The National Disability Insurance Scheme helps disabled people with a significant or permanent disability who profoundly impact their capacity to earn a living and take up employment. It includes impaired vision, hearing, speech, mental impairment, or other physical or mental impairments. The Scheme is also for survivors of accidents that have injured them and caregivers to someone suffering from any of these impairments.
The objectives of the National Disability Insurance Scheme were initially put forward to address problems arising from unemployment and under-employment. The primary objective was to provide a support system for such people, not to struggle to survive. As such, the Scheme now covers more than 35 million individuals and families in the United Kingdom. However, the Scheme was established as a joint venture between the government and the private sector, so the needs of those who require such support are considered in allocating funds. In addition, it was done to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
The purposes for which the Scheme was established vary from year to year. For example, in its first year, the primary purpose was to assist with disability support for workers who may have been laid off, lost their jobs due to companies going bankrupt, or transferred to other locations. Another purpose was to assist with providing equipment for long-term care facilities, such as convalescent homes. Other purposes included providing for children or disabled parents who need care while they attend school. These programs and activities are ongoing as the original purpose of the Scheme continues to evolve.
As per the current regulations, there are four phases involved in the approval process of the NDIS plan management. First, there are two reviews, each lasting for thirty days, including one day of written submissions by the NDI administrator. On completion of the review, the findings are shared with the Scheme Administrator, who makes the final decision whether or not the Scheme should proceed with funding. In the current year, only three reviews have been completed, including two reviews concerning operational matters. Both reviews concluded that the NDI provides an excellent program for meeting the needs of its participants.
For those under the age of twenty-five, the requirement is that the applicant is suffering from a severe and prolonged physical or mental impairment that significantly limits their ability to engage in at least ordinary, everyday activities. The age must be established from the date of application or from the date of loss of the capability to continue with everyday activities, whichever is earliest.
Applicants can seek extensions if they meet the age requirement but must first reapply if they do. Otherwise, the period of disability starts from the day on which the application was made. The applicant must also demonstrate that they are not suffering from another disabling physical impairment or disease that would prevent them from engaging in ordinary daily activities on the date of loss of capacity to continue with everyday activities determined from the date of application. The definition of ‘ordinary, daily activities is subject to the Disability Discrimination Act assessment outcome.
