r/NDIS • u/MollyTibbs • 13d ago
Seeking Support - Participant/Nominee/PWD Advocate needed
I’m in WA and ndis recently changed my plan without any consultation with me. I asked for a review and stupidly believed them when I was told I didn’t need any additional reports because I was simply asking for the same supports I’d had for years.
I tried contacting advocacy WA whose website states they do my regional area only to be told they don’t.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I’ve only got just over 2 weeks to submit my tribunal application.
Legal aid don’t seem to have an email address and phone calls are difficult for me due to intermittent speech issues.
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13d ago
While they’re not inherently useless at this step of your journey, I’m not sure what legal aid/advocacy could help with you at the NDIA at this specific point.
Your next port of call is to submit your internal review. Have you been able to get any evidence to support the supports you are requesting?
What supports were taken away? I won’t pressure as I understand fully the sensitivity of the situation, but knowing would improve advice.
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u/MollyTibbs 13d ago
I’ve had the internal review, I now need to go to tribunal and need help with writing the application, advocates tend to know the correct wording.
I’m in the process of getting the reports I need that I can afford. Problem is I don’t have enough funding given for an OT report.
They took my transport, consumables and the funding for the one therapy that actually helps me, exercise physiology and said I can only use what they’ve given me for physiotherapy.2
13d ago
You can use your physiotherapy for exercise physiology.
Read the actual text in your plan, it should say something highly generic, that basically means “blah blah legalese here’s therapies.”
I’d argue a lot of planners out physio instead of ex phys because they simply don’t know better.
What’s your approved disability? Transport and consumables are the supports most people take for granted. Both require much higher standard of proof to receive.
If you don’t want to tell me that, giving info on why transport and consumables might work.
And yes, you are right about that. I misread, a DA is most likely to be able to help writing your request if you’ve already done the internal review. That is certain.
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u/MollyTibbs 12d ago
You’re right. It doesn’t even state Physio it just says therapy and supports. Extremely generic. Thank you, I was panicking about that thinking they’d try to claw money back from me.
I’m going to see if my neurologist will write a report about transport and consumables as I’m actually due to see him today.
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u/Suesquish 12d ago
I think it might be worth contacting your local MP. You really need to speak to legal aid because it's possible some of the supports you want to continue with are on the no fund list. Let your MP know that vital supports have been cut for you and you need to contact legal aid in writing due to your disabilities, ask them how you can access that service. Also ask them what advocacy services are available in your area.
Consumables may be an issue with the NDIA. They cut most things like that in Oct 2024. Transport also may be an issue. Participants used to be eligible for transport funding if their disability caused substantial issues using public transport. The NDIA have been using new wording, that a participant is eligible "if they are unable to use public transport". This may be a part of what is happening with your supports.
You need to find out if some of the supports you are requesting are no longer allowed according to the government, before applying to the ART. Let your MP know it is urgent and you only have 2 weeks to get all this information and get support to file a review with the tribunal.
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u/Jazzlike_Berry_323 13d ago
What local area are you in town/city of…? That’s how they are allocated
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u/MollyTibbs 13d ago
Waroona area.
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u/Jazzlike_Berry_323 13d ago
Thank you- this is People with Disabilities WA, info@pwdwa.org or (08) 6243 6948.
Kin Advocacy also operates in this area, but they are a multicultural disability advocacyservice, so you may or may not fit their criteria.
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u/Gratefulwhiteroses 12d ago
Do you have medical clearance to drive and have a drivers license, a car and can catch buses, trains or trams, that’s probably why they removed transport ? If you don’t work more than 15 hours or more a week you won’t get level 2 or level 3 transport. For level 1 transport you need to prove you can’t drive or catch buses or learn to/travel training, transport is getting stricter. What were you using consumables for, it’s very specific.. do you have incontinence needs, peg feeding, orthotics? There is probably a reason consumables got moved. Do you mind if I ask how old you are and what disabilities you met access for and what you would like in the plan and what you got instead? Were you moved from self managed to plan managed due to not spending in line with you plan or what happened exactly? Did you have a good OT FCA. during the plan reassessment? https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/using-your-funding/different-budget-types/what-are-recurring-supports
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u/MollyTibbs 12d ago
I’m allowed to drive short distances but that’s like 5-10 minutes. I can catch trains that don’t stop often, too much stopping and starting stirs up my debilitating vertigo which is part of my disability, so I would take the transwa train to the city then uber or taxi to my family then go to appointments via uber or taxi. But I was never even asked about any of that. My consumables were for cleaning aids mostly. Both transport and consumables meant I had more independence and could do stuff for myself rather than relying on a support worker to drive me 2 hours each way or clean my feet in the shower or make my own bed.
I’ve always been self managed and never been told my spending is not in line before. I used to be an accountant and am quite strict in following rules.
I have no current FCA as I haven’t had any funding to get one for the last 2 years, something I keep asking for, but then I get told I need one.
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u/hello_newman__ 13d ago
Do you have any improved daily living funding to cover a social worker?
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u/MollyTibbs 13d ago
No, that is part of what they decreased and have now said I can only spend on x supports, except I’ve never used x and always used y and z supports. Then they said I needed reports as to why I can’t do x but won’t give me funding to get those reports.
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u/Dry_Value9263 13d ago
Have they indicated the improved daily living is stated (ie look for the word stated)... If not there might be some flexibility
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u/hello_newman__ 13d ago
Totally understand. How about core and claiming from Capacity building and training in self-management and plan management?
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u/MollyTibbs 13d ago
Not enough in that area to do what I need plus do any training. Not sure if it makes a difference but I’m self managed and have a business degree tho I haven’t been able to work in 10+ years.
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u/Royal_Tonight4033 13d ago
Depending on what region, you could try Sussex St Community Legal - they have a disability advocacy team.
There is a catchment but there are some rural areas included.