NDIS eligibility comes down to three main requirements: your age, where you live, and how your disability or developmental delay affects your everyday life. If you meet them, the next job is the access request, and most of the work there is gathering the right evidence. This guide explains each requirement in plain terms, walks through how to apply for the NDIS, and shows what the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) needs to see.
The access rules are set by NDIS law and can change. Check the current requirements on ndis.gov.au before you apply.
What the NDIS eligibility requirements are
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) looks at three things. You need to meet the age requirement, the residence requirement, and either the disability requirements, the early intervention requirements, or both.
The age requirement
You must be younger than 65 on the day you apply. People aged 65 and over may be able to get support through the aged care system instead. Children younger than 9 come in through the early childhood approach, which works a little differently and is run by early childhood partners.
The residence requirement
You need to live in Australia and be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or the holder of a Protected Special Category visa.
The disability requirements and the early intervention requirements
The disability requirements ask whether you have an impairment that is likely to be permanent and that substantially reduces your ability to do everyday things. Those everyday things include moving around, communicating, looking after yourself, learning, managing daily life and getting on with other people.
The early intervention requirements are about support given early that is likely to reduce how much help you need later. They are commonly used for young children with developmental delay, but they can apply to adults too. Some people meet both sets of requirements.
Who the NDIS is not designed for
The NDIS funds disability supports. It sits alongside other systems, and it does not replace them. Hospital care, medication and treatment for a health condition generally stay with the health system. Schools remain responsible for learning support in the classroom. People who are 65 or older when they first apply are pointed to aged care.
This matters when you write your application. If the support you are asking about is really a health or school matter, the NDIA is likely to say so. For a wider view of what NDIS plans do pay for, the guide to your NDIS plan and its funding categories covers each budget.
How to apply for the NDIS, in three steps
Applying is a paperwork job more than an interview. You can bring a support person to every meeting along the way, and you can have someone help you fill in the forms.
Connect with an NDIS partner
NDIS partners are community organisations funded by the NDIA. For people aged 9 to 64, the partner is a local area coordinator. For children younger than 9, it is an early childhood partner. They can explain whether the NDIS is likely to suit you and help you start an access request.
Gather evidence with your treating health professional
Ask the health professionals who know you well to describe your disability and, more importantly, how it affects your daily life. The access request form has a section for them to complete. It helps if they have worked with you for at least six months, because they can then speak to how things are over time rather than on one day.
Submit the access request
You complete the first section of the form yourself, or your representative does. Once the evidence is attached, you can submit it, or your NDIS partner can submit it for you. Keep a copy of everything you send.
What good evidence looks like
A diagnosis on its own rarely answers the question the NDIA is asking. The assessor wants to understand what you can and cannot do day to day, and why. Evidence that describes functional impact carries more weight than a list of conditions.
Useful evidence usually does these things:
- names the impairment and says whether it is likely to be permanent
- gives examples of daily tasks you need help with, such as showering, cooking, catching transport or managing money
- explains what treatments have been tried and what changed as a result
- comes from someone who has seen you over a period of time
The same applies to psychosocial disability. The NDIA looks at how your mental health condition affects your daily functioning, not only at the diagnosis.
If the answer is no
If the NDIA decides you do not meet the access requirements, the letter explains why. You can ask for an internal review of that decision. Read the reasons closely and check whether they point to evidence that was missing or unclear. Your NDIS partner can explain your options.
After you are accepted: finding providers
Once your plan is approved, you choose who delivers your supports. Start from the support categories in your plan, then look for businesses that offer them where you live. You can browse NDIS providers by state on Provider24, check registration on the NDIS Commission’s register, and contact each business directly. For children younger than 9, the early intervention supports for early childhood category is the place to start. The guide on how to choose an NDIS provider covers what to ask before you sign.
This article is general information, not advice.
Frequently asked questions
What are the four requirements for access to the NDIS?
The NDIS describes three main requirements: age, residence, and disability or early intervention. The third one has two routes, which is why some guides count four. You can meet the disability requirements, the early intervention requirements, or both.
Is there an income threshold for NDIS?
No. The published eligibility requirements are age, residence and disability or early intervention. Your income is not one of them.
Who is not eligible for NDIS?
People who are 65 or older on the day they apply, people who do not meet the residence rules, and people whose needs are better met by another system, such as health or education, are not eligible. Aged care is the usual pathway for people 65 and over.