NDIS Eligibility, Conditions and Criteria

The NDIS eligibility and criteria are designed to ensure that people with disability have access to the appropriate levels of support and services. The NDIS aims to assist people with significant and permanent disabilities who need assistance in their daily lives, by providing them with the necessary level of support. The Australian Government is providing record funding to the NDIS as more people with a significant and permanent disability benefit from the scheme. In the 2021‑22 Budget, the Government announced an additional $13.2 billion over the following four year period.

However, the eligibility criteria for this scheme is a lot stricter as compared to other benefits provided by the government. For instance, a person who is suffering from a physical injury due to an accident may not be eligible for assistance from NDIS but rather from an insurer or Workers Compensation schemes.
Before applying for this scheme, you should first determine whether you fit within the NDIS eligible conditions and also learn about its requirements before proceeding with the appropriate application. The determination of your eligibility will rely on many factors such as residency, age and disability severity, where your disability must meet certain standards. Let’s find out exactly what these are.

Before applying for this scheme, you should first determine whether you fit within the NDIS eligible conditions and also learn about its requirements before proceeding with the appropriate application. The determination of your eligibility will rely on many factors such as residency, age and disability severity, where your disability must meet certain standards. Let’s find out exactly what these are.

Am I Eligible for the NDIS?

NDIS eligibility is based on criteria including age, residency and disability. These are outlined in detail below:

1. Age requirements.

If you are between the ages of seven and 65, you may be eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Under the NDIS access requirements if you are over the age of 65, then you are not eligible to apply for NDIS support. This is because according to the NDIS, those over 65 are part of a broader system of support in Australia, and should access the aged care system accordingly. However, if you received NDIS services before turning 65, you can continue to do so once you become 65 years old. If you change your mind, you’ll have the option to continue to receive disability services through the NDIS or switch to My Aged Care and receive Commonwealth-funded care.

At the other end of the spectrum, the NDIS supports children aged 0 to 6 who have a developmental delay or disability under its Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) program.

2. Residency requirements.

You must live in Australia and:

• Be an Australian citizen or
• Hold a permanent visa or
• Hold a special category visa (SCV)

If you spend a significant amount of time outside of Australia, you’ll need to show strong ties to the country, such as being a homeowner or having a long-term tenancy agreement with family in the country. You may also be required to disclose how often you go overseas and how long your trips last.

3. Disability requirements.

Disability requirements must satisfy either permanent and significant disability or early intervention requirements, meaning an individual must:

• Have a physical, emotional, mental, or intellectual disability that limits their capacity to carry out specific activities.
• Have an impairment that is caused by one or more intellectual, neurological, sensory, or physical impairments. Alternatively, they may have a psychiatric condition that causes an impairment.
• They will most likely require ongoing assistance under the NDIS for the rest of their life. They may still be eligible if the problem fluctuates in intensity, such as experiencing chronic episodes.

You can also use the NDIS Checklist to see whether you qualify.

I Meet the NDIS Requirements – Where Can I Find an NDIS Application?

If you are a person with a disability aged 7 – 65 years and you believe you meet NDIS criteria you can apply in one of two ways:

• you can make a Verbal Access Request by calling 1800 800 110, or
• fill out an Access Request Form and post it for processing

Alongside your application, you will need to provide:

• a completed Access Request Form
• information about your age, residency and disability or need for early intervention.

For further information, on the Access Request Form and how to apply, please visit the NDIS website.