Trying to figure out if your new or existing neurological diagnosis makes you eligible for the NDIS can be stressful, emotional, and confusing. At NPG, we regularly support new and existing clients to prove their eligibility to access, and most of all, understand the NDIS.

When you know how to navigate the NDIS, it is a wonderful scheme and opens many doors for Australians living with a disability. Accessing the supports that will allow you to live life to the fullest without NDIS support is out of reach for many.

There are many cases where accessing the NDIS is clear-cut and simple. For example, if you have suffered a significant stroke, it is easy to demonstrate the problems you have and supports you will need to manage at home. Other times it is greyer – such as in the early phases of a progressive condition like multiple sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson’s, or if your diagnosis is rarer and not well understood yet. We know that early intervention is essential to maximise and maintain optimal function into the future, and it is our priority to support people to make this possible, by accessing the NDIS as soon as they are eligible.

“I don’t think my condition affects me enough to access the NDIS. I’m walking on my own and still work full-time, I’m just exhausted! I try to maintain contact with my friends and keep on top of things at home, but on the bad days, these things do suffer.”

It is a common misconception that you must be severely disabled to be accepted onto the NDIS. Sometimes the most disabling features of your condition are invisible – fatigue is a huge problem, especially for younger people with disability who are trying to maintain full-time or part-time work, parenting or other caring responsibilities, and some semblance of a social life. Neurological fatigue is common following stroke or brain injury, and in many conditions such as MS, cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s disease. It can be absolutely debilitating and has effects ranging across all the functional areas listed below in criteria #5.

The basic NDIS eligibility criteria are:

You must be aged under 65 years old
You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Special Category Visa holder
You must live in Australia
You must have a disability caused by a permanent impairment. The impairment may be intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, physical or psychosocial.
You must be able to demonstrate that your functional capacity is substantially reduced because of your permanent impairment. The areas that the application process focuses on are:
a. Communication

b. Socialising

c. Learning (eg. at school/university, or how you manage at work)

d. Mobility, including arm function

e. Personal self-care

f. Self-management (from a mental and cognitive perspective, including tasks such as managing your schedule, finances and problem solving)

The NDIS website writes that “your impairment substantially reduces your functional capacity if you usually need disability-specific supports to participate in or complete the above tasks”.

So, what are disability-specific supports?

Requiring assistance from other people – this might be physical assistance, guidance, supervision or prompting.
Assistive technology, equipment or home modifications that are prescribed by an allied health or medical professional.

“But I don’t need carers. It’s true that my husband manages most of the domestic jobs, especially when I’m tired or feeling stiff and sore. He nags me to get out of the house to see friends, even when I don’t really feel up to it. Don’t tell him how grateful I am – I’m always happy to be there once I go! I guess I would be lost without him…”

Often things change very slowly and it’s hard to stand back and see how much support is woven into your everyday life by the people close to you. During the conversation about whether you might be eligible for the NDIS, it’s part of our job to tease out what things you do completely independently, what things are supported, as well as the things that have been deprioritised, avoided, or outsourced. Receiving NDIS supports can mean more time for both you and your loved ones to do the things that mean the most and maintain your relationships in a meaningful way that meets everyone’s needs.

“OK, so how do we go about this?”

Complete the NDIS application form online or over the phone 1800 800 110. Someone can do this on your behalf if needed.
Submit evidence of your permanent impairment (usually a letter from your GP or specialist which confirms your diagnosis and states that it is permanent)
Submit evidence of your impairments to show how they affect your functional capacity (this is where your neurological physiotherapist can work with you to produce a formal report)

We can support new or existing clients with this process, so get in touch if this sounds like something you would like to explore. The NDIS is amazing and will change your life for the better.

Want to know more? Here are some useful resources: