Am I eligible for the NDIS?
Reviewed by the My Care Link Australia Editorial Team · Last reviewed
Eligibility comes down to three things: your age, where you live, and how your disability affects everyday life. Diagnosis alone does not decide it — impact does. Work through the checklist below before you apply so you know where you stand.
The checklist
Answer these in order. A no to any of the first three usually means the NDIS is not the right pathway, and there is a section further down on what to do instead.
- Are you under 65? Your complete access request must be received before your 65th birthday.
- Do you live in Australia as a citizen, permanent resident, or holder of a Protected Special Category Visa?
- Is your disability likely to be permanent — that is, not expected to go away with treatment?
- Does it substantially reduce your ability to do everyday activities such as moving around, communicating, learning, self-care or taking part socially?
- Are you likely to need support for life, and would support now reduce what you need later?
Children are a separate pathway: under 6 with developmental delay, and under 9 with disability, are supported through the early childhood approach. Families can contact an early childhood partner directly without a form.
Why impact matters more than diagnosis
The most common reason an application is knocked back is not the condition — it is the evidence. A letter that names a diagnosis and stops there tells the NDIA nothing about what you can and cannot do.
Strong evidence describes function in concrete terms: what tasks need help, how often, how long they take, what happens without support, and what has already been tried. A report that says "requires prompting and physical assistance to shower and dress, five days a week" does far more than one that says "has a diagnosis of X".
Ask your treating professionals to write about a typical week, not about the condition in the abstract.
Evidence worth gathering before you apply
- Three identity documents
- A GP or specialist report describing the disability and its permanence
- Allied health assessments — OT, psychology, speech pathology — that describe daily function
- A functional capacity assessment if you have one
- A short written summary of a typical week, written by you or a family member
- Details of treatments already tried and their results
Recent evidence carries more weight. If a report is several years old, ask for an update before you apply.
If you are not eligible
You can request an internal review within three months of the decision, and many people succeed at that stage by adding stronger functional evidence. If the internal review does not change the outcome, you can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal, and free help is available through the National Disability Advocacy Program.
If you are over 65, aged care is the pathway instead — Home Care Packages cover many of the same supports. If your needs are shorter term, your state health service, community health and local council programs may help.
What to do next
If you answered yes to the checklist, the next step is the application itself. If you already have a plan and are looking for providers, that is where we come in — free for participants, families and support coordinators.
This page is general information. Only the NDIA can decide eligibility, and it decides on the evidence you provide.
About this guide. Written and reviewed by the My Care Link Australia team as general information for NDIS and aged care participants, families and support coordinators. Read our editorial guidelines and provider review process.
This guide is general educational information only. It is not medical, legal or financial advice. For decisions about your individual situation, please speak with the appropriate qualified professional.
Frequently asked questions
What age can you apply for the NDIS?
You must be under 65 when the NDIA receives your complete access request. People over 65 are generally supported through aged care instead.
Do I need a diagnosis to be eligible for the NDIS?
A diagnosis helps, but eligibility is based on the permanent and significant impact of your disability on everyday activities, not the diagnosis alone.
Can I apply for the NDIS for my child?
Yes. Children under 6 with developmental delay and under 9 with disability are supported through the early childhood approach — you can contact an early childhood partner directly.
What if my application is rejected?
You can request an internal review within three months, usually with stronger functional evidence, and then apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal if needed.
Is mental health covered by the NDIS?
Psychosocial disability can be covered where the impact is permanent and significant. Episodic conditions are assessed on their ongoing functional impact.
Related services
NDIS Support Coordination
Help understanding and making the most of your NDIS plan.
NDIS Occupational Therapy
OTs help build skills for daily living, work, study and play.
NDIS Psychology
Mental health and wellbeing support from registered psychologists.
NDIS Support Workers
Trained support workers for daily living, social activities and personal care.
Related conditions
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Sources and further reading
Rules, funding amounts and wait times change. We check these primary sources when we update this page, and you should confirm current details directly with them.
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)(opens in a new tab) — National Disability Insurance Agency. Official scheme information, eligibility and current processes.
- How to apply for the NDIS(opens in a new tab) — National Disability Insurance Agency. Current access request steps and forms.
- Understanding your NDIS plan budget(opens in a new tab) — National Disability Insurance Agency. How plan management and budget categories work.
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission(opens in a new tab) — NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Provider registration, practice standards and complaints.
- Services Australia — Disability Support Pension(opens in a new tab) — Services Australia. Income support eligibility and claim process.