December 28 2019
Isolation and missed appointments due to NDIS transport ruling   

Canberra Times   

Federal Politics

People with disabilities are missing medical appointments and becoming isolated in their own homes due to a change in the way they can access their NDIS funding, advocates say.




In July this year the National Disability Insurance Agency changed the way people with disabilities could claim funding for transport, banning transport costs being claimed under participants' core support funding.

In the past, if a participant's transport funding ran out, they could use the larger core support funding pool to get themselves out of the house, to medical appointments, social events and other activities.

"It does nothing but create anxiety," said Grieg Chapman, advocate at ACT Disability Aged Care Advocacy Service. Mr Chapman said the change has been hard to understand by some people with disabilities, who now face paying for transport on low incomes.

"Once it's explained, they're really unhappy about it. Most of my clients are on the disability support pension, so they live sparingly.   

"The problem is the NDIS, as great as it is with giving people opportunities to access therapies they probably didn't think about prior to NDIS, it becomes difficult to get there because they have to start putting their hand in their pocket to get there, which they don't have a lot of."

The issue is a particular worry in Canberra, which is a most car-dependent city, and where not all public transport is accessible.

Mr Chapman is worried people with disabilities are missing out on appointments and activities due to the cost of getting to them.

"They've said they won't attend, they can't afford to attend, they're concerned about using their budget too quickly."

As well as the isolation and health issues related to people with disabilities, Mr Chapman is deeply concerned that people with disabilities may get themselves into debt in order to pay to keep up with their commitments.   



More than 30 local organisations met at a forum on November 8 to discuss issues around transport and the NDIS, sending a letter to the agency's chief executive Martin Hoffman outlining their concerns.

In reply, Mr Hoffman maintained the rules had not necessarily been changed but had been clarified, meaning that claiming transport costs under the core support budget is "now contrary to the current NDIS rules".

He acknowledged the change meant participants and providers would need to change their approach.

The response was "very disappointing," Mr Chapman said. 

Bill Aldcroft, business development manager at QuestCare, an ACT-based disability service provider, said the ruling put him in a difficult position - legally he had to obey the rule, but it is hard to know his clients are missing out on transport they could previously use.


Bill Aldcroft from Questcare makes a submission during a town hall discussion on the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

"We can't do a good service," Mr Aldcroft said.

The decision also made it difficult for providers to be able to know how many staff to employ and know that the NDIS funding would cover the costs of the services provided. The letter sent to the NDIS boss said providers risked insolvency by absorbing the costs associated with transporting clients.   

Mr Aldcroft and Mr Chapman were part of a round table meeting with Canberra MP Alicia Payne and Labor's spokesman on NDIS issues Bill Shorten on Tuesday.

"The broader issue probably is to do with the pricing guide and the fact that adequate funding for transport isn't being provided," Ms Payne said.

"But the immediate issue is that people have this funding in their core supports, which as of 1 July a sort of NDIA bureaucratic decision has meant that they can longer access that and worse than that they are making providers who are trying to do that feel like criminals for helping people access the services that they need."

In the final parliamentary sitting fortnight, a bipartisan committee looking at issues with NDIS planning recommended that the National Disability Insurance Agency "immediately implement a mechanism to allow participants to pay for transport out of core funding".

A spokesman for Minister Stuart Robert said the government would respond to the committee's report "in due course".

Transport funding has been the subject of reform in recent months, with the federal government committing to re-imburse state and territory governments for taxi subsidy schemes for NDIS participants from January 1 until October 2021, and an increase in the costs that can be claimed for some travel-related items.

cods wrote on Dec 29^th, 2019 at 7:44am:


Hahhahaha, nice irony there cods.

But really, Jesus helped the cripples, you have no compassion for them.  That's just wrong cods, you need to take a good hard look at yourself.  You are not even praying for them.

Another example of christian hypocrisy.

Disability advocates demand NDIS changes amid fears of class disparity
9News

Oct 8, 2019


Advocates fear the National Disability Insurance Scheme risks entrenching disadvantage, with rich people able to access better levels of care.
A parliamentary inquiry into the scheme has heard bureaucratic language, long waiting times and a general lack of knowledge of disabilities by government staff were creating serious problems.
One advocate, Kirsten Deane from Every Australian Counts, came close to tears when she gave evidence in Brisbane today.
A parliamentary inquiry into the scheme heard a number of problems are slowing it down. (9NEWS)
Ms Deane is furious about a $4.6 billion federal government underspend on the NDIS.   
"We don't find anything to celebrate in the underspend at all, that is money that is desperately needed," Ms Deane told committee members.
The government blames the funding disparity on a slower than expected uptake.
But Ms Deane puts it down to approval delays, long waits for services, and inappropriate plans, meaning people aren't spending the money allocated. 


She spoke of one child who died while waiting for support, but did not elaborate.
Ms Deane said there was an increasing worry that the system was becoming "dual track", with people from indigenous, ethnic or lower-socio economic backgrounds unable to navigate the system.

The government blames the funding disparity on a slower than expected uptake. (9news)
"If we don't do something … we're going to end up entrenching disadvantage," Ms Deane said.
Deaf Services told the committee hearing impaired people were being told to watch YouTube videos to learn sign language, and faced barriers accessing basic forms because it meant picking up the phone.   
Michelle Crozier said her clients were being told by insurance planners that they had never met a deaf person, reducing confidence they would get an appropriate plan.
Representatives from the AEIOU Foundation, an early intervention group for children with autism, said staff helping dole out NDIS plans needed to be better listeners and more empathetic.
The committee heard social workers, counsellors or therapists would be better placed to help people access the scheme.
Assistive technology supplier Tiffany Heddes said NDIS planners simply did not understand the equipment.   

"We've had instances where planners have phoned our company to explain the difference between a walker and a standing frame," Ms Heddes said.
Earlier, Ms Deane was joined by advocate Peter Tully, who said people were asked personal questions by agency staff they had just met.
Some clients were unable to afford assessments by independent groups to prove they had a disability.   
The committee is looking into various aspects of the NDIS, including its performance and governance, as well as support for people receiving in-home care.

cods wrote on Dec 29^th, 2019 at 7:59am:


Ahh. So if you are well enough to drive and have a car its okay to be disabled but if you are poor and have to use public transporation no way

Spot

Frank wrote on Dec 29^th, 2019 at 11:24am:


Youre losing your touch

Spot

cods wrote on Dec 29^th, 2019 at 7:44am:
actually cods they saved 8 billion on NDIS last year which went to general revenue. If you knew anything about the scheme you would know that most people are worse off because of decreased funding.

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Dec 29^th, 2019 at 11:32am:


he never had it

cods wrote on Dec 29^th, 2019 at 7:59am:


Hahahhaaaaa so it's ...