1. How is eligibility for the NDIS changing?<\/p>\n
The fundamental change to a person\u2019s eligibility for the NDIS will shift from a diagnosis to \u201cstandardised evidence-based assessments of a person\u2019s functional capacity\u201d. But what that means, and who will no longer be eligible for the scheme is unclear.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the health and NDIS minister, Mark Butler, said<\/a> the scheme will be brought back to its \u201coriginal purpose\u201d of supporting people with \u201csignificant and permanent disability\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cAccess will be based upon a significant reduction in a person\u2019s functional capacity that impacts their day-to-day living. It will also remove the use of the lists that currently decide a participant\u2019s eligibility based on diagnosis alone,\u201d Butler said.<\/p>\n Martin Laverty, chief executive of disability service provider Aruma and former NDIS board director, said people on the NDIS scheme won\u2019t know for some months whether they will still be eligible for support, because the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will need to take some time to decide on the \u201cparameters\u201d of what functional capacity means.<\/p>\n \u201cThe World Health Organization now has a functional capacity assessment tool. The Australian government, the National Disability Insurance Agency over coming months will need to settle on the parameters for that. And for people uncertain today, we\u2019re going to have to ask for some patience,\u201d Laverty told ABC radio.<\/p>\n 2. What support will I have if I\u2019m removed from the NDIS?<\/p>\n There are two programs which will be administered by the states to support people with a disability who are not eligible for the NDIS \u2013 the Thriving Kids program <\/a>and Foundational Supports.<\/p>\n Both programs were agreed upon at national cabinet meetings between the commonwealth, states and territories. Thriving Kids will support children aged under nine with additional support needs.<\/p>\n It is still unclear what exactly the Foundational Supports will look like, with discussions between states and the commonwealth ongoing.<\/p>\n Australian federation of disability organisations chief executive, Ross Joyce, said there is \u201cscant detail\u201d on foundational supports, but his primary concern with the two programs is ensuring service quality does not differ across the country.<\/p>\n \u201cWorst-case scenario is as things are rolled out there\u2019s gaps, people miss out, and we don\u2019t want to see that happen before anyone is effectively taken off the NDIS \u2026 We want to see a consistent model right across the country, or we\u2019ll end up with a postcode lottery,\u201d Joyce said.<\/p>\n 3. Will I be able to review a decision about my assessment?<\/p>\n The government has not announced whether there will be review mechanisms over NDIS package decisions.<\/p>\n