We're updating this guideline with new legislation
Here's what's changed:
- To be eligible, you will need to meet the requirements for disability, early intervention, or both.
- To be eligible under the disability requirements, you’ll likely need NDIS supports for your lifetime.
- To be eligible under the early intervention requirements, the supports that are likely to benefit you will be NDIS supports.
Please download the guideline for the latest information, while we update the website over the coming weeks.
Applying to the NDIS
If you want to become an NDIS participant you’ll need to apply to the NDIS. There are some requirements you need to meet to be eligible for the NDIS.
First, you need to be younger than 65 when you apply, be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and live in Australia. Then, you’ll need to meet the requirements for disability, early intervention, or both.
You may be eligible under the disability requirements if you have one or more impairments that are or are likely to be permanent. And this substantially impacts your ability to do daily life activities. Your impairment must also affect your social life, or your ability to work and study. And, you must be likely to need NDIS supports for your lifetime. NDIS supports are the services, items and equipment that can be funded by the NDIS.
Or you may be eligible under the early intervention requirements if you have one or more impairments that are likely to be permanent or you have developmental delay and supports are likely to benefit you by reducing your need for supports in the future. We will also consider if these supports are NDIS supports.
Or you may be eligible under both the disability and early intervention requirements.
If you think you might be eligible, we can help you apply to the NDIS. We’ll talk to you about your needs, current situation and what's important to you. We’ll look at all the information you give us to decide if you’re eligible. If you’re eligible for the NDIS, you’ll become a participant, and we’ll work with you to start creating your plan. If you’re not eligible, an early childhood partner or local area coordinator can help you explore and access government and community services. When we work with children younger than 9 and their families, we call this early connections. When we work with people aged 9–64, we call this community connections.
For all NDIS applications received on or after 3 October 2024, we will use the current version of the legislation to make an access decision.
For NDIS applications received before 3 October 2024, we will use the previous version of the legislation to make an access decision. For more information, refer to:
- Applying to the NDIS - Pre-legislation changes (PDF 529KB)
- Applying to the NDIS - Pre-legislation changes (DOCX 123KB)
Find more resources about applying to the NDIS in accessible formats on the booklets and factsheets page .