For the eligibility for NDIS funding, what is the NDIS list of disabilities? 

Would you like to know what conditions the NDIS covers?  

When a condition is permanent, it will likely last for the rest of your life. When you have a significant disability, it impacts your ability to do everyday tasks. 

The NDIS supports people living with a permanent or significant disability. 

List A describes conditions that are highly likely to qualify for NDIS support.  

List B describes situations that are less likely to qualify for NDIS support.  

A further assessment may be required for conditions listed in List B. 

The different types of disabilities funded by NDIS are: 

Physical disabilities –

People with physical disabilities commonly suffer from amputations, acquired brain injuries, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, respiratory problems, or spina bifida. 

People with physical disabilities commonly suffer. 

• amputations 
• acquired brain injuries 
• cerebral palsy 
• epilepsy 
• motor neurone disease 
• multiple sclerosis 
• muscular dystrophy 
• Parkinson’s disease 
• respiratory problems 
• spina bifida. 

Sensory disabilities

People with sensory disabilities may be more sensitive to sensory input than others, which impacts how they interact in different environments and how well they function. 

An individual with a sensory disability may have trouble seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, tasting, or describing space. 

A few of the common instances are autism, hearing impairments, sensory processing disorders, vision impairments, and sensory disabilities  

Intellectual disabilities

It may be difficult for someone with an intellectual disability to establish relationships, understand the different paces, integrate into society, and find employment because they think differently, learn at a different pace, or communicate differently. 

As part of the spectrum of intellectual disabilities, autism, developmental delays, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, and fragile X syndrome are the most prevalent. 

It is possible to develop intellectual disabilities through genetics, miscarriages, birth complications, illnesses, alcohol or drug exposure, or accidents. 

Psychological disabilities

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) does not consider all mental health conditions to be disabilities. 

It may be necessary to take medication or to undergo regular therapy to treat mental health conditions.  

Under the NDIS, if you meet the age and residency requirements, you may be eligible for NDIS support if the condition causes a permanent or likely permanent psychosocial disability, that impacts a person’s daily life. 

The most common mental health conditions are schizophrenia, OCD, PTSD, and depression. 

As a beginner, how do you apply for NDIS? 

On the Am I eligible page, you can check if you qualify for the NDIS by completing a checklist. 

If you plan to make a verbal application, you can contact NDIS on 1800 800 110 and complete an Access Request Form. 

Interested applicants should contact their local area coordinator, early childhood partner or NDIA office if they need assistance. 

Likewise, the following documents are to be submitted with the application: 

• Any documents to verify your identity (valid proof). 

• Any documents to verify your eligibility?  
• Certify the NDIS application.  

To submit the certification, you need to have evidence from the professionals who might be your doctor, specialist, an early childhood partner.  

The professional certifying the verification must: 

• Be in practice for not less than six months.  
• Be professional, providing evidence of your impairment.  
• Be a registered and qualified practitioner in their respective area.  

The NDIS might ask for further information if your treating professional does not meet these requirements. 

Can beginners take assistance when applying for NDIS? 

The people around you can assist you with the application if you wish.  

You can apply for the NDIS on behalf of someone else with the legal authority to act on your behalf.  

If the children are under 18, the parents are responsible for them and must make the application on their behalf. A parent or legal guardian is generally responsible for this. 

Family members, friends, carers, or support workers may be able to help. We can share information with these people with your permission during the application process.  

Under the NDIS, what are the costs of support? 

Costs for all support areas under the NDIS are listed in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits document. Providers registered with the NDIS may charge these prices unless otherwise stated. 

Some Capacity Building services have three price limits depending on where they are delivered; a national, remote, and very remote limit. 

The price limits for support outside of cities can be higher if you live in a regional or remote area, since support workers may have to travel to your location to provide support. 

Detailed descriptions of each support item, reference numbers, whether quotes are needed, prices, and whether it’s charged daily, hourly, or weekly are included in the pricing guidelines. 

Disability support workers usually receive a higher wage for working overnight because they need to cover the overtime cost. 

It is also possible to vary prices depending on what day of the week and what time of day you request services.  

You will not receive (or pay) any disability support (or income support) through Centrelink if you receive NDIS funding from the NDIS. 

It may not apply to your Centrelink Mobility Allowance in some instances if you receive transport-related support through the NDIS. 

Your Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator can provide more information about how NDIS pricing works. 

Conclusion  

To provide support to people with disabilities and their carers, the Australian Government created the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).  

NDIS aims to enable disabled people to participate fully in their communities. NDIS funds support and services to meet these needs. 

Some requirements determine if you will receive funding, but neither your income nor your assets affect your eligibility. Support packages are budgeted for those who qualify.  

An NDIS plan is developed based on your situation, and the amount of funding is not set. You can choose your service provider for NDIS support if you need services or help.