As a first-year university student juggling a double degree and a part-time job, I’m grappling with several health challenges including chronic pain from fibromyalgia, ADHD, and high-functioning autism. The costs for treatments and medications are steep, and I’m unsure about my eligibility for NDIS, given the mixed information about conditions like ADHD and autism in relation to NDIS support. Any advice on potential supports or pathways?
NDIS eligibility is primarily based on how your conditions affect your daily functioning across specific domains such as self-care, self-management, communication, and mobility. It’s less about the diagnosis and more about how significantly your ability to perform daily tasks is impaired, and whether the impairment is permanent.
On another note, keep in mind the NDIS doesn’t directly cover medical expenses, such as medication costs.
Check if you’re taking full advantage of the PBS Safety Net. It reduces the cost of prescription medicines significantly once you’ve spent up to a certain amount in a year. This might help manage some of your financial burden.
Have you applied for a Low Income Health Care Card? It can significantly reduce the cost of prescribed medicines and other medical expenses, although it won’t cover non-PBS medications unless they are prescribed for approved conditions.
If your autism is diagnosed at a level that significantly impairs your functional capacity, you might have a straightforward path to NDIS eligibility. Get a thorough assessment that shows how your condition affects your daily activities.
I didn’t know that NDIS didn’t cover medical expenses. Thanks for the tip. I’ll have to ask my pharmacy about the PBS safety net. They haven’t mentioned anything to me. I see the same pharmacist all the time.
I’d have to check if I meet the income requirements for a low income health care card.
Welcome. Its a common misconception among people who are new to NDIS.