Applying for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can feel like a big task, but breaking it down into steps can help. Here’s a guide to help you understand the process and what to expect.
On this page, you'll find:
1. Check if you're eligible for the NDIS
You may be able to get support from the NDIS if:
What if I'm not eligible?
If you're not eligible for the NDIS, there may still be other supports available through the Australian Government. These could include help with income, daily living, medical costs or caring for someone with mitochondrial disease (mito). You may also be able to get support through local NDIS partners who can help connect you with services, even if you're not eligible for the NDIS.
Even if you're not eligible for the NDIS, support is available.
2. Get the right support and information
It’s important to collect the right information before you apply. This includes showing how mito affects your daily life and thinking about your goals for the future.
You don’t have to do this alone. The NDIS have NDIS partners in the community to help you:
They can:
- explain how the NDIS works
- help check if you're eligible
- talk with you about your needs and goals
- help you gather information
- assist with your application
- help you prepare for your planning meeting
- link you with other community supports
These services are free and available to all Australians.
Complete a third-party consent form. It lets the NDIS talk to your chosen support network. Download the third-party consent form.
We’re here for you
We understand mito and that it affects everyone differently. Our NDIS Navigator can help you:
- understand what the NDIS might fund for someone with mito
- know what evidence to collect
- review letters or reports from your doctors
- explain how mito affects your life
- set realistic goals
- work with your EC or LAC.
This support is free and available to anyone living with mito.
In some situations, the NDIS should prioritise your application and decide on your eligibility within 2 to 5 working days. If you think this applies to you, talk to us or check the priority eligibility criteria.
When applying, focus on how mito affects your daily life, not just your diagnosis. Use examples to show how mito affects what you can do, especially things people do every day.
Need help understanding NDIS terms?
Visit our NDIS Reference Guide for plain language explanations of common words, roles, and funding types you may come across on your NDIS journey.
How to access the NDIS Navigation Service
Getting support is easy. You can:
Once we hear from you, a member of our Helpline team will contact you to understand your needs and offer initial support. If needed, they’ll refer you to our NDIS Navigator for more personalised guidance.
Insights from the Mito Community
"My LAC didn’t understand how mito affects me day to day. I felt like I had to prove how tired or unwell I was. The NDIS Navigator helped me find the words to explain my symptoms and why they impact my life so much.”
— Anonymous, 2025
“My LAC was supportive, but didn’t know much about mito. I contacted Mito Foundation, and then we all worked together to help my LAC understand how mito affects me. It really helped us get the right supports in place.“
— Anonymous, 2025
Insights from the Mito Community
“My LAC didn’t understand how mito affects me day to day. I felt like I had to prove how tired or unwell I was. The NDIS Navigator helped me find the words to explain my symptoms and why they impact my life so much."
— Anonymous, 2025
“My LAC was supportive, but didn’t know much about mito. I contacted Mito Foundation, and then we all worked together to help my LAC understand how mito affects me. It really helped us get the right supports in place."
— Anonymous, 2025
3. Fill out the Access Request Form
The next step is to fill out the Access Request Form (ARF). This is the main form used to apply for the NDIS.
You can get the form by:
- Downloading the Access Request Form
- Calling the NDIS on 1800 800 110
- Find a LAC or EC partner to help
The form has two parts:
- Section 1 – You or someone supporting you fills this out. It includes your details and how your disability impacts you.
- Section 2 – A health professional (like your GP, specialist, or allied health professional) fills this out. Share this page with them: Information for health professionals.
We’re here to support you through this process. If you’re unsure where to start or need help, contact us and we can help.
You can learn more about applying to the NDIS, confirming your identity, and understanding consent by visiting the NDIS Booklets and Factsheets page.
The NDIS often calls from a private number and may not leave a message if your voicemail doesn’t include your full name. Make sure your voicemail is clear, and if you answer, ask for the caller’s name and number in case you need to call them back.
What information do I need to include?
You’ll need to include documents that confirm your:
- Age (e.g. birth certificate, current passport, or driver’s license)
- Residency (e.g. birth certificate, Australian Citizen or Naturalisation Certificate, or a foreign passport which includes a valid visa)
- Disability or need for Early Intervention. The NDIS needs to know how well you can do things in your everyday life and how mito affects this. For more information, see providing evidence of your disability.
Not sure what to include in your application?
Contact us, and we can help.
If you’re living with Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), visit our NDIS assistance for LHON information page. It offers tips on applying and how to explain the impact of vision loss.
