Topic Tuesday// Life With NDIS// Tues 22nd June, 7-:8:30PM AEST

[SandeeLWB]

For people living with psychosocial disability, the NDIS enables you to access disability services and supports alongside your mental health treatment

Psychosocial disability means that the way you think, feel or interact with other people can form a barrier to being involved in things like:

•           Work

•           Education

•           Social activities

•           Cultural or public activities

•           Getting or keeping a home

•           Staying physically healthy

•           Achieving your full potential or life goals.

Not everyone who lives with a mental health condition has a psychosocial disability. Many people do not realise that their experience of life could be called ‘psychosocial disability’. Other people do not like the term and prefer not to use it.

Saying that you have a psychosocial disability does not change who you are, your experiences, or your ability to live a meaningful and contributing life. It may help show how your mental health condition affects your life, and it may help the NDIS to support you.

[bipolarbunny]

@Adge A letter from your psychiatrist recommending DSP willl get you on it. That's how I did. Centrelink actually advised me to switch over to DSP. If you qualify for DES, as long as you get a letter from your pdoc you should qualify. 

BB 🐰💙

[TideisTurning]

Hearing your frustration @bipolarbunny . That must be so invalidating to not have what you've said and yourself reflected. A review sounds like a great place to start! 

[bipolarbunny]

@MrsFahey I think we have the same planner! 

[Adge]

I also have Weekly Psychology (Therapy) Appointments @bipolarbunny Primarily for support & work with my Complex PTSD - due to severe prolonged Trauma.

I have always had to Pay for my Psychology Appointments myself (Private Practice Clinical Psychologist).

Thankfully the Mental Health Care Plan (from GP) covers 1/2 the Cost of 10 Psychology Sessions per Year - At the Moment, 20 per Year (Due to Covid).

Adge

[Oaktree]

My mental health challenges are quite debilitating. I am unable to work as I am unwell frequently and have seemingly regular hospital stays. The anxiety stops me from socialising or even going anywhere besides to the grocery stores. My life is very monotonous and lonely. I would love to be able to volunteer or work and get out of the house and just be ‘normal’

[SandeeLWB]

@MrsFahey Participants can choose whether to let the agency itself  look after their plans funds , nominate a plan manager from an external organisation or self manage their plan

 Going with the agency -the participants service providers are required to be a “registered “ provider and all billing is automated through the NDIS portal.   

If participant chooses a plan manager the providers do not have to be registered but they must also stick with in the margains of the “Priceguide” which has been set by the NDIA to cap the maximum rates for providers services

If a participant chooses to sef manage their funds they are not bound by registered providers nor the priceguide although if particpants do not show value for money at the review , the following years plan will most likely be reduced significantly .

[MrsFahey]

Oh I hope a pray for you that you don't. Shes honestly terrible and I find it very rude that service can do this to people that need every cent of there funding

[bipolarbunny]

@Adge I think you'd get on DSP no problem. I have cptsd as well. Maybe talk to you therapist/pdoc about it. If you apply now, even if it takes several weeks to kick in, they will back date it to the day you applied. Plus you can still earn I think $280 a fortnight before any of your DSP is cut. 

[TideisTurning]

Next question @SandeeLWB 

What support can Life Without Barriers provide to do with NDIS? 

& for our community: What support might you find helpful?