Funding Eligibility
About Funding Eligibility
Eligibility works differently for each funding scheme. The NDIS has its own disability and age-related access criteria. Aged care programs are accessed through an assessment with My Aged Care. DVA entitlements depend on service history and card type. Medicare care plans depend on a GP’s clinical assessment against set criteria.
There is no single “am I eligible” test that covers all of them. That is a common source of confusion, especially when a person could fit more than one scheme. The reliable way to find out is to go to the body’s own process: the NDIS (1800 800 110), My Aged Care (1800 200 422) or DVA (1800 838 372).
At a glance
- Each scheme has its own eligibility.
- There is no single test that covers all of them.
- A person can fit more than one scheme.
- Ask the scheme directly: NDIS 1800 800 110, My Aged Care 1800 200 422, DVA 1800 838 372.
This is general information, not financial or funding advice. Program names, amounts and eligibility rules change over time. Always confirm current detail with the relevant official body before relying on it.
How to prepare before arranging support
- Work out which schemes could apply to you. More than one may.
- Ask each body through its own process: NDIS on 1800 800 110, My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, DVA on 1800 838 372.
- For a Medicare care plan, ask a GP to assess you against the set criteria.
Information and records to have ready
- Current plan, budget or funding approval
- Service agreement and authority or consent settings
- Invoices, statements and reconciliations
- Written advice, decisions and follow-up actions
Questions to ask a provider
- What is your role, and which decisions remain with the person or funding body?
- What qualifications, registration or relevant scheme experience do you have?
- How are fees calculated and reported against the available budget?
- Do you receive referral fees or offer other services that create a conflict?
- How can records be accessed, errors corrected or the service changed?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Giving broad authority without clear consent limits
- Confusing administration with personal financial or legal advice
- Ignoring conflicts where one organisation controls several services
- Relying on verbal advice without checking current official guidance
Frequently asked questions
Is there one eligibility test for all schemes?
No. Each scheme has its own. Ask the scheme directly: NDIS on 1800 800 110, My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or DVA on 1800 838 372.
Who can confirm what Funding Eligibility means for me?
Ask the relevant funding body. A provider can explain its services and billing, but it cannot make a binding funding decision for the responsible body.
What if the rules or my circumstances change?
Check the current guidance with the relevant funding body, tell your providers promptly and update written agreements or approvals before relying on the changed arrangement.
Official sources
Other Help With Funding topics
Browse providers or explore other funding topics.
Helpful reading
- NDIS jargon explained: the terms you will hear and what they mean: Plans, supports, coordinators, managers, registered providers: a plain-language glossary of the words that come up most often.
- NDIS or My Aged Care: which system supports you?: Two government systems support people with disability and older people. Here is how to think about which one applies and what to do if you are not sure.
- Keeping records of your NDIS supports: a simple system: Good records make plan reviews, claim queries and changes of provider far easier. Here is a light-touch way to keep them.