Anyone started with the NDIS?

Hi @Former-Member and welcome to the forums. It's perfectly fine to join in here. I'll see if I can find a good explanation of NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) for you. Basically it's quite different from the DSP (Disability Support Pension) through centrelink (which is to cover living expenses etc) and you can have both. I do. Having NDIS doesn't affect your pension at all. NDIS funds supports (such as support workers) and adaptive technologies and sometimes transport for people with disabilities proven to be lifelong. It's quite hard to get it for mental health, but it is possible. (They call it psychosocial disability - they do have a bit of a language of their own, feel free to ask questions here if you get confused).

This might be useful : https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding/what-ndis

but I encourage you to have a google search. It's quite involved once you get into it, but really worth persevering with both NDIS and the DSP.

If you want a much more detailed idea of what NDIS can cover you might want to glance at their pricelist - it's long but really helps to work out what you can get.

https://www.ndis.gov.au/media/1673/download

Hope you find my reply helpful. That's why this thread is here.

Oh okay, thanks for that @eth

I am about to start my second year with the NDIS. My diagnosis is Bipolar 2 and BPD. When I first received my funding it was massively distressing for me. I thought this is how bad I've become. It's taken the full year to start to really start spending the money. Three separate month stays in hospital complicated things. With my recent review it appears my funding will be increased. My support has been with EACH who are mental health specialists. There are others I have heard are good. Overall the NDIS has been a huge help. I think the first year is messy learning what the supports are and how you can use them. At the moment I don't do change well. This complicated things. I'm still working on using more and more of my plan. This is a slow step by step process for me.

hope this helps a bit. WriterMelb

Thanks for sharing @WriterMelb Hope that this year goes more smoothly for you with staying out of hospital as well as using your NDIS funds in ways that help you make some progress.

I'm in my 2nd year and this time they gave me a 2 year plan. I found they reworded and reduced my goals to a couple that are really general - improved health and wellbeing, and to be more independent and engaged in community participation. They totally deleted improved relationships. I decided not to do a request for review over that as they would have reviewed the whole plan, which is quite a good one in other ways.

@eth
My plan has been increased to 2 years also. Thanks for the encouragement.

Writer Melb

This flyer is commonly available. I am including it here as the services promoted helped me a great deal. Much of the form filling I could not do as it was talking about my situation and deep issues. They assisted with this and spoke to my GP and Shrink about what approach to use on the forms. My shrink thought that the NDIS was for people who could not shwr and go to the toilet by themselves! 😟.

This is for the state of Victoria only. (Vic Gov are paying for it)

This may help someone. WriterMelb

Does anyone know what is happening with plan reviews in light of COVID-19? Do they do phone interviews instead of face to face? I heard via the NDIS Facebook page that some current plans are being extended for up to two years, does this mean we have to scrimp and save our current funding to stretch that far or are they allocating new funds? I tried to get on the portal on mygov, but due to all the new Centrelink customers, the site has crashed.

Bit worried... anybody know?

@eth , @WriterMelb , @Bunniekins

@Queenie

Mine was renewed two days ago. All be it for less. 🤬

WriterMelb

Hi @Queenie The way I interpret it is that they will renew your plan and give you funds to last the 2 years, but based on the same goals as your current plan. And yes I believe they are doing any necessary reviews by phone. I'm not sure how it is decided who gets the extension automatically and who has to have the review.

@WriterMelb that's a great resource for Victorians you posted above. Really sorry to hear your plan was renewed with a drop in funds. Did you have a review or planning meeting for this already or was it auto-renewed? Are you planning to appeal their decision and do a "Request for Review of a Reviewable Decision" as they call it? When my 2nd plan had a bit less in one of the categories I decided not to get a review because when you do that they review the whole plan, not just the bit you are dissatisfied with, and the rest of mine was adequate.

I am now just having 1hr of phone support twice a week with my support workers. As opposed to 8-12 hours weekly face to face before last week. The positive I see is that by the time I am able to go out again with them we will have so many hours 'banked' that we'll be able to do some full day-trips or even possibly do a bit of a holiday with support worker.

Today I applied to Woollies (they have a form on their webpage for this) for continued home delivery, which they will do for approved people who are elderly (seniors card) or disabled (pension concession card - which I have). I should know in a couple of days if I'm approved. Apparently Coles will introduce a similar system within a few days. I really think the NDIS needs to introduce an ID card for participants. There are lots of people with NDIS and valid disabilities who do not have the DSP from Centrelink and therefor don't have a concession card. Apparently you might be able to do the above if you have a Companion Card, because you have to have proven life-long disability to get one of those.

Thinking a lot about all the NDIS crew on the forums. This might be a good place for people to ask questions about their concerns. If I can't answer someone else might be able to.

@Shaz51 @Bunniekins @Appleblossom @Faith-and-Hope @outlander I can't remember who else has NDIS or is trying to get it at the moment. Please spread the word about this thread where you think is appropriate. Thankyou x