Explain your needs and goals in a simple, direct way. Be honest about what life is like on both good and bad days. This helps the NDIS understand your real support needs. Avoid using jargon and focus on clear information.
Try using the same words the NDIS uses, like “functional capacity” or “impact on daily life.” This can help them better understand your situation and how it affects you.
4. Submitting your application
Before you submit your Access Request Form to the NDIS, it’s helpful to have all your documents ready. This includes your:
- Access Request Form
- diagnosis
- functional impact information
- identity documents
In our experience, getting these documents together before contacting your LAC or EC partner can make things simpler and avoid delays.
You’ll usually have a meeting with your LAC or EC partner before your application is submitted. This is sometimes called a community connections meeting or a pre-access meeting.
At this meeting, they will:
- talk with you about your support needs and goals
- help collect information for your Access Request Form
- check your documents, including ID and medical evidence
This meeting happens before your Access Request Form is sent to the NDIS. It helps make sure your application is complete and ready to be assessed.
If you haven’t heard from your LAC or EC partner yet, or you’re not sure who they are, we can help you get started.
Your LAC or EC partner usually sends the form to the NDIS for you. This helps avoid delays. Posting it yourself can take much longer.
Before the meeting, try to gather your documents. We’re happy to check them with you if needed.
Write down details of your meetings, phone calls, and emails with the NDIS. Include dates, times, and what was talked about. These notes can be helpful if you need to follow up or if any problems come up later.
You can ask for your pre-access meeting to happen in a way that suits you, like face-to-face at your local NDIS or partner office, or over a video call if that’s easier.
Before the meeting
It helps to be prepared. Here are some things you can do:
- Think about your daily needs – What do you need help with now?
- Think about your goals – What would you like to work towards in the future?
- Bring any recent reports or assessments from your doctor or therapists
- Bring a support person – This could be a family member, friend, and the NDIS Navigator
Goals are important. They help the NDIS understand what matters to you. These could include:
- learning a new skill
- becoming more independent
- joining a community group
- staying safe and well at home
For tips and examples, visit the NDIS setting goals page.
Need help understanding NDIS terms?
Visit our NDIS Reference Guide for plain language explanations of common words, roles, and funding types you may come across on your NDIS journey.
The Participant Service Guarantee sets timeframes for how long the NDIS should take to respond, like processing access requests or updating plans. If things are delayed, you have the right to ask for an update or make a complaint.
We recommend that your LAC or EC submits your application. They can check that everything is complete and send it directly to the NDIS for you. This helps avoid delays and makes sure your application is received correctly.
5. Waiting for a decision
Once you’ve submitted your Access Request Form, the NDIA will review your application and let you know the outcome. This usually takes at least a few weeks.
Keep track of the timeframes in the Participant Service Guarantee. This helps you know when to expect a decision.
If your wait goes beyond the expected timeframe (total number of days for ‘deciding who can use the NDIS’), this means they have not met their own service standards, and you have the right to lodge a complaint. To lodge a complaint, use the NDIS feedback and complaint form.
If your application is not approved
If the NDIS says no to your application, there are still things you can do.
You can contact us or speak to your LAC or EC partner to understand why and what your options are.
You can ask the NDIS to explain their decision. You can also ask for a review if you don’t agree. This is called an internal review of decision.
You must ask for a review within 3 months of the date on the letter. You can also give extra information to help your case.
There are several ways to request a review:
- Filling in the Review of a Decision form
- Emailing your request to enquiries@ndis.gov.au
- Call the NDIS on 1800 800 110
- Visit an NDIS or partner office
Even if you are not approved for the NDIS, you may still be able to get other types of support.
Your LAC or EC partner can connect you with community services, local programs, or government supports, such as the Disability Support Pension. The Mito Foundation is also here to help you explore what’s available and find support that suits your needs.
If your application is approved, what’s next?
If you’re approved for the NDIS, you will become an NDIS participant. You’ll get a phone call or letter from the NDIA to let you know you’ve been approved.
Next, an NDIS planner will contact you to book a planning meeting.
Keep track of the timeframes in the Participant Service Guarantee. This helps you know when to expect a decision.
Check your email regularly, including your spam or junk folder. The NDIS might send important updates, requests, or even your plan by email.
Now is a good time to think about whether your circumstances or goals have changed since you applied. If they have, let the planner know during your planning meeting so your NDIS plan reflects what you need now.
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