The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is making changes to the way Queensland (QLD), the Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DSDSATSIP) provide in-kind Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Short-Term Accommodation (STA) to National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants.
Under the old system, this was undertaken through a service known as Accommodation Support and Respite Services (AS&RS). These in-kind arrangements are under review for an extension until 31 December 2023.
Current arrangements will continue until funds are available in NDIS plans to begin the new arrangements.
There will be no interruption to SDA supports.
When the in-kin arrangements end, participants will use their funds to purchase SDA from the designated provider.
What does this mean for me?
Over the next few months, the NDIA will work with participants and their families and with DSDSATSIP as the in-kind provider to gather any information required for a transition their Short Term Accommodation support to plan reassessment discussions.
When the in-kind arrangement ends, the NDIS will fund SIL and STA via a participant's NDIS plan.
This means the participant will use the funding from their NDIS plan to pay for supports.
This change will apply to about 410 SIL and 173 STA NDIS participants supported by DSDSATSIP.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will contact these participants and their families to discuss these changes to in-kind funding.
Existing arrangements will remain in place until the in-kind arrangements end, which is proposed to be extended until 31 December 2023.
There will be no interruption to current supports.
How do I get ready for this change?
Participants can still access in-kind supports through AS&RS.
Once the in-kind arrangement stops, participants can purchase supports directly from providers using their plan funds.
This means a participant can choose to purchase supports from AS&RS or engage a new provider, as has been the case for the past few years.
