FAQs

What does NDIS stand for?

The NDIS stands for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and is a new way of providing support to
Australians with a disability. Under the NDIS, funding will be allocated to the person with a disability.

What does NDIA stand for?

The NDIA stands for the National Disability Insurance Agency and is the government agency that is bringing the NDIS to Australia. The NDIA sets the rules about the NDIS and approves your NDIS plan funding.

Who do I contact to discuss my NDIS transition at Mobo Group?

Contact the Mobo Group NDIS Project Officer on 08 8130 1800 or via email at: [email protected] for support with everything NDIS.

How do I prepare for my NDIS Planning Meeting?

Complete the NDIS Planning Workbook.
Have a conversation with your current disability service providers. Ask your providers for a letter to bring to your NDIS planning meeting which states the exact supports you receive from them. Mobo Group will provide you with a letter to take to your planning meeting.
Start thinking about your short term and long term goals. How can you become more independent in your everyday life? How can NDIS funding help you to achieve your goals?
Practice using the words “reasonable” and “necessary” to explain the disability services that you require.

Where will my NDIS planning meeting be held?

Your NDIS Planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) will call you to arrange a time and location to hold your NDIS planning meeting. It is recommended that an advocate is present during the planning meeting. You can decide which option is best for your situation.

The meeting can be held:

At an NDIA Office or Local Area Coordinator Office.
In your home or workplace.
In a public place eg café.
Over the phone.

How can I protect my personal details from scammers?

The NDIA will never threaten to cancel your NDIS Plan if you do not provide your personal details by phone. The NDIA will never ask you for your bank details over the phone. If you are unsure about whether a person calling you is from the NDIA, ask for their name and call the NDIA back on 1800 800 110.

If you believe it is a scam please report it to [email protected] or call 1800 800 110. The NDIA will be able to confirm whether the caller was a scam.

What is a Local Area Coordinator (LAC)?

A Local Area Coordinator is a person who works for an organisation who has partnered with the NDIS to

deliver Local Area Coordination Services across an area.

Your Local Area Coordinator will help you to transition to the NDIS by helping you to:

Understand the NDIS
Access the NDIS
Create your first NDIS Plan
Understand your NDIS Plan and link you to community services.
Review your NDIS Plan.

Who will be my Local Area Coordinator?

The National Disability Insurance Agency has collaborated with three organisations to deliver Local Area
Coordination Services across South Australia. Your Local Area Coordinator will work for one of these
organisations.

Feros Care – To deliver services to participants living in the Barossa, Light & Lower North and Northern Adelaide.
Baptcare - To deliver services to participants living in Western Adelaide, Eastern Adelaide and Yorke and Mid North Service Areas.
Mission Australia - To deliver services to participants living in the Limestone Coast, Murray and Mallee, Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island, Southern Adelaide, Eyre Western and Far North Service Areas.

What does "reasonable and necessary" mean?

The NDIS funds reasonable and necessary supports to help a person with a disability reach their goals.
“Reasonable” means something that is fair. “Necessary” means something you must have.
In your NDIS planning meeting, it is a great idea to use these words to explain why you need your
disability support services to achieve your goals and increase your independence.

What is the Myplace Participant Portal?

The Myplace Participant Portal is a secure website for participants to view their plans and manage their
services with providers. Myplace is a secure portal on the myGov website, so you will require a myGov
account to sign in. Your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) will explain how you can set up and use the
Myplace Participant Portal.

On the online portal, participants can:

Create and view Service Bookings.
View contact details.
View messages from the NDIS.
View referrals made for you.
Instant message with your linked providers.
Upload required documents.
Locate Service Providers.
View upcoming events.

What does "Capacity Building" mean?

The NDIS is designed to help people with a disability build their capacity. This means there is the aim for people with a disability to develop skills and confidence so they are able to achieve their goals.

