Applying to the NDIS: Eligibility, Evidence & Processes
Applying to the NDIS (which is called making an “access request”) is the process a person follows to find out whether they can become an NDIS participant and received funded supports. The NDIA is responsible for deciding eligibility, but the process also involves local NDIS partners (such as Early Childhood Partners and Local Area Coordinators) who can help you understand the pathway, gather information, and submit your application.
This article explains the NDIS application process in detail, using NDIA guidance and published rules. It is written for participants, families, nominees, and support networks.
What “Applying to the NDIS” means
Applying to the NDIS means providing information so the NDIA can decide whether you meet the access requirements. This includes confirming identity, age and residence eligibility, and assessing whether you meet the disability requirements, early intervention requirements, or both.
If you are found eligible, you’ll become a participant and will be contacted about starting your first plan. If you are not eligible, you can still be supported to access other government and community supports, including pathways described as “early connections” (for children under 9) and “community connections” (for people aged 9-64).
Basic Access Requirements (Age & Residence)
Before the NDIA considers disability or early intervention evidence, you must first meet the age and residence requirements.
Age Requirement
To access the NDIS, you must be younger than 65 on the day you apply. NDIA forms and factsheets describe this clearly, and it is important because the application needs to be received before you turn 65.
Residence Requirement
You must live in Australia and be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident (permanent visa holder), or a Protected Special Category Visa holder (available to some New Zealand citizens).
Understand the Eligibility Pathways
Once age and residence requirements are met, the NDIA assesses eligibility under one of three pathways: disability requirements, early intervention requirements, or both.
Disability Requirements (permanent impairment and functional impact)
To meet disability requirements, you need to have a permanent impairment and functional impact. The NDIA generally needs evidence of all of the following:
Your disability is attributable to one or more impairments (the disability and impairments are linked)
The impairment is, or is likely to be, permanent
The impairment substantially reduces functional capacity in one or more daily life activities
The impairment affects your ability to work, study, or take part in social life
You are likely to need NDIS supports for your lifetime
The NDIA’s published approach focuses on impairment and functional impact rather than diagnosis alone. This matters because two people with the same diagnosis may have very different functional capacity and support needs.
Early Intervention Requirements
The early intervention requirements also include developmental delay for children. You may meet early intervention requirements if you have an impairment likely to be permanent (or, for children younger than 6, developmental delay), and early intervention supports are likely to reduce future support needs and/or reduce the impact of impairment on functional capacity, maintain capacity, or improve outcomes. The supports also need to be the type of supports the NDIS can fund (“NDIS Supports”).
Children Younger than 9 & Early Childhood Partners
For children younger than 9, NDIA guidance encourages families to engage with an early childhood partner. Early childhood partners gather information, discuss concerns, connect families to supports, and may recommend applying to the NDIS if the child is likely to meet the criteria.
For children younger than 6, NDIA guidance explains how early childhood partners evidence developmental delay, including using multiple sources as parent/carer report, observations in daily settings, and (where appropriate) assessments by professionals such as occupational therapists and speech pathologists.
What “Impairment” & “Functional Capacity” Mean
The NDIA commonly assesses functional capacity across daily life domains such as mobility (moving around), communication, social interaction (socialising), learning, self-care, and self-management (particularly for people older than 6). A key point is that “substantially reduced functional capacity” is about what you can usually do over time, not just on a good day or a bad day.
Evidence is usually expected to show you typically need disability-specific supports to participate in or complete tasks such as significant assistance from other people (help, supervision, prompting) and/or assistive technology, or modifications that are recommended by appropriate professionals.
Fluctuating or Episodic Conditions
The NDIA recognises that some impairments fluctuate or are episodic. You can still meet permanence and lifetime support considerations based on the overall long-term impact across your life, even if the day-to-day impact varies.
Psychosocial Disability
The NDIA distinguished psychosocial disability from having a mental health diagnosis alone. Psychosocial disability refers to reduced capacity to undertake daily activities due to impairments related to mental health, assessed through evidence of functional impact and permanence.
