The first and most important bit of information is that the latest NDIS Quarterly Report was wrong – the low cost, low risk threshold for Assistive Technology has NOT been raised to $5000. It remains $1500.

But then the good news. There IS a new process for aids and equipment priced between $1500 and $5000.

Planners can include funding for nine items that cost under $5000 without going through the whole “quote required” hoopla.

That means once you have that line item in your budget, you can go and purchase that item without further NDIA approval.

That should help speed things up – which is great.

Unfortunately the NDIS news item attempting to explain the changes doesn’t list the nine categories which are included (Note to NDIA – putting all the relevant info in one spot is super helpful. Please please please get onto it.)

UDPATE: The news item on the NDIS website has been updated after a bunch of us asked them for more information. They list the nine categories as:

• Assistive Products And Accessories Relating To Prosthetics And Orthotics
• Assistive Products And Accessories For Personal Care, Hygiene, Beds 
• Assistive Products Relating To Vehicles And Transport Safety
• Assistive Products And Accessories Relating To Personal Mobility Or Transfer
• Assistive Products And Accessories Relating To Participating In Household Tasks
• Assistive Products And Accessories Relating To Home Modification And Access
• Assistive Products And Accessories Supporting Comms And Information Needs
• Assistive Products Relating To Vision
• Assistive Products Relating To Recreation And Sport

It’s probably helpful to remember to give the planner some evidence as to why you need that particular item to make sure it is approved as “reasonable and necessary” in the first place.

Read more

Clarification on assistance technology support under $5,000 – NDIA