Letters from Department of Communities, Disability Services, and Seniors RE NDIS

Dear QDN Members

QDN is sending out this information to our QDN members and their supporters in the areas where the NDIS rolls out from 1 July 2018. QDN wants to update members and their families and carers following on from the information we sent out to members in an E-blast on 23 January 2018.

Letters from Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors

QDN understands that people with disability have received a letter from the Queensland Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors to give you information to help you prepare to transition to the NDIS. The letter talks about:

• Once the NDIS is rolled out in each area, all eligible people will only be able to access their disability supports through the NDIS;
• If you currently receive services from Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors, they have passed on your contact details to the NDIA so they can write to you and then phone you to talk about the next steps.

It is important that people with disability and their supporters know that when the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) calls you for the first time, the NDIA will want to check your eligibility and if you are eligible – they will ask you if you say yes to being an NDIS participant.

The NDIA Access Team may call when it is not convenient for you to speak with the person or you may want someone with you when you do, as a support. If this is the case, let them know you DEFINETELY WANT to be part of the NDIS and ask them to call you back at a time that suits you both. Do not just say Not now, maybe later – it can be taken to mean you are not interested in being part of the NDIS.

If you are currently getting services from the Department of Communities, Disability Services or Community Care programs, it is important that you say yes to becoming an NDIS participant when they call you as your funding from Disability Services and Community Care will not continue after your area moves over to the NDIS.

Please note that current funded services (from Department) will continue until you get an approved NDIS plan, or until the end of the NDIS transition period in your area (30 June 2019).

This includes funding for consumer aids, equipment and assistive technologies initiative (CAEATI) and Vehicle Options Subsidy Scheme. (VOSS)

QDN has had queries from people with disability and their supporters who are telling us they are confused or don’t understand information in the letters from the NDIA and Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors, what they need to do, the registration and access process, especially the documentation they need to gather to access the scheme.

What to do next?

If QDN members have these questions, you can:

Fraser Coast, North Burnett, South Burnett, Cherbourg, Brisbane North and South, Logan, Redlands, Gold Coast and Hinterland, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Tablelands, Croydon, Etheridge, Cape York and Torres Strait.  If you are not currently in one of these areas this may not be relevant to you at this time.

Letters from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)

The NDIA National Access Team sent out the letter in December 2017 to start the process of moving people with disability to the NDIS.  The purpose of the letter is to introduce people with disability to the NDIS and to give people the opportunity to be prepared when they receive an Access Request phone call. It also tells people how to contact the Agency. This general introduction letter was sent to potentially eligible participants seen by the NDIA as clients in defined programs and clients in non-defined programs in new roll out areas across Queensland. QDN sent out an information update for QDN members and their supporters about this on 23 January 2018 and the information is still on the website.