StrokeLine tips for accessing NDIS

As carer for my wife Rosa; we have had varying experiences with NDIS.Your tips for accessing NDIS are a correct pathway. Our experience is that you must also have a good and understanding Local Area Co-ordinator PLUS you need an advocate to assist with the myriad of confusing "rubbish" that is expressed through any of the NDIS contacts. It was on very rare occasions that a NDIS representative/consultant had the patience, time and Experience to assist our particular problem.

 The First year of NDIS "benefits"  we lodged a review. Result; nothing. Second year,annivesary;after L.A.C 'assistance to review my wife's situation; Result lodged another review with NDIS due to a number of inconsistences initiated by the L.A.C. Still waiting! Strangely some applicants get a satisfied outcome. Guarantee that their situation was straight forward and easy to assess.  Know that I have a "problem" with NDIS and presented an outline of our experiences at the Stroke Forum NSW earlier this year. Judith Thornley may still have the relevant "experiences" presented at that meeting.

From Pip

I’ve had a very good experience with the NDIS 
I had a great project manager, -which certainly helped -but I had also done lots of homework before hand. I work out exactly what I wanted and what I needed to achieve for goals for that following year with the help from my therapists. I found out the prices. And collected quotes from my Nurophysiotherapist and Occupational Therapist. I got them to write out a plan for me for the year , listing what my goals are and what I was hoping to achieve by the end of the NDIS year. I’m getting them to write another plan for the following year showing what I achieved in this year what I didn’t and why I may or may not achieved the following year.
I invited them to also attend my plan meeting to really show their relationship in this plan.It also showed my project manager from the NDIS that I had a great team behind me and I was very motivated to do well.
I did not want the NDIS to have control of my plan but I didn’t want to have my brother pay all the accounts I would receive, ( he works full time and does already so much for me) or get different Carers to do this. (I’m Not good yet on numbers or trying to set up payments) So we organised an organisation called Myplanmanager to pay the accounts. Providers just send them a photo from their phone or email the invoice to them,then they confirm with me that this service occurred and that I’m happy they can pay it at said price from my money pool. I can track my spending instantly so I know exactly where I am. ( or should I say my brother knows exactly how much I’ve got left to budget on) This has worked very well and I have no complaints at all from any of my providers about payment delays or disputes. Yes it costs a small monthly fee but totally worth it and my plan pays for this. This gives me the flexibility of choosing what providers I want to go to, how often and at what price I’m willing to pay. (Some providers- as soon as you say you’re on the NDIS - they up their fees so you have to get the price organised before you even mention NDIS)

I also have Carers and went through an agency to have them ,but soon realised that I was spending half of my money per hour on the agencies Administration costs which was exorbitant and I’m still trying to work out what admin they did for that price. So then I asked the Carers if they would get their own insurance and send me there invoice directly- we agreed to a set rate that was better than the agency they make sure they do their own training e.g. lifting manual handling and we are all happy. They’re making a bit more money and I’m saving the NDIS heaps
I have had a brilliant project planner and I am getting her to do my next one too. 

The NDIS to me has been the best thing in assisting me to get on with my life post stroke and recovery/acceptance. But I also say be realistic in what your asking for help in, don’t be greedy and expect everything. There is a lot of people wanting a slice of the pie, it can only go so far.

I just got rejected today. They said not enough functional impairment shown. 

My public Hospital OT refused to submit an assessment - and I think this absence was ‘felt’ by the Application. My application included letter from Psychiatrist meeting standards required, form completed by Hospital Rehabilitation Dr, and form completed (on functionality) by Clinical Psychologist. The process is being managed by an NDIS co-ordinator. The Co-ordinator said I can appeal and need to include a Neurologist Report, a Cognitive Assessment and an OT Assessment. I can’t afford the additional Therapist reports (on DSP). I feel despondent. Any advice?