Before you apply for the NDIS, it’s important to first check if you are eligible.
The NDIS has an Eligibility Checklist to help you do this.
It will ask you questions like:
If you find that you may be eligible to apply, the next step is to make an NDIS access request for the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to review.
You can either fill out an Access Request Form and send it to the NDIA via email, post or lodge in person at one of their offices…
OR…
You can make a Verbal Access Request by calling the NDIA on 1800 800 110.
As part of the Access Request, you will be asked to:
You may need to provide evidence of your disability along with your Access Request. This includes information on what your disability is and how it impacts your life.
Here’s more information on providing evidence.
Applying can be overwhelming and there is help available. Check out our article on who can help with applying for the NDIS.
Once you have made an Access Request, the NDIA will let you know if you have been accepted into the NDIS or not. They may ask for more information first.
The time it takes for the NDIA to make this decision can vary, but you should get an answer within 21 business days (about a month).
If your NDIS application is accepted, the NDIA will get in touch to set up a planning meeting to discuss your needs. It’s a good idea to get organised before you have this meeting.