The Public Trustee and the National Disability Insurance Scheme

What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding for ‘reasonable and necessary’ supports which help people with a disability to:

achieve their goals
become more independent
take part in social and community activities
have the opportunity to enjoy an ordinary life.

To receive support under the NDIS you must:

be registered prior to your 65^th birthday
be an Australian citizen or a Permanent Resident or hold a Protected Special Category Visa
live in an area where the NDIS is available.

The NDIS also helps families and carers with information about services to support people with a disability. Since the NDIS rollout began in July 2016, Queenslanders who are eligible for the NDIS have been moving from state-funded disability services to the national scheme.

What is the role of the Public Trustee as financial manager?

Our financial management clients have access to a personal Trust Officer, who will assist that person with the management of their financial affairs.

We do not manage the funding provided for supports under the NDIS, because these are not part of someone’s personal funds.

What is the Public Trustee’s role in accessing the NDIS?

Step 1: We will send a letter or email to each person (or their assisting person) letting them know:

when the NDIS is due to be rolled out in their region
if we consider that they may be eligible for NDIS services.

Step 2: During the NDIS roll-out, it is up to the person, or their assisting person to phone the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) on 1800 800 110 to find out if they are eligible for the scheme.

The process is:

The person (or their assisting person) makes an access request over the phone
The NDIA will provide a nine-digit NDIS reference number.
The NDIA will mail an Access Request Form to the person to be completed and returned to them. In special circumstances, if there is an urgent need for assessment, the form can be filled out over the phone by the NDIA.
After receiving an Access Request Form, the NDIA will assess eligibility and may request further evidence of residency, age or disability.
If the NDIA decides that the person is eligible for the NDIS, a planning meeting will be arranged to develop an NDIS Plan.

Step 3: Before the NDIS planning meeting, the client (or their assisting person) should contact us to let us know of their meeting date with the NDIS.

Step 4: We will send the client (or their assisting person) a copy of the client’s current budget and account statements for the funds that the Public Trustee help to manage. This information will help determine how the available NDIS funding supports will work with the person’s financial position.

Step 5: The client attends the NDIS planning meeting with their support network or legally appointed guardian. The NDIS planning meeting may happen in person or by phone.

After the meeting, an NDIS support coordinator may be appointed to help the client implement their NDIS plan.

Step 6: The support coordinator, or if no coordinator is appointed, the person’s assisting person, should contact the Public Trustee to ensure the client’s funds are sufficient and appropriate to support the NDIS plan.

Will the Public Trustee help me develop my NDIS plan?

No. This is done by your NDIS planner in consultation with you and your support network.

Further Information

The Public Trustee can only provide general information. The Public Trustee does not warrant that this information is accurate, complete, up-to-date or suitable for any particular use. Funding under the National Disability Insurance Scheme is decided through the National Disability Insurance Agency. Contact the National Disability Insurance Agency on 1800 800 110 to find out more about your situation.