Can you be eligible if your symptoms come and go?
Yes. The Act says an impairment that varies in intensity, or is episodic or fluctuating, can still be permanent. What matters is whether the underlying impairment is enduring and whether available treatments are likely to remedy it.
You also need to show it substantially reduces your capacity in at least one area, such as social interaction, self care or self management. Self management often matters most here: planning your day, keeping appointments, handling money and coping with problems.
The evidence the NDIA looks for
For a primary psychosocial disability, the NDIA asks for a statement from a treating health professional plus a functional assessment. Your treating professional can complete the Evidence of Psychosocial Disability Form, Section 2 of the Access Request Form, or send existing reports.
The NDIA's preferred functional assessments, in order, are:
- LSP-16 (Life Skills Profile), which looks at everyday skills of people with mental illness
- HoNOS (Health of the Nation Outcome Scales), a clinician rated measure of health and social functioning
- WHODAS 2.0, a general measure of disability across six areas of life
Making your evidence count
- Use a professional who has treated you over time, such as a psychiatrist, GP, psychologist or mental health nurse
- Describe your hard periods: how often they happen, how long they last and what you cannot do during them
- List the treatments you have tried, for how long and what happened
- Count prompting, reminders and supervision as help you need
- Ask someone who knows you well to add what they see
A recovery approach
NDIS support for psychosocial disability is meant to be recovery oriented. Recovery means living a meaningful life on your own terms, with or without symptoms, and support should build hope, skills and connection rather than dependence.
Many participants have a psychosocial recovery coach, funded in the same category as support coordination. A recovery coach helps you plan, connect with services and work towards your goals, using lived experience or mental health knowledge. The 2026/27 price limit for recovery coaching on a weekday during the day is $110.44 an hour in most of Australia.
What the NDIS funds, and what it does not
The NDIS funds disability supports, such as help with daily living, community participation, skill building, recovery coaching and therapy that builds functional capacity. Clinical mental health treatment, crisis care and hospital care remain the job of the health system, including Medicare and state mental health services.
From 1 October 2026, social, economic and community participation budgets are reduced by 50% and improved daily living skills budgets by 10% when a plan is created, reassessed or renewed. Many people with psychosocial disability use these budgets, so check your new plan carefully and talk with your providers about priorities.
If you are not eligible
You can ask for an internal review within 3 months, or reapply with stronger evidence. If you do not qualify, support may be available outside the NDIS, including the Commonwealth Psychosocial Support Program and services through your local Primary Health Network.
What changes from 2028
From 1 January 2028, access will be based on a standardised assessment of functional capacity, and permanence will include whether appropriate treatment has been tried. Nobody is forced to have treatment. A Technical Advisory Group is advising on how fluctuating and episodic conditions are assessed, and current participants will be reassessed over 3 years.