At Integrity Disability Hub, we aim to provide the best in Disability Care Services.

We are registered with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and can help you plan, manage and implement your NDIS assistance in the best possible way, personalised to your needs.

As an NDIS services provider, we are often met with a variety of questions. One of the most common questions we receive is, “Does NDIS affect the Disability Support Pension (DSP)?”

In this article, we will try to answer this question and provide some clarity regarding this topic. We hope that we can clear some of the confusion our clients may have regarding NDIS and DSP, and how you can still access services under NDIS if you are receiving the Disability Support Pension.

The Disability Support Pension 

The Disability Support Pension is a form of financial support that is given to people who are permanently unable to work due to “physical, intellectual or psychiatric” disability (Services Australia, 2020).

Residents of working age who are unfit to work for at least fifteen hours a week for the next two years may be eligible for the Disability Support Pension.

The DSP can be claimed by individuals who:

  • Are aged 16 up to Age Pension age; and
  • Have met certain residency rules for DSP, medical and non-medical rules.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) 

The NDIS allows people with a disability to access funding for reasonable and essential supports. Funding is given to the participant or their parent/guardian, and they choose which providers supply the funded goods and services, information connections and capacity building initiatives.

The NDIS has introduced a better way for people to access disability support services. It provides more choice and control to people with a disability who can now choose when, where and how they get the support they need.

The NDIS, which was fully rolled out across Australia in 2016, has brought positive changes to the way disability services are accessed and funded. People with a disability no longer need to rely solely on the DSP which does not realistically cover the expenses for essential disability support equipment. In fact, NDIS funding can be used in conjunction with the DSP if you are eligible for both.

NDIS funding can be claimed by individuals who:

  • Are under 65 years old;
  • Are an Australian citizen, permanent resident or permanent visa holder; and
  • Meet the disability or early intervention requirements determined by the National Disability Insurance Agency [NDIA] (NSW Government, 2020).

Does NDIS affect the Disability Support Pension (DSP)? 

In a nutshell, the answer to this question is “No”. 

The NDIS and DSP are two separate funding models. Some people may be eligible for one and not the other, and some may be eligible for both. It simply depends on YOUR situation.

The difference between NDIS and DSP is that your NDIS plan will help fund disability supports, and your DSP exists to help cover your daily living costs.

These funding schemes are managed by 2 different organisations and are treated separately. Your DSP is paid by Centrelink and your NDIS plan is paid by the NDIA.

The two welfare models have been designed to work together. If you are eligible for both, NDIS funding can be used in conjunction with your DSP.

However, just because you have an NDIS plan, it does not mean you are eligible for the Disability Support Pension, and not everyone who is approved for the Disability Support Pension will have an NDIS plan.

Your DSP payment is not determined by your NDIS plan, and the NDIS will not organise for DSP.

The DSP is separate from the NDIS and will not be affected if you are eligible for NDIS.

At Integrity Disability Hub, we are thrilled to offer high-quality disability support services to our clients and support eligible participants in their quest to empower themselves and fulfil their ambitions! If you are eligible for both DSP and NDIS, we can work with you to create a personalised support plan where you can make the most of your NDIS and DSP funding. Contact us today! (02)87297610, +61450967979, +61450472296