Example of Capacity Building: Lisa has a goal of keeping her unit clean and tidy. Lisa uses her NDIS funding to engage a support worker to teach her how to clean her unit. The support worker comes over to Lisa’s house every Friday morning to help Lisa clean her unit. Lisa builds her capacity to clean her unit, which means Lisa’s cleaning skills improve.

Who are my informal supports?

Your informal supports are the people in your life who are not paid to provide you with support.

Examples of informal supports include family members, neighbours, friends and other people in your local community.

Example of an informal support: Sally’s mother wakes Sally up at 7am, cooks her breakfast and drives her to work on Monday morning. Sally’s mother does not get paid for supporting Sally, therefore Sally’s mother is an informal support.

Who are my formal supports?

Your formal supports are people who are paid to provide you with a support or service. Examples of formal supports include a carer/support worker, physiotherapist, speech pathologist and psychologist. The NDIS can provide you with funding to pay for formal supports that will help you to achieve your goals.

Example of a formal support: A support worker comes to John’s house and helps John to cook a healthy meal in his kitchen. John’s support worker does get paid for supporting him, therefore John’s support worker is a formal support.

Why is it called the "National Disability Insurance Scheme"? What does "insurance" mean?

The reason the word "insurance" is in the NDIS title is because the NDIS takes a lifetime approach. This means that when you become an NDIS participant, you will continue receiving your NDIS funding for the rest of your life. The NDIS provides funding to people with a disability to pay for supports and services that will improve their skills and independence.

You do not need to pay any personal money to the NDIS. The NDIS will never ask you for your money or your bankcard details.

Can I receive transport funding from the NDIS?

The NDIS has stated that transport funding may be allocated to participants who are unable to drive or catch public transport due to their disability. Your Centrelink mobility allowance will stop when you have an approved NDIS Plan. Be sure to provide all the relevant information during your NDIS planning meeting to support your need for transport funding in your NDIS Plan.

Will the NDIS pay for my ticket to go to a football game or concert?

The NDIS will not pay for any tickets to social events that are not disability specific. This is because the NDIS does not provide funding for everyday costs and social activities that the broader community would pay for themselves. The NDIS will pay for the time of a support worker to attend the event with you. This funding will come under the line item “Assistance to access community, social and recreational activities” in your NDIS Plan.

Example:

Sarah is an adult with an NDIS Plan. One of Sarah’s NDIS goals is to increase her independence when participating in community events. Sarah would like to go to the Pink concert but is not able to attend by herself due to her disability. Sarah decides to engage a support worker to help her achieve this goal. Sarah is matched with a support worker, who also likes Pink, to attend the concert with her. Sarah pays for her own ticket and the support worker pays for her own ticket. After the concert, the support worker drives Sarah home. The support worker is paid for the time she spent with Sarah with the funding in Sarah’s NDIS Plan.

How long will I be waiting to receive my NDIS plan after my NDIS planning meeting?

After your NDIS planning meeting, your NDIS plan will be sent to an NDIA delegate to approve your NDIS funding. The waiting time can vary depending on the complexity of the supports and services you require. If you have been waiting over 3 weeks after your planning meeting and you have not received your NDIS plan, contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110.

What is Support Coordination?

There is an NDIS funded service called ‘Support Coordination’, which can provide you with help to understand and use the funding in your NDIS Plan. A Support Coordinator can assist you to:

Build your understanding on the support services that you can receive using your NDIS funding.
Find the right providers to deliver the supports you require.
Contact the providers to plan meeting times.

Example: Mike has an intellectual disability and requires assistance to plan the supports and services he requires. He explains his difficulties in his NDIS planning meeting and receives an NDIS plan with funding for “Support Coordination”. Mike’s Local Area Coordinator (LAC) helps Mike to select a Support Coordinator from a list of providers. The Support Coordinator explains to Mike how he can use the different funding groups that are stated in the NDIS plan. Mike decides the services he would like to receive and the Support Coordinator contacts the providers and organises some introduction meetings. Mike pays for this support with his NDIS funding.

