If you or someone you care about is living with a disability, you've probably heard that the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can help. What people don't always hear is how hard it can be to apply for the NDIS and prove NDIS eligibility. The forms are long, the evidence has to be just right, and for someone who is already struggling day to day, the whole thing can feel like too much.
That's where we come in. At Aimy Allied, we offer NDIS application help across Australia, walking people through the initial NDIS assessment process one step at a time. We gather the right reports, talk to the right people and put everything together properly, so the application has the best chance of being understood the first time around.
Below, we explain how to apply for the NDIS, who is eligible for the NDIS, what evidence you need, and how long an NDIS application takes.
How people find their way to us
Most of the people we help come to us through a provider. Some providers we've reached out to and built relationships with over time. Others find us on their own and bring along clients who need a hand with their NDIS application.
Usually it goes something like this. A person who needs support, or a family member on their behalf, goes to a provider and asks for help getting onto the NDIS. The provider sees that the person will need proper clinical evidence, so they refer them to us. From that point on, we work side by side with the provider until the paperwork is ready to go.
How to apply for the NDIS: our step-by-step process
Step 1: Checking NDIS eligibility with our clinicians
Before anyone fills out a single form, we sit down with our clinicians and look at the person's situation as a whole. What is their disability? How long have they had it? How does it affect their life right now? We also look at whatever reports or medical history already exist.
The aim here is to get an honest early read on whether the person is likely to meet the NDIS access requirements. Broadly, the NDIS needs to see that a disability is likely to be permanent and that it makes everyday tasks significantly harder. If we think there are gaps, we'll say so upfront rather than let someone go through the whole process without knowing.
Step 2: NDIS functional capacity assessment (FCA)
Next, we complete a functional capacity assessment (FCA). This is one of the most important parts of any NDIS application, because the NDIS doesn't just want to know what a person's diagnosis is. It wants to know how that disability affects their daily life.
During the FCA, our clinician spends time with the person, and often their family or carers, to understand how they manage things like:
We write all of this up in a clear report, using real examples from the person's life. It's the kind of detail that helps the NDIA see the full picture, not just a label.
Step 3: Diagnosis and evidence of disability
Some people come to us already diagnosed. Others have been struggling for years without a formal diagnosis, which can make an NDIS application much harder. Where a diagnosis is needed, it's completed by one of the senior psychologists on our team.
This step can take a few sessions, depending on what's being assessed. Our psychologist makes sure the diagnosis is thorough and well documented, because the NDIA will want to see solid evidence behind it.
Step 4: Supporting letters and NDIS evidence
One report on its own rarely tells the whole story. That's why our clinicians also write multidisciplinary letters to go alongside the reports. Each letter looks at the person's needs from a different professional angle, such as occupational therapy, psychology or physiotherapy.
Together, these letters back each other up and give the NDIA a much more complete view of what the person needs, and why.
Step 5: Keeping everyone in the loop
We don't work in a bubble. Throughout the process, we stay in touch with the person's family and their other health providers, especially their GP. GPs often hold important medical history, and their input can make an application stronger.
If the person already sees a psychologist outside our team, we reach out and work with them too. That way, nothing gets missed and nobody is left out of the conversation.
Step 6: Completing the NDIS Access Request Form
Once the evidence is in place, we fill out the NDIS Access Request Form for the person. This is the official form the NDIA uses to decide whether someone can join the scheme. We make sure it lines up with the reports and letters, so the application reads as one clear, consistent story.
Step 7: Submitting your NDIS application
Finally, we pass the full package to the provider: the assessment reports, the diagnosis, the multidisciplinary letters and the completed Access Request Form. The provider then submits the application to the NDIS on the person's behalf. If the NDIA comes back asking for more information, we're still here to help.
Your consent, every step of the way
Nothing happens without the participant's say-so. Before we speak to a family member, contact a GP or share a report with anyone, we make sure the person has agreed to it. It's their story and their information, and we treat it that way.
The referring provider takes responsibility for lodging the application with the NDIS. Our job is to make sure the evidence behind it is complete, accurate and clinically sound.
How long does an NDIS application take?
We'd rather be honest with you from the start: not everyone who applies gets an NDIS plan. Sometimes there isn't enough evidence yet. Other times, the NDIA decides the disability doesn't affect the person's daily life enough to qualify. If your NDIS application is rejected, it can be really disappointing, but it isn't always the end of the road. With more evidence, some people are able to reapply later, though this does add time.
As for timing, getting from that first conversation to an approved plan usually takes somewhere between three and twelve months. It really depends on how much evidence is needed, how quickly reports and letters come together, and how long the NDIA takes to decide. We'll keep you updated the whole way, so you're never left wondering where things are at.
Get help with your NDIS application
Whether you're a provider with a client who needs help getting onto the NDIS, or you're looking for support for yourself or a loved one, we'd love to hear from you. Email us at info@aimyallied.com.au or give us a call on 0434 762 294 or 0412 894 331.