Not eligible for the NDIS? Discover self-funded care options

Key takeaways

• Not being on the NDIS doesn’t mean you, or a person you care for, need to go without support.
• A person may not have active NDIS funding because they’re not eligible, are waiting for funding, were 65 or older when they applied, or prefer to self-fund support.
• Disability support care can be arranged privately through Mable with no waitlist or referral.
• Through Mable, people with disability can connect with independent support workers for social support, independent living, personal care, nursing and allied health.
• People who are 65 or older may be able to access support through the aged care system, or arrange support privately through Mable.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is the Australian Government’s funding system for eligible Australians younger than 65 with disability.

Finding out you’re not eligible, waiting for a decision or trying to work out another support pathway can feel stressful, especially when you or someone you care for needs support right now.

If you, or the person you care for, aren’t receiving NDIS funding, that doesn’t mean you need to go without support. There are other disability support care options available, including self-funded care through Mable.

This guide is for people who:

• Have had an NDIS access request declined
• Are waiting for an NDIS decision or plan approval
• Were 65 or older when they applied and now need to explore aged care support
• Know about the NDIS but have chosen not to apply
• Prefer to arrange support privately so they can arrange support sooner and have more choice over who provides it.

Whatever brought you to this point, there are ways to arrange support that suits your needs, preferences and circumstances.

Why might someone not be on the NDIS?

There are several reasons why a person with disability may not have NDIS funding:

NDIS ineligibility

To access the NDIS, a person needs to meet eligibility requirements, which includes the age requirement, residency requirement, and disability or early intervention requirement. Not everyone with disability will meet all three requirements.

While you consider your next steps, you may still need support in place. Through Mable, you can self-fund support and choose independent support workers who suit your needs, preferences and routine during this time.

Waiting for a decision or plan activation

Some people have applied for the NDIS and are waiting to find out whether they meet the eligibility criteria. Others may have been told they are eligible but are waiting for their plan to be approved and funded.

This waiting period may feel uncertain, especially if everyday routines are becoming harder to manage. Through Mable, you can arrange private support during this period, which may help bridge the gap while your NDIS application or plan approval is still underway.

The NDIS age threshold

The NDIS has an age limit. A person must be younger than 65 when they make an access request. If you’re 65 or older when you apply, you will usually be directed to My Aged Care instead.

My Aged Care can assess people for aged care support through programs such as the Commonwealth Home Support Program or the Support at Home Program. Depending on your needs and assessment outcome, this may include help at home, personal care, transport, nursing, allied health, equipment or other services.

If a person was already an NDIS participant before they turned 65, they can choose to stay with the NDIS or move to aged care support. This is the person’s choice and isn’t automatic.

Personal choice

Some people with disability choose not to apply for the NDIS, even if they may be eligible. This is an increasingly common choice. Some people may choose self-funded care instead because they want to arrange support sooner, have more direct control, or avoid a lengthy NDIS application and approval process.

What disability support options are available outside the NDIS?

If you’re not on the NDIS, there are two main support pathways to explore.

State, territory and community supports

While the NDIS is the main government system for disability funding, there are other government and community sector supports for people who are not eligible for the NDIS. These supports vary depending on where you live, your age, your circumstances and the type of support needed.

They may include mainstream services, community organisations, peer groups, local council services or other government-funded programs. An NDIS partner may also be able to help you connect with community and mainstream supports.

Self-funded disability support care through Mable

Self-funded care through Mable allows you to access quick and flexible disability support care without an application, waitlist or referral. There are also no eligibility requirements or age limits.

You, or someone supporting you, can arrange and pay for support directly. You can compare independent support workers by reviewing their profiles, including their indicative rates, qualifications, interests, reviews and experience. Mable does not set the rate for support services on the Mable platform. You discuss and agree on rates with individual support workers.

What self-funded care can you access through Mable?

Through Mable, people who self-fund their care can choose from a wide variety of disability support services. The right mix of support will depend on your needs, routines and goals, or those of the person you support.

Mable’s 70+ search filters make it easier to find independent support workers with specific skills, experience, interests, languages and personal qualities so you can find the right fit.

Support services available through Mable include:

Social support and independent living

Social support and independent living support may help with everyday routines, community participation and staying connected. Support workers offering these services through Mable usually don’t require clinical qualifications. They can help people with disability keep doing the things that matter to them and feel more connected to their community.

This could include:

• Help with housework or preparing meals
• Support with shopping, attending appointments or social activities
• Companionship by taking part in the person’s hobbies and interests.

Personal care

Personal care focuses on help with day-to-day activities and daily routines that may support comfort, safety and dignity. Independent support workers providing personal care through Mable must have relevant qualifications or experience, which Mable verifies before they can offer these services through the platform in accordance with the Mable Verification Policy.

Types of personal care may include:

• Showering
• Dressing and grooming
• Toileting
• Exercise assistance.

Nursing care

For a person with disability, nursing care can offer clinical support at home, helping them feel more reassured and supported while managing ongoing, changing or complex health needs. Through Mable, nurses must hold current Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration as a Registered Nurse or Enrolled Nurse before offering nursing services. They must also provide professional or character references, which are obtained by Mable.

Nursing services may include:

• Vital signs monitoring, such as blood pressure and temperature checks
• Continence assessment and management
• Respiratory care, including support with respiratory devices and breathing needs.

Allied health

Depending on the person’s needs, allied health support may help with daily living, mobility, communication, emotional wellbeing, therapy goals or building independence at home and in the community. All allied health professionals offering services through Mable must hold relevant professional registrations. These are verified before they can offer services through Mable.

Allied health support available through Mable may include:

• Occupational therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Psychology
• Speech pathology.

How does self-funded care through Mable work?

Self-funded support through Mable is designed to be simple and transparent. It involves a 3-step process:

Step 1. Connect with a support worker

You can sign up for free and either post a job ad with details of the support you’d like, or browse local independent support worker profiles directly.

Support worker profiles include qualifications, reviews, interests, experience and indicative rates. You can use filters to find support workers with the skills and experience that match the support you need. This can help you compare workers before making contact.

Step 2. Book a session

Once you’ve found someone who may be the right fit, you can agree on the job details directly with them. This includes the support required, hourly rate, session timing and location. You may also like to arrange a meet and greet session to ask more questions and get a sense of their support style before booking.

Every support session booked through Mable includes safeguards, such as verification and support worker insurance that covers the support worker’s actions while providing care.

Step 3. Manage ongoing support

You can schedule sessions, manage bookings and make payments by credit card or direct debit, all in one place. Invoices are available in your account at any time. This gives you choice and control over who provides support, when support happens and where it takes place. You also have transparency over rates and fees from the beginning.

Access disability support without NDIS funding

If you don’t have NDIS funding, are still waiting for it or prefer not to apply, that doesn’t mean you have to work everything out alone. It may simply mean exploring a different way to arrange the disability support care you need.

There are pathways that may help you feel more supported and in control. Through Mable, you can sign up for free now and browse independent support worker profiles for workers with experience supporting people with disability in your area

If you’re a person with disability aged 65 or older, you could explore your aged care options. This may include applying for funding through the Support at Home Program or the Commonwealth Home Support Program, or paying privately for support through Mable.