Can the NDIS funding pay for a cleaning service for my house?

The NDIS can fund cleaning and gardening services if you are unable to complete these tasks due to your disability. These services are funded under the registration group called “Assist Personal Activities”.

Example: Joanna has a physical disability, which means she is unable to easily move around her house and garden without assistance. Therefore Joanna has great difficulty completing her housework and gardening. Joanna explains this difficulty in her NDIS planning meeting and she receives an NDIS plan with funding to pay for a cleaning and gardening service. Joanna organises a cleaner once a week and a gardener once a month and pays for these services with her NDIS funding.

Can I pay a family member with my NDIS Funding to be my support worker?

No, you cannot use your NDIS funding to pay your family members or friends to provide you with a disability support or service. If your NDIS plan is self-managed or plan managed, you have the flexibility to choose providers that are not NDIS registered providers to deliver your supports and services. However, this does not include family members. A provider needs to have an ABN and approved to deliver services to people with a disability. If your NDIS plan is agency managed, you can only choose NDIS registered providers to deliver your supports and services.

Will my NDIS planning meeting be held over the phone?

Your NDIS planning meeting will not be held over the phone unless you request it. NDIS planning meetings were conducted over the phone in 2017 but that has now stopped. Your planning meeting will be held face-to-face with an NDIA representative or a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) at the location of your choice. You can invite others to your planning meeting to support you.

Example: Sally receives a phone call from a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) to organise her NDIS planning meeting. Sally is asked what day, time and location works best with her schedule. Sally communicates that she wants to have her planning meeting on Wednesday afternoon at her house because that is Sally’s day off from work. Sally also explains she would like her mother and her support worker in the planning meeting because they will help to explain the supports and services that Sally requires. The LAC books in the appointment and records the information from Sally.

What is a service agreement?

A service agreement is a document that a service provider will ask you to sign when you have an approved NDIS Plan. The service agreement will explain the supports/services you will receive from the provider and how much funding will be used from your NDIS plan. The service agreement will also explain how you can make a complaint and how you can leave the provider. A staff member, yourself and/or your advocate will sign the service agreement to confirm that everyone understands the service that will be provided and the costs involved.

What happens if my NDIS plan funding runs out?

You will receive an NDIS Plan that is valid for at least 12 months. You will work with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) to plan how to spend your NDIS funding over 12 months. If you use the funding before the end of 12 months then you should contact your LAC to receive assistance. You may be told to wait until you receive your next NDIS plan with new funding. Therefore, it is a good idea to plan how to spend your NDIS funding over the 12 months so you do not run out of funding before you have received your next NDIS Plan.

If you receive your NDIS Plan and know the funding is not enough to cover 12 months, then you should contact your LAC immediately as you will need to apply for a plan review.

My NDIS Plan is going to end in a few months, should I contact the NDIA?

Yes, you should call the NDIA on 1800 800 110 if your NDIS Plan is going to end in 2-3 months. The NDIA will notify your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) to alert them to organise your plan review meeting.

Example: Mel calls the NDIA on 1800 800 110 to explain that her NDIS Plan is going to end in 2 months. The NDIA staff thank Mel for notifying them and say that a LAC will call Mel to organise a plan review meeting.

What is an NDIS plan review meeting?

Your NDIS plan review meeting should be organised before the end of your current 12 month NDIS plan. This meeting will be with your LAC or an NDIS representative and can be in the location of your choice. The plan review meeting will look at your funding in your NDIS Plan and discuss how the funding assisted you to work towards greater independence in your daily life and achieve your goals. Your review meeting is an opportunity for you to ask for increased supports and services in your life and explain why you need them. You can bring along further supporting evidence to this meeting, including reports from your doctor, psychologist, physiotherapist, housing manager etc. After your plan review meeting, you will receive a new NDIS Plan valid for the next 12 months.

