Then, we look at how your impairments affect your ability to work, study or take part in social life. This means your permanent impairments affect how you can find and keep a job, contribute to your community, or join social activities. We get this information from your NDIS application.
We look at your ability to do things like:
- find and keep a job, or start your own business
- study
- spend and save money
- play sport
- go to the movies
- volunteer
- travel.
It doesn’t matter how much your ability to work, study or socialise is affected by your impairment. It only needs to affect your social or work life in some way for you to meet the criteria.
Will you likely need support under the NDIS for your whole life?
You must be likely to need support under the NDIS for your whole life.
NDIS supports are investments that help you build or maintain your functional capacity and independence, and help you work, study or take part in social life.
Even if your needs go up and down over time, or happen episodically , we may still consider it’s likely you’ll need lifetime support under the NDIS.
We consider your overall situation to answer this question.
When we decide if you’ll likely need support under the NDIS for your whole life, we consider:
- your life circumstances
- the nature of your long-term support needs
- whether your needs could be best met by the NDIS, or by other government and community services.
For example, you may have an impairment which is caused by a chronic health condition. Many chronic health conditions are most effectively managed or remedied through medical management through the health system.
If this is the case, we may decide that you don’t have a lifetime need for support under the NDIS.