National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

How disability support schemes work#

Many countries run publicly funded disability support or insurance schemes. Their shared purpose is to help people with a permanent and significant disability take part in everyday life, by funding the supports each person needs to pursue their goals rather than offering the same fixed services to everyone.

These schemes are designed to give people with disability more choice and control over how, when and where their supports are provided, and more certainty that the support they need will continue over their lifetime. Many also focus on early intervention, since getting support early can reduce the long-term impact of a disability on a person or their child.

People with a psychosocial disability, where significant and lasting functional impairments are related to mental health, are often able to access these schemes as well.

Who is usually eligible#

Eligibility rules vary, but most schemes share similar requirements. To take part, a person generally needs to:

• have a permanent and significant disability that affects their ability to take part in everyday activities
• meet residency or citizenship conditions set by the scheme
• live in an area where the scheme operates
• meet any age requirements that apply when first joining

Access is often not means-tested, meaning the support a person receives does not depend on their income or assets, and may not affect other financial support such as a disability pension or carers’ allowance. Rules on this differ between schemes.

Individual plans and funding#

A common feature of these schemes is the individual plan. The administering body works with the person and their family to understand what they hope to achieve, then builds a tailored plan of supports to help them get there. Goals might include greater independence, involvement in the community, education, employment, and better health and wellbeing.

Existing supports that are already meeting a person’s needs can be included, and as needs change over time the plan and its funding can be adjusted.

To be funded, supports usually need to:

• relate to the person’s disability and their support needs
• be likely to be effective and beneficial
• represent value for money
• exclude everyday living costs that are not related to the disability
• take into account informal supports provided by family, carers, networks or the community

The types of supports that may be funded can include personal care, community activities, transport, therapies, home and vehicle modifications, mobility equipment, and help with employment.

Choosing and managing providers#

Once a plan is in place, participants can often choose the providers who deliver their supports, giving them control over who works with them and how. This flexibility is a central idea behind individualized funding: the money follows the person and their plan, rather than being tied to a single service.

Families and carers#

Good schemes recognise the role that carers and families play. When developing a plan, the administering body usually considers the support a carer provides, their other responsibilities and their own life plans. With the participant’s consent, planning is done in consultation with family and carers, recognising the value of their views, knowledge and experience.

Where to get help#