Example: Andy attends his NDIS plan review meeting at his LAC’s office. Andy’s LAC asks him many questions about how the past 12 months has been with his NDIS funding in his plan. Andy explains that the funding has assisted him to maintain his job and build his skills in keeping his unit clean. Andy goes on to say that he has started feeling lonely and his disability is limiting his ability to go out in the community on his own. Andy provides a letter from his psychologist confirming feelings of loneliness and isolation. Andy explains that his new goal is to increase his participation in the community. The planner discusses with Andy how the NDIS could fund a support worker to help Andy to attend community events and Andy thinks this is a great idea. The LAC records this information and sends it to the NDIA for approval. Andy now waits for his new NDIS Plan to arrive in the post.

Do I receive a new NDIS Plan after 12 months?

Yes, you will receive a new NDIS Plan after your first NDIS Plan has ended after 12 months. Your new NDIS Plan will have a new set of funding to be used over the next 12 months to achieve your goals.

Can the NDIS pay for my Gym Membership?

The NDIS will not pay for your gym membership. If your NDIS goal is to increase your health and fitness, the NDIS may fund a support worker to attend the gym with you to assist you to understand gym equipment and ensure your safety. Be sure to discuss this in your planning meeting if you are interested in attending the gym and require support.

Example: Jane is a NDIS participant and discusses in her NDIS planning meeting that she would like to improve her health and fitness. She explains she is interested in joining a gym that is close to her home but would like some assistance. The Local Area Coordinator (LAC) explains that the NDIS will not pay for Jane’s gym membership but the NDIS will pay a support worker to support Jane at the gym. Jane understands that she will need to pay for the gym membership herself and thinks it will be a good idea to have a support worker to encourage and assist her at the gym.

Can Mobo Group supply me with equipment?

Mobo Group does not supply or provide equipment. The NDIS provides funding for equipment to be purchased by NDIS participants for use in their home, workplace and outside community. Be sure to discuss your need for equipment in your NDIS planning meeting if you require equipment due to your disability.

Example: Daniel is a supported employee and has trouble sitting for long periods of time due to his disability. Daniel discusses this in his NDIS planning meeting and explains he would like a standing desk at his workplace to increase his ability to complete his work. When Daniel receives his NDIS Plan, the NDIS pays an Occupational Therapist (OT) to complete an assessment for Daniel. The OT sends a quote for a standing desk to the NDIA, which is approved and Daniel receives funding to pay for a standing desk in his workplace.

I have received a phone call from Australian Healthcare Associates asking me to complete a survey about the NDIS. Is this a scam?

This is not a scam. Australian Healthcare Associates are an external organisation that are conducting a survey on behalf of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). The survey involves asking questions about your life to explore whether NDIS funding has made a positive impact on your life. The survey is completed over the phone and will take approximately 45 minutes. The survey does not replace your NDIS planning meeting or plan review meeting. The survey will not affect your current NDIS funding. Participation in this survey is not compulsory. It is your choice whether you participate in the survey or not.

If you receive any contact about the NDIS which you find suspicious or makes you feel uncomfortable, please speak to your advocate and call the NDIA on 1800 800 110 to report the issue. Please speak to the Mobo Group staff if you need further assistance and support.

I have booked my NDIS plan review meeting. What documents do I need to take to the meeting?

Your NDIS Plan review meeting should be organised before your current NDIS plan expires. Call the NDIA to organise your plan review meeting. Once your meeting is booked, ask your providers to give you a progress report or a letter explaining the supports you have been receiving and if they will continue in the upcoming year. Additionally, gather supporting evidence and reports if you require funding for supports you have not previously received. This include reports from your doctor, physiotherapist, psychologist etc.

Please notify the staff at Mobo Group if you have booked your plan review meeting and we will give you a letter to take to the meeting. This letter explains that you require funding in your plan to continue receiving supports from Mobo Group.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Site Location:
Mobo Group - Hindmarsh (Head Office)
Unit 2, 11 Ridley Street Hindmarsh SA 5007

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