NDIS Support: What is Covered?
There is no goal or dream too difficult to achieve – even for people with disabilities. With the help of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), at least 460,000 Australian individuals are given the necessary supports and services to help them get the best out of life. The NDIS is responsible for bridging disabled clients to support groups, doctors and therapists, educational institutions, and their own communities. With a specialised plan, each patient can be assured that their needs are met. In this article, we'll be looking at this plan, specifically, what aspects are covered under NDIS support.
NDIS Support
No matter how big or small, NDIS can give disabled people a boost towards their goal while having full control of their treatment. A patient’s journey with NDIS starts with a plan that answers to their specific needs and goals. Once equipped with a plan, they will receive funding which will be utilised for the purchasing of certain services and supports. The best thing about these programmes is that the patients have the freedom of choosing what types of support they get, from who, and when they can receive it.
NDIS offers a wide range of supports directed to help different aspects of a client’s life. First, NDIS support can cover home-related tasks, such as personal activities and household maintenance. This includes any assistance needed for house modifications, design, and construction. Second, NDIS support can also fund kinds of equipment such as mobility equipment; complete with personnel to assist with the assessment, setup, and training.
Third, NDIS support also provides funding for therapeutic and behaviour supports to improve the state of their mental and emotional health. Fourth, there will also be assistance in terms of transportation. NDIS support can cover the modifications of the participant's vehicle; or, they can provide transportation to allow the participant to take part in social, economic, and community activities. Lastly, since one of the goals of an individual is to have a sustaining job, NDIS support also includes workplace help so that the patient can keep their employment.
Types of Support Budgets
In NDIS, every person's needs are given the utmost priority and attention. That is why there are always options to choose from regarding the patient's plan. Here are the three types of support budgets that the patients can choose from.
1. Core Supports Budget
Out of the three types, the core budgets are considered to be the most flexible plan that includes support for consumables, transportation, daily activities, and social and community participation assistance.
Under consumables, patients can receive funding for everyday needs and items like continence aids. For transportation, NDIS considers that some disabilities require additional assistance for travelling. Meanwhile, the funding for daily activities includes any self-care recreation during any time of the day. Finally, the last category allows the patient to be part of social and community-related events.
The best thing about Core Support Budget is that you can use the funds allocated for one category to purchase other supports from a different category. Note that this is only possible if the funds are not strictly to be used for one specific purpose.
2. Capacity Building Budget
Depending on your realised goals in your plan, the Capacity Building budget can provide funding for the following categories:
Home Living – providing the support necessary for the patient to acquire and maintain proper accommodations
Choice and Control – involves plan management and training for planning
Health and Wellbeing – funding for the required exercise advice concerning one's disability and the severity of its impact
Lifelong Learning – this support helps the patient obtain higher education
Relationships – therapy and behavioural support is provided to build positive behaviour
Employment – support is extended to counselling and assessment for the individual's employment
Social and Community Participation – this category includes support and training for public transportation, community skills development, and participation in recreational and social activities
Unlike Core Support Budget, you can’t move the funding to a different category once you have opted for one.
3. Capital Support Budget
Finally, we have the Capital Support Budget which is dedicated to providing assistive technology or home modifications. Under assistive technology, patients can choose to fund personal care items, mobility equipment, recreational inclusions, and communication devices. On the other hand, we have home modifications which can include installing rails in the patient’s bathroom. In this type of support, the funding is strictly allocated to one purpose and cannot fund other kinds of items.
The Goal of NDIS Support
The supports that have been mentioned are considered by NDIS as reasonable and necessary. When assessing a participant's needs, NDIS also considers the informal supports that are already available; such as those provided by the participant's family, friends, community services, or other personal connections. Formal supports, like education and health, are also taken into account.
The various supports that NDIS covers are geared towards assisting the patient to achieve their aspirations, objectives, goals. With proper attention and treatment, the supports slowly train the client to become more independent; thus having more agency with their choices and decisions. Most of all, the vision of NDIS is that through their help, their patients will soon participate more actively in their workplace and further engage with matters regarding the community
Frequently Asked Questions
What Supports are Not Provided?
The supports that are not funded by NDIS are those that are:
✔ not related to the disability of a patient
✔ not related to the support necessities of the patient even if they are everyday needs
✔ is potentially harmful to the patient or other people
✔ is the same type of support given by a different funding of NDIS
✔ is support than can be more effectively offered by another system or institution
What does NDIS consider reasonable and necessary?
The NDIS can only fund supports and services that are related to the disability of the patient. These supports should also be appropriate and deemed effective to improve the patient's life. The supports must also consider the services that are provided by other networks such as the participant's family, friends, and community. This support does not include the day-to-day expenses that are not directly related to the patient's disability. And lastly, the support should be able to represent the value for money
Am I eligible for NDIS?
You are considered eligible if you are:
o between the ages of 7 and 65
o is an Australian citizen, resides in Australia, or holds a permanent Visa
o require constant support due to a significant disability
o in need of special equipment to aid your disability
o need assistance and support now for your disability
Read more about NDIS and Autism FAQ