Psychosocial Disability and the NDIS: Who's Eligible
You can get NDIS support for a psychosocial disability if you meet the NDIS age, residence and disability (or early intervention) requirements. The NDIA looks at whether a mental health impairment is likely to be permanent and substantially reduces your ability to do daily activities, not at the diagnosis alone. The NDIS funds disability supports like recovery coaching, not mental health treatment.
What Are the NDIS Requirements?
Age and residence first, then the disability requirements or the early intervention requirements.
You must be younger than 65 when you apply, live in Australia, and be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or hold a protected Special Category visa. To meet the disability requirements, the NDIA needs evidence of all of these:
- Your disability is caused by an impairment
- The impairment is, or is likely to be, permanent
- It substantially reduces your functional capacity in one or more of communicating, socialising, learning, moving around, self-care or self-management
- It affects your ability to work, study or take part in social life
- You'll likely need NDIS supports for your lifetime
How Does the NDIA Look at Mental Health Conditions?
It focuses on the impairment and its effect on daily life. A psychosocial disability can be episodic and still count as permanent.
The NDIA says a psychosocial disability means reduced capacity to do daily tasks and activities because of your mental health, and that it might vary in how much it affects you at different times. Even with periods of smaller impact, you might have the impairment for your lifetime.
It also checks whether there are known, available, appropriate and evidence-based treatments likely to remedy the impairment. Generally, it considers whether an impairment is likely to be permanent after those treatment options have been pursued. Your treating professional is asked to say whether such treatments exist for you.
Looking for a Recovery Coach?
We'll connect you with a registered provider of psychosocial recovery coaching, in person or online.
What Evidence Does the NDIA Need?
A statement from a treating health professional, a functional capacity assessment, and ideally the evidence of psychosocial disability form.
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who can provide it | Treating professionals such as a GP, psychiatrist, psychologist or paediatrician, or specialist staff such as mental health nurses, occupational therapists, social workers and trained mental health peer workers |
| What the statement covers | How long they've worked with you, the mental health condition (a diagnosis helps), treatments tried and not tried with reasons, and how it affects everyday life |
| Functional assessment | Tools such as the Life Skills Profile (LSP-16), HoNOS or WHODAS |
| Form | The NDIA's evidence of psychosocial disability form |
The NDIA prefers evidence from a professional who has usually worked with you for at least 6 months, is the right type of professional for your impairment, and is registered in their field. Our guide to the evidence of psychosocial disability form goes through it section by section.
What Does the NDIS Fund for Psychosocial Disability?
Disability supports that build capacity and help with daily life. Treatment stays with the health system.
The NDIA says it doesn't fund the diagnosis, early intervention or treatment of health conditions, which are funded by the Australian health system. For participants with psychosocial support needs, the support built for them is a psychosocial recovery coach, and plans can include other supports such as support workers or capacity building in daily living, depending on needs.
How Long Does an NDIS Decision Take?
Once your application is complete, the NDIA will tell you the date it has to decide by, which won't be more than 90 days.
If the NDIA asks for more information you have at least 90 days to give it, and then it has 14 days to decide or ask again. If your situation is urgent, for example you're about to leave hospital, tell the NDIA, because it can decide faster. If the answer is no, you can ask for an internal review within 3 months.
Questions People Ask
Can you get the NDIS for mental health?
Yes, if a mental health condition causes a psychosocial disability that meets the NDIS requirements. The NDIA looks at the permanent impact on daily life, not the diagnosis alone.
Does the NDIS pay for a psychologist?
The NDIS doesn't fund treatment of mental health conditions, which is the health system's job. It funds disability supports, such as a psychosocial recovery coach.
Do I need a diagnosis to apply?
A diagnosis is helpful evidence, but the NDIA decides on the impairment and how it affects your daily life. Your treating professional's statement and a functional assessment matter as much.
What if my application is refused?
You can ask the NDIA to explain the decision, then ask for an internal review within 3 months of getting it. You can add new evidence when you do.
Can I get help applying?
Yes. Family, friends, an advocate or your treating team can help, and the NDIA and its partners can help you apply. We don't handle applications, but providers can talk you through what recovery coaching would look like.
Keep Reading
- What is psychosocial disability?What psychosocial disability means, how it differs from a mental health diagnosis, examples of how it can affect daily life, and how the NDIS describes it.
- Evidence of psychosocial disability formThe NDIS evidence of psychosocial disability form explained: who can fill it in, what it must cover, functional assessments, and what happens after you apply.
- Recovery coaching in the NDISHow NDIS recovery coaching works: which budget it comes from, how hours are set, the request for service, self, plan or agency managed, and getting started.
- Getting recovery coaching in your planHow to get a psychosocial recovery coach in your NDIS plan: at planning, through a plan change, the evidence that helps, and what to do if the answer is no.
- What is a recovery coach?A psychosocial recovery coach is an NDIS-funded worker with mental health knowledge who helps you plan, build skills and coordinate supports.
We share your details with one provider at a time, never a list. Privacy policy