Psychosocial disability: What the NDIS may cover.

We recently explored the topic of Psychosocial disability and the NDIS, including how to apply for the NDIS and the assessment criteria.

Understanding what the NDIS may cover and what it doesn’t when it comes to mental health conditions can be confusing.

Today, we’re looking a little closer at the types of supports the NDIS may fund in relation to mental health and psychosocial disability and those that are covered by other services. Having a good understanding of this information can help you decide whether to apply for the NDIS.

The NDIS and mainstream services.

Firstly, it is important to know that the NDIS only covers some of the supports and services that someone with a psychosocial disability might need.

That’s because the NDIS is designed to work with existing or ‘mainstream’ government systems that offer services like mental health support, education, housing and employment.

Supports funded by the NDIS.

A reminder that there are additional eligibility requirements for people with psychosocial disability to access the NDIS. Our recent article Psychosocial disability and the NDIS, provides more detail.

The NDIS supports people with a permanent and significant functional impairment as a result of a disability or mental health issue.

Eligible participants can obtain supports or services considered “reasonable and necessary” (more on this in our previous article What is “reasonable & necessary”?) that help you carry out tasks required for everyday life and living in the community if the supports and services:

• Are directly to your disability
• Do not include day-to-day living costs not related to your disability support needs (such as groceries)
• Represent value for money
• Are likely to be effective
• Take into account support provided by family members, carers and other government services.

Common supports utilised by people with psychosocial disability fall into three categories:

    1. Assistance with Daily Life.

Assistance with Daily Life is a support category under the Core supports budget category which helps you to live as independently as possible at home and in the community.

This budget can be used for assistance with daily personal activities, planning, decision making and household tasks such as doing the laundry or showering yourself. Find out more about the Assistance with Daily Life budget category in our previous article Budget areas explained: Assistance with Daily Life.

    2. Capacity Building.

Capacity Building funding can be used for activities that support you in learning new skills and becoming more independent.

For example, you might need help to build social relationships, learn to manage your money or find a job.

    3. Assistance with Social and Community Participation.

Another category under the Core supports budget – Assistance with Social and Community Participation – includes supports that help you participate in community activities like recreation, education, training and employment.

For example, someone to transport you to and from a training course or community activity. These supports may be provided individually or in groups, depending on your needs.

Supports funded by the health or mental health system.

The following services and supports are generally funded by the health or mental health systems, not the NDIS:

• Medical and clinical services such as general practitioners, psychiatrists and psychologists
• Services relating to diagnosis or treatment of psychiatric conditions or mental illness
• Early intervention
• Care while in hospital (both in-patient and residential care)
• Medications.

If the health or mental health system is responsible for a support such as those mentioned above, the NDIS cannot fund it, even if the other systems do not provide you with that support.

Your NDIS Plan may include information about supports provided by the NDIS and supports that are the responsibility of other government services.

For more details about the NDIS and psychosocial disability check out the dedicated page on the NDIS website, Mental health and the NDIS.

Leap in! can help.

If you have questions about the types of supports funded by the NDIS or how plan management can help you get the most from your NDIS funding, give our crew a call on 1300 05 7878 or email crew@leapin.com.au.