AUTISTIC NICK’S 6 STEPS TO APPLYING FOR THE NDIS

Step 1: Get Prepared

It’s important to prepare well for the NDIS. Here’s how:

Check your eligibility at www.ndis.gov.au and apply.

Learn the NDIS basics about how they work and what they will and won’t fund.

Organise a planning meeting with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC).

At the meeting remember to ask lots of questions – to ensure you’re ready.

Booklet 1 – Understanding the NDIS

Booklet 1 covers:

• Learning about the NDIS
• Deciding whether to apply for the NDIS
• Accessing the NDIS

Downloads:

Booklet 1 – Understanding the NDIS (PDF 371KB)

Booklet 1 – Understanding the NDIS (DOCX 73KB)

Booklet 1 – Understanding the NDIS Easy English (PDF 1.2MB)

Step 2: Your NDIS Planning Meeting

Your planning meeting will examine your needs and what’s included in your NDIS plan, so it’s important to get it right. Here’s how:

• Bring any supporting documents that will help you, such your preparing checklist.
• You can bring a support with you such as a parent encase you get overwhelmed with everything or you forget to ask an important question.
• Remember to take plenty of notes throughout the meeting so you can refer to them later.
• Express your needs and goals clearly.
• Ask questions! Don’t be afraid to speak up if you don’t understand anything or need some clarity.

Booklet 2 – Planning

Booklet 2 covers:

• Understanding your current supports
• Creating an NDIS plan to achieve your goals
• Receiving an approved NDIS plan

Downloads:

Booklet 2 – Planning (PDF 467KB)

Booklet 2 – Planning (DOCX 86KB)

Booklet 2 – How to make an NDIS plan Easy English (PDF 3.3MB)

Step 3: Get To Know Your NDIS Plan

After your planning meeting, you’ll receive your NDIS plan. If anything’s incorrect, now’s the time to get it fixed, so as soon as you get it:

• Check all the details to make sure everything’s correct and you’re happy with how the funds have been allocated.
• Contact your Local Area Coordinator and ask for a review if there are any issues.

What is the Role of Local Area Coordination (LAC)?

LACs can help you to:

Understand and access the NDIS – This can include workshops or individual conversations about the NDIS.

Create a plan – If you are eligible for an NDIS support plan, your LAC will have a conversation with you to learn about your current situation, supports, and goals to help develop your plan. It is important to know that LACs cannot approve an NDIS plan, this is done by someone from the NDIA.

Implement your plan – Your LAC will help you to find and start receiving the services in your NDIS plan. Your LAC can also provide you with assistance throughout your plan if you have any questions.

Review your plan – Your LAC will work with you to make changes to your plan through a plan review. This generally occurs 12 months after your plan is implemented.

To Find your local office and contacts including:

• Early Childhood, Early Intervention (ECEI) for children aged 0-6 years
• Local Area Coordinator (LAC)
• Local NDIS offices

https://www.ndis.gov.au/contact/locations

Booklet 3 – Using Your NDIS Plan

Booklet 3 covers:

• Understanding what’s in your plan
• Learning how to use your plan
• Choosing and managing supports and services
• Reviewing your plan and progress

Downloads:

Booklet 3 – Using your NDIS Plan (PDF 534KB)

Booklet 3 – Using your NDIS Plan (DOCX 95KB)

Booklet 3 – Using your NDIS Plan Easy English (PDF 1.1MB)

Fact Sheet: Support Budgets Easy English (PDF 564KB)

Fact Sheet: How to make a service agreement Easy English (PDF 484KB)

Step 4: Organise Your Supports

Now you have your NDIS plan, it’s time to put it into action by finding the right service providers for your situation and needs. It’s important to get this part right, so here’s some handy tips:

• Support Coordination can make finding the perfect provider a lot easier. If this is included in your plan.
• Select your service providers but be sure to do some research online or contact them first to see if they’re a good fit.
• Set up service agreements with your Service Providers. These are basically a simple contract confirming when the supports will be delivered and at what cost, ensuring you’re protected.

Step 5:  Managing Your Finances

Once you’ve selected your service providers, you can start receiving their supports. You’ll need to ensure their service providers are paid and manage your budget, so here’s some things to keep in mind:

• Keep a record of all the supports you receive.
• Track your budget to ensure you don’t overspend.

NDIS Price Guides 

https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/price-guides-and-information

Step 6: Your Annual Plan Review

Each year, your NDIS plan will be reviewed to ensure it’s still suited to your needs. As with your initial planning meeting, make sure to:

• Prepare in advance by making a list of the services you have received, along with anything you want to change, and why.
• Be clear and explain the reasons behind your requests for the upcoming year.

If you make your Access Request over the phone, you can email or post copies of your existing information, including letter or reports, to one of the following:

• email: NAT@ndis.gov.au
• Post to: GPO Box 700, Canberra ACT 2601, or
• drop it in to your nearest NDIS office. To find where your local NDIS office is click here https://www.ndis.gov.au/contact/locations

If you need help with English, call our TIS service on 131 450.

If you have hearing or speech loss, call our TTY service on 1800 555 677. For Speak and Listen, call 1800 555 727, or for Internet relay services, visit the Relay Service webpage(External website).

For more information visit https://www.ndis.gov.au

FIND A REGISTERED PROVIDER IN YOUR STATE (AUSTRALIA ONLY)

https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/working-providers/find-registered-provider

Factsheets and Checklists For Participants

About the NDIS

• Factsheet: About the NDIS (PDF 90KB)
• Factsheet: About the NDIS (DOCX 30KB)
• Factsheet: Accessing the NDIS (PDF115KB)
• Factsheet: Accessing the NDIS (text only) (DOCX 215KB)

Developing your plan

• Factsheet: Developing your NDIS plan (PDF 498KB)
• Factsheet: Developing your NDIS plan (text only) (DOCX 498KB)
• Checklist: Getting ready for your planning conversation (PDF 679KB)
• Checklist: Getting ready for your planning conversation (DOCX 204KB)

Starting your plan

• Factsheet: Starting your plan (DOCX 201KB)
• Factsheet: Starting your plan (PDF 11KB)
• Checklist: Starting my plan with a Support Coordinator (DOCX 202KB)
• Checklist: Starting my plan with a Support Coordinator (PDF 158KB)
• Checklist: Starting my plan with a Local Area Coordinator (DOCX 204KB)
• Checklist: Starting my plan with a Local Area Coordinator (PDF 160KB)
• Factsheet: Restricted access participants (DOCX 5.0MB)
• Factsheet: Restricted access participants (PDF 168KB)

Carry on the Conversation

As always, I can also be found on Twitter: @AutisticNick9 and at my email autisticnick9@gmail.com

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Thank you for reading and I will see you next time for more thoughts from across the spectrum.