NDIS Minister Bill Shorten has released the final NDIS supports lists, detailing what NDIS participants can and cannot spend their funding on.
This is the first time this list has been reviewed since the commencement of the NDIS and updates current guidelines and practices.
The lists will come into effect from October 3, 2024 and identify what is appropriately funded by the NDIS, and what NDIS funding can be used to purchase.
There is also a substitution list which will allow participants to request a replacement support in cases where a standard household item might be able to provide better outcomes and value.
This is part of the amendments introduced under the Getting the NDIS Back on Track Bill No. 1 which passed Parliament in August.
The lists include items that are NDIS supports and items that are not NDIS supports. Participants who need specific household items or assistive technology to live their life will still be able to access these items through these lists.
In public consultation before releasing the lists, the government received 6,180 survey responses, 919 email responses and 120 submissions from organisations and peak bodies.
Importantly, there will be a ‘transition period’ for the first year of the new NDIS supports lists to ensure participants aren’t penalised for simple mistakes.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will continue to work with participants and take an educative approach, for example: if a participant purchases a support which is not funded, but if someone continues to claim for things which are not NDIS Supports, despite them being provided with information and advice, remedial action will be taken.
Importantly, participants can continue to access stated supports in their plans, as well as supports found to be reasonable and necessary by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, even if these are now on the excluded list.
The minister said the changes return the NDIS to its original intent.
“I know many participants are feeling uncertain about these changes, but the supports being accessed by a majority of people will not be impacted by the revised lists which are based on existing guidance. I want to reassure participants that the lists will bring more clarity and more certainty for all participants in how they can use their budgets,” he said, thanking those who contributed to the consultation,” he said.
For more information on what people said during the consultation and the changes that were made, visit DSS Engage.
People With Disability Australia (PWDA) said it is concerned that the lists were released less than two days before coming into effect.
“Reasonable notice and communication on how the changes will impact each participant must be in place before any future changes are rolled out. As this hasn’t occurred, even though existing plans won’t be changing straight away PWDA is concerned participants will be confused about what they can access and some people may go without critical supports because they’re worried they’ll end up with a debt,” PWDA president Marayke Jonkers said.