NDIS eligibility and plans
Children and NDIS eligibility
A child with permanent and significant disability or a developmental delay will be eligible for NDIS services and support. It provides funding to support early intervention therapies or items such as prosthetics, wheelchairs or communications devices.
There are different arrangements for children aged 0-6 years and those aged 7 years and over.
Parents and carers do not receive a plan or funded supports from the NDIS for themselves; funding will be for your child. However, parents and carers will benefit from the funded supports their child receives through the NDIS. Your child’s plan may also include reasonable and necessary supports to help you in your caring role (e.g. disability training).
Developing the NDIS plan
There are 2 assessment processes:
- an eligibility assessment to determine whether a person is eligible for funding, and (if deemed eligible)
- a planning meeting to determine a person’s goals/activities/tasks to develop a NDIS Plan.
A NDIA ‘Planner’ carries out these assessments and develops a NDIS plan using formal systems and tools designed to ensure consistency, fairness and objectivity. If necessary, NDIS staff will call on specialist advice. Applicants who are not deemed eligible can challenge the decision. Use our NDIS planner and checklist tools to prepare for your planning meeting.
Reviewing your plan as your life changes
NDIS plan reviews generally occur every 12 months. But if individual circumstances, conditions or needs change, NDIS participants can apply for an earlier plan review.