How do I know if I'm eligible for the NDIS?

You are likely eligible if you meet the age and residence requirements and either the disability or early intervention requirements. In plain terms, that usually means being under 65 when you apply, living in Australia with the right residence status, and having a permanent and significant disability that affects everyday life. The best way to check is the access checklist on ndis.gov.au.

Is there an age limit for the NDIS?

Yes. You generally need to be under 65 when you make your access request. If you are 65 or over, aged care services are usually the pathway rather than the NDIS. There are also specific arrangements for young children through early childhood supports. For the current details, check ndis.gov.au or the NDIS Our Guidelines.

Does my diagnosis decide whether I'm eligible?

Not on its own. The NDIS focuses on the functional impact of your disability, meaning how it affects everyday activities like moving around, communicating, learning and self-care. Two people with the same diagnosis can have very different needs. Your diagnosis is relevant evidence, but what matters most is showing how your condition affects your daily life and whether that is likely to be permanent.

Can my child access the NDIS?

Possibly. Young children with developmental delay or disability may be able to access support through the early intervention pathway, which focuses on getting help early to reduce the impact over time. There are dedicated early childhood arrangements for young children. Evidence from your child's treating professionals helps the NDIA understand their needs. Check ndis.gov.au for how the early childhood approach works.

What is early intervention?

Early intervention is a pathway into the NDIS based on getting supports in place now to reduce the future impact of a disability or developmental delay. It recognises that timely help can build skills and independence and reduce the need for supports later. It is especially relevant for young children, but can also apply to older children and adults in some situations.

What evidence do I need to apply?

You generally need evidence from your treating professionals, such as your doctor, specialists or therapists, describing your disability and how it affects everyday life. Strong evidence explains the functional impact of your condition, what support you need, and whether that need is likely to be lifelong. Gathering clear, up-to-date information before you apply helps the NDIA understand your situation accurately.

What can I do if I'm found not eligible?

You have options. You can ask the NDIA to review the decision and provide further evidence to support your case, as there is a formal review process. It is also worth checking that your original evidence fully captured your needs. If the NDIS is not the right fit, mainstream and community supports through health, aged care and other services may still be able to help.

Am I eligible for the NDIS?

The access requirements — age, residence and the disability or early intervention rules — and how they’re assessed.

Working out whether you can access the NDIS comes down to a few clear requirements: your age, your residence, and either the disability requirements or the early intervention requirements. The scheme looks closely at how your condition affects your everyday life, not just the name of a diagnosis.

This guide explains the access requirements in plain English so you can get a sense of whether the NDIS may be for you. Novida is an independent NDIS directory, so use this as a starting point, and always confirm the current rules through ndis.gov.au and the NDIS Our Guidelines.

In this guide

You generally need to be under 65 when you apply, and meet residence requirements.
You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a protected special category visa, and live in Australia.
You meet either the disability requirements or the early intervention requirements, including developmental delay in young children.
Eligibility is about the functional impact of your disability, supported by evidence from treating professionals.
You can check eligibility using the access checklist, and there are options if you are found not to be eligible.

The access requirements in plain English

To access the NDIS you need to meet a set of access requirements. In plain terms, there are three parts: an age requirement, a residence requirement, and a disability or early intervention requirement. You need to meet the age and residence requirements, and then meet either the disability requirements or the early intervention requirements.

The overall focus is on how your disability affects your ability to take part in everyday life. The NDIS is interested in the practical impact of your condition, such as how it affects moving around, communicating, self-care, learning, or taking part in social and community life.

Because these are the official criteria set by the NDIA, the best place to confirm the current requirements is ndis.gov.au and the NDIS Our Guidelines. This guide gives you the plain-English picture so you know what to expect.

Age and residence

The age requirement is that you need to be under 65 when you make your access request. If you are 65 or over, other supports through the aged care system are generally the pathway rather than the NDIS. There are separate pathways for young children, covered below under early intervention.

The residence requirement is about your connection to Australia. You need to live in Australia and be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or the holder of a protected special category visa. These categories describe your legal status in the country.

If you are unsure about your residence status or how it applies to you, it is worth checking the details on ndis.gov.au before you apply, as this can affect whether you can access the scheme.

The disability requirements

The disability requirements focus on a permanent and significant disability. 'Permanent' means your disability is likely to be lifelong, and 'significant' means it has a substantial impact on your ability to carry out everyday activities.

The NDIA looks at how your disability affects areas of daily life such as moving around, communicating, socialising, learning and looking after yourself. The question is whether you usually need support from another person or from equipment because of your disability, and whether that need is likely to continue.