How to Apply & Who Can Help
How Applications Are Made
To apply for the NDIS usually you use an Access Request Form and submit it with supporting information and evidence, although there are many different ways to complete your application. You can:
Visit your local LAC or ECP who can discuss the evidence the NDIA needs and help you complete your application
Download and complete the NDIS Access Request Form and send an enquiry through the NDIA’s contact page with supporting evidence and information.
You can also print it out and mail it to the NDIA
Contact the NDIA and ask them for the Access Request Form for them to then mail or email it on your behalf
Visit an NDIS office and ask for a copy of the Access Request Form for them to print it on your behalf for you to email or mail it to the NDIA
The NDIA also notes that regardless of how a person applies, the same types of information are needed to confirm age, residency, and disability or early intervention needs.
Role of Local Area Coordinators (LACs) and Early Childhood Partners (ECPs)
For many people aged 9 and older, an LAC can help you understand the NDIS and support you through your application process. For children under 9, ECPs are the recommended first contact and can provide early connections and guidance on whether an application for the NDIS is appropriate.
Support People & Representatives
You can always ask someone you trust to help gather information and support the application process. This can include family, friends, carers, support workers, or health professionals. In some situations, another person can apply on your behalf if they have the legal authority or you have consented to them acting as an authorised representative. NDIA factsheets outline these options and requirements.
Evidence Requirements
Evidence of Identity
The NDIA requires identity to be confirmed as part of the access process. Everyone who applies for the NDIS are required to provide the NDIA with one Birth or Arrival document and at least two Use in Community documents (this could be an Australian Passport or Centrelink Card) which must be current. NDIA evidence of identity documents and resources further outline what documents are required and how they are assessed.
Evidence of Impairment & Functional Impact
In order for the NDIA to determine whether you meet the disability or early intervention access requirements, evidence of your disability (or developmental delay for children younger than 6) which includes information on what your disability is, whether it’s permanent, and how it impacts your life. Access decisions are made against the NDIS Act and the NDIA may request additional evidence if needed. Providing clear, current evidence that speaks directly to permanence and functional capacity can reduce delays and follow-up requests.
Impairment may arise from birth, disease, injury, or accident, but eligibility depends on the impairment being permanent (including psychosocial impairment where applicable) and resulting in significant disability and functional impact. You can read more on the eligibility and medical conditions on the NDIS FAQ page.
Where access to treating professionals and assessments is difficult (such as remote or rural areas), the NDIA acknowledge practical barriers and describe alternative approaches to gathering evidence depending on what services are available locally.
Decision Timeframes
When the NDIA has all necessary information, online resources state it will make an access decision within 21 days. This is linked to the Participant Service Guarantee, which sets timeframes for key processes.
If the NDIA needs more information, it may request additional evidence before making a decision, which can extend timeframes. The NDIA notes that additional evidence requests can delay an Access Request Decision.
Outcomes After an Access Decision
If you are eligible…
If the NDIA decides a person is eligible, they become an NDIS participant from the decision date and are contacted about starting their plan. Since 1 January 2025, the NDIA states that access decision letters include a “Notice of Impairments” for new access requests, providing more detail about the basis of eligibility.
If you are not eligible…
If the NDIA decides you are not eligible, you will receive a letter advising the outcome. NDIA partner pathways may support you to connect with other government and community services, including early connections and community connections approaches described across NDIA early childhood and eligibility content.
If you disagree with the decision… (Review Options)
You can request an internal review of a decision, and that the request must be made within three months of receiving the decision in writing. The NDIS website describes possible ways to lodge your request including forms, phone call, or visiting offices.
Applying to the NDIS is ultimately an evidence-based process, and the strongest applications are usually the clearest ones as they show how an impairment is likely to be permanent and how it substantially affects daily life over time. Whether the outcome is access to the NDIS or connection to other supports, having a structured approach can reduce delays and uncertainty, making it easier to move forward with the right services in place.
Get the Support You Need with Purple Leopard Plan Management
At Purple Leopard, we’re here to help participants to navigate the complexities of the NDIS. Contact us today to learn how we can support you in getting the most out of your NDIS plan!
For more information on your NDIS Access Request visit: ndis.gov.au
Or Call the NDIS
For Participants: 1800 800 110
For Providers: 1300 311 675