The access criteria at a glance
Section 21 of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 says you meet the access criteria if the NDIA is satisfied that you meet:
- The age requirement in section 22
- The residence requirement in section 23
- Either the disability requirements in section 24, or the early intervention requirements in section 25
Age
You must be under 65 on the day you make your access request. There is no lower age limit. If you join before 65 you do not have to leave when you turn 65, unless you later move into permanent aged care after turning 65.
Residence
You must live in Australia and be an Australian citizen, the holder of a permanent visa, or a special category visa holder who is a protected SCV holder. To decide whether you really live here, the NDIA looks at things like your accommodation, family ties, work and financial ties, assets in Australia, and how often and how long you travel overseas.
The disability requirements
Most people join under section 24. You meet the disability requirements if all of these are true:
- You have an intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical impairment, or an impairment that causes a psychosocial disability
- The impairment is permanent or likely to be permanent. Conditions that come and go can still count
- It substantially reduces your functional capacity in at least one of: communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, self care or self management
- It affects your ability to take part socially or economically, such as work, study or community life
- You are likely to need NDIS support for your lifetime
The early intervention requirements
Section 25 is for people where support now is likely to reduce the support they need later. You need a permanent impairment, or for a child under 6, developmental delay, and evidence that early intervention will help, for example by reducing the impact of the impairment or stopping your functioning from getting worse. The NDIA must consider the disability and early intervention requirements separately, and you can meet both.
Children younger than 9 are usually supported first through the early childhood approach, where an early childhood partner can offer early supports and help with an application.
The evidence that decides it
Eligibility usually comes down to evidence. The NDIA relies on reports from treating professionals that explain your diagnosis, the treatment you have had, whether the impairment is permanent, and how it affects daily life. If your condition is on List A, confirming the diagnosis and its level is usually enough. For List B conditions, permanence is accepted but you still need evidence of functional impact.
Standardised assessments, such as WHODAS 2.0 for adults, Vineland-3 and PEDI-CAT for children, and the LSP-16 for psychosocial disability, give the NDIA scores it recognises.
What changes from 1 January 2028
Nothing changes about access until 1 January 2028. From then:
- Access will be based on a standardised, evidence based assessment of how your disability affects day to day living
- Permanence will include whether appropriate treatment has been tried. That means widely accepted, publicly funded treatment likely to make a meaningful difference. Nobody is forced to have treatment
- New applicants whose impairment came from a motor vehicle accident or work injury, and who are covered by another compensation scheme, may not be eligible
- Children 8 and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs will be supported by Thriving Kids
- Current participants will be reassessed against the new criteria over 3 years and told well in advance