Post-Polio Syndrome — NDIS Support
Yes — Post-Polio Syndrome can qualify for NDIS support. PPS is on the NDIA’s List B — permanence is recognised, and you evidence the functional impact on daily life. Funding covers reasonable and necessary supports across daily living, therapy, social participation and capacity building.
Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a neurological condition that affects some people who had poliomyelitis (polio) many years earlier. After an initial recovery, they experience new and progressive muscle weakness, tiredness and pain. It is one of the 'late effects of polio' and can appear even in people…
PPS & the NDIS FAQs
- Is post-polio syndrome eligible for the NDIS?
- Post-polio syndrome is not on NDIS List A, so it is assessed on functional evidence. It can meet the disability requirements when it causes permanent, substantial reduction in functional capacity. An important rule applies: you must have first met NDIS access requirements before turning 65. Many polio survivors are now…
- I'm over 65 — can I still get help?
- If you were not already an NDIS participant before turning 65, you generally access support through My Aged Care rather than the NDIS. This can still include equipment, home modifications and personal care. It is worth speaking with your GP or a local aged-care assessment service about what is available.
- What evidence should I provide?
- Documentation of your original polio, reports from your neurologist or rehabilitation specialist confirming PPS and its permanence, and functional assessments from physiotherapy and occupational therapy showing how new weakness and fatigue affect daily activities.
- Will exercise make post-polio syndrome worse?
- Overusing weakened muscles can worsen symptoms, so the emphasis is on pacing and energy conservation rather than hard training. Supervised, gentle programs guided by a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist help maintain function safely. The NDIS can fund this kind of therapeutic support where it relates to your…
- Can my plan change as the condition progresses?
- Yes. PPS is progressive, so plans are reviewed and can be adjusted as weakness, fatigue or mobility needs increase. You can request a review when you need additional equipment, modifications or personal-care support.
PPS & the NDIS — practical guides
- Applying for the NDIS with Post-Polio Syndrome
- Assistive Technology for Post-Polio Syndrome
- Day Programs & Community Participation for Post-Polio Syndrome
- NDIS Funding & Budget for Post-Polio Syndrome
- Therapy & Allied Health for Post-Polio Syndrome
- Finding & Managing Support Workers for Post-Polio Syndrome
Related conditions
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and the NDIS
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and the NDIS
- Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis) and the NDIS
- Scoliosis (Severe / Neuromuscular) and the NDIS
- Sotos Syndrome and the NDIS
- Spinocerebellar Ataxia and the NDIS
- Sturge-Weber Syndrome and the NDIS
- SYNGAP1-Related Disorder and the NDIS
- Transverse Myelitis and the NDIS
- Younger Onset Dementia and the NDIS
Sources
Reviewed by the Novida editorial team · last reviewed 2026-07-12. General information only — not medical advice.