Everything you Must Know About the NDIS

There are a number people who consider it difficult to overcome the challenges faced due to a disability which might have been affecting them personally through a loss of important skills or even their ability to live their life independently.

In this case, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), an Australian Government scheme can be of great help as it provides support and services to disabled people which helps them continue to work efficiently and independently. 

What do you mean by NDIS?

National Disability Insurance Scheme also known as NDIS was introduced and designed in 2013 in order to replace the existing disability service system. This scheme helps to provide support to the people that have disabilities which makes them able to work. 

There are namely two types of NDIS:

1. Funding program- this program would pay for the care that it provides. 
2. This program pays for your equipment and specialist care such as for speech therapy and respite care. 

Breaking down the terms:

• National: the NDIS has been widely introduced across all states and territories. 

• Disability: people having intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive and psychosocial disabilities receives support through the NDIS program given that they fall under the eligibility criteria. Moreover, early intervention support could also be provided to the disabled person or a child having development delay. 

• Insurance: the NDIS provides the required amount of support to all its participants in case they, their children or a loved one is born with or acquires a specific permanent disability. This keeps the participants assured of the support that they would receive, hence leading to a peace of mind. 

• Scheme: one must not consider NDIS as a welfare system as it has been established to support the various needs of the disabled participants which helps them to improve their independence and skills as time passes. 

• Permanent and significant disability: permanent disability is something that is going to stay with you for lifelong whereas, a significant disability puts a substantial amount of impact on your ability to perform day to day tasks. 

• Support and services: providing assistance or products to the disabled people in order to help them participate in the community and daily activities in order to make them achieve their desired goals. 

• Early intervention: providing an early access to support and services to disabled people whether a child or an adult in order to reduce the impact of a disability or development delays so that they can easily build their skills and live independently. 

What is a plan manager?

The budget and the finances of your NDIS plan are carefully looked after by a plan manager and a registered NDIS plan manager would always provide you a tailored advice on how you can efficiently use your NDIS funds. 

Some of the major roles of a plan manager are:

• They receive and pay for your invoices.
• They use the NDIS myplace portal to make claims for reimbursement or for any payments. 
• They create summaries of your expenditure and estimate the remaining funds in each of the funded support categories through the production of monthly statement. 

What kinds of support are available?

The support under the NDIS program may be provided in areas like education, employment, social participation, health and well-being.

These funds might be for:

• Everyday activities.
• Transportation facilities to enable the people to participate in social, economic and day to day activities. 
• Therapeutic supports such as behavior support.
• Providing help with household chores so that the participants can maintain a healthy living environment. 

The NDIS participants get to identify a set of supports that are agreed as reasonable and necessary under the NDIA which are the n included in their plan that helps them to achieve their goals. 

The participants have the complete freedom to exercise choice and control in the planning and delivery of the supports provided in order to fulfil their goals as per the objectives and principles underlined in the NDIS act. 

Namely anybody such as a participant, the NDIA, a plan management provider or a nominee can manage the funds offered under the plan. 

How to apply for the NDIS support?

The first and the foremost step to apply for the NDIS support is to have an appointment with the NDIS support coordinator as they might help you to identify whether you are eligible to apply for the NDIS plan. These support coordinators also provide you knowledge about other support services that you could access according to your needs. 

There is an application form that needs to be filled and submitted either through a mail or in person in order to apply for the support services.

Moreover, you might also receive support and assistance through certain products and services by specialist support providers even if the condition of your disability is not counted under the NDIS. 

Who can access the NDIS support?

The NDIS provides support to people having different types of disabilities such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, acquired brain injury, autism, etc. According to the Australian government, anyone above the age of 20 is mandated to register themselves for the NDIS support in case they have a significant disability and wants to access the support. 

Hence, it is essential for you to receive person-centered plan management services and what’s better than SKY PLAN MANAGEMENT that has several years of experience in providing support to its participants in order to help them live an autonomous life through enabling them exercise choice and control.