This is why the NDIS is often described as looking at function rather than diagnosis. Two people with the same condition may have very different day-to-day needs, and it is the impact on everyday life that matters most for meeting the disability requirements.

Early intervention

Some people can access the NDIS through the early intervention requirements. Early intervention is about getting supports in place now to reduce the impact of a disability or developmental delay over time, and to build a person's skills and independence.

This pathway is especially relevant for young children. A child with developmental delay may be able to access support even before the longer-term picture is fully clear, because acting early can make a meaningful difference. There are dedicated arrangements for young children that focus on early childhood supports.

For older children and adults, early intervention can apply where getting supports now is likely to benefit the person by reducing their future need for supports. As always, the specific criteria are set by the NDIA and published at ndis.gov.au and in the NDIS Our Guidelines.

How eligibility is assessed

When you apply, the NDIA looks at evidence about your disability and how it affects your everyday life. This usually comes from your treating professionals, such as your doctor or specialists, therapists or other health workers who know your situation.

Good evidence describes your diagnosis where relevant, but it also explains the functional impact of your condition: what you can and cannot do, what support you need, and whether that need is likely to be lifelong. Clear, specific information from people who know you well tends to be the most useful.

The NDIA uses this evidence to decide whether you meet the access requirements. It is worth taking time to gather strong, up-to-date information before you apply, as this helps the agency understand your situation accurately.

What if I'm not eligible

Not everyone who applies will meet the access requirements, and that does not mean you are without options. If you disagree with a decision, you can ask the NDIA to review it. There is a formal process for reviewing access decisions, and you can provide further evidence to support your case.

It is also worth making sure your evidence was as complete as possible. Sometimes an application does not fully capture the impact of a disability, and clearer information from treating professionals can change the picture.

If the NDIS is not the right fit, mainstream and community supports may still help. Services through the health, mental health, aged care and community sectors can provide assistance outside the NDIS. To get started, you can use the eligibility information and access checklist on ndis.gov.au, and directories like Novida can help you find supports in your area.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I'm eligible for the NDIS?: You are likely eligible if you meet the age and residence requirements and either the disability or early intervention requirements. In plain terms, that usually means being under 65 when you apply, living in Australia with the right residence status, and having a permanent and significant disability that affects everyday life. The best way to check is the access checklist on ndis.gov.au.
Is there an age limit for the NDIS?: Yes. You generally need to be under 65 when you make your access request. If you are 65 or over, aged care services are usually the pathway rather than the NDIS. There are also specific arrangements for young children through early childhood supports. For the current details, check ndis.gov.au or the NDIS Our Guidelines.
What are the residence requirements?: To meet the residence requirement you need to live in Australia and be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or the holder of a protected special category visa. These categories describe your legal status in the country. If you are unsure how your status applies, it is worth confirming the details on ndis.gov.au before you apply.
Does my diagnosis decide whether I'm eligible?: Not on its own. The NDIS focuses on the functional impact of your disability, meaning how it affects everyday activities like moving around, communicating, learning and self-care. Two people with the same diagnosis can have very different needs. Your diagnosis is relevant evidence, but what matters most is showing how your condition affects your daily life and whether that is likely to be permanent.
Can my child access the NDIS?: Possibly. Young children with developmental delay or disability may be able to access support through the early intervention pathway, which focuses on getting help early to reduce the impact over time. There are dedicated early childhood arrangements for young children. Evidence from your child's treating professionals helps the NDIA understand their needs. Check ndis.gov.au for how the early childhood approach works.
What is early intervention?: Early intervention is a pathway into the NDIS based on getting supports in place now to reduce the future impact of a disability or developmental delay. It recognises that timely help can build skills and independence and reduce the need for supports later. It is especially relevant for young children, but can also apply to older children and adults in some situations.
What evidence do I need to apply?: You generally need evidence from your treating professionals, such as your doctor, specialists or therapists, describing your disability and how it affects everyday life. Strong evidence explains the functional impact of your condition, what support you need, and whether that need is likely to be lifelong. Gathering clear, up-to-date information before you apply helps the NDIA understand your situation accurately.
What can I do if I'm found not eligible?: You have options. You can ask the NDIA to review the decision and provide further evidence to support your case, as there is a formal review process. It is also worth checking that your original evidence fully captured your needs. If the NDIS is not the right fit, mainstream and community supports through health, aged care and other services may still be able to help.

Explore more NDIS resources

Official NDIS sources

Novida is an independent directory, not the NDIA. We explain each form in plain English and link you to the official copy — always download and submit the current version from the official website, as forms are updated from time to time.