THE federal government has bowed to pressure to guarantee ongoing extra support for seniors with disabilities who miss out on the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) because of the age cut-off at 65.
Social Services Minister Christian Porter confirmed a new scheme will be offered in addition to support available through My Aged Care.
This follows representations from growing numbers of seniors with disabilities who are set to face long delays and hefty co-payments because they turn 65 before the NDIS begins in their area.
Mr Porter said the new Commonwealth Continuity of Support Program would only support people aged 65 and over and Indigenous people aged 50 and over who currently received state-managed specialist disability services but were ineligible for the NDIS.
“The objective of the program will be supporting clients to achieve similar outcomes to those they were achieving prior to transitioning to the new arrangements,” he said.
Facebook lobby group NDIS (Not Damn Interested in Seniors) says timely access to the new program is critical.
Its 12,000-plus members have called for an independent appeals process to allow for discretionary decisions where people have acquired a disability after the age of 65 and can demonstrate their needs cannot be met under the aged care system.
Group member Lauren Henley said while some elements of Mr Porter’s response were positive, the government had missed the point in terms of urgency and the need to provide timely information to older people with disabilities.
People with Disability Australia chief executive Therese Sands said it was fast becoming clear that the aged care system was not meeting the needs of those with disabilities.
NDIS clients receive an average $35,300 in support per year, with the scheme covering the costs of all “reasonable and necessary supports” including services relating to transport, health, therapies, home and vehicle modifications, education, workplace participation and mobility equipment.
My Aged Care funding is based on packages with a set annual value, and co-payments are essential for everyone, including age pensioners, despite people with disabilities already paying out more for services and supports.
The minimum basic fee is $3566 a year and means-tested fees can be as much as $10,000 a year. In NSW, about 1770 older people with disabilities who receive services will not qualify for the NDIS.
“Older people with disability, many of whom live in poverty, are already financially disadvantaged when they enter the aged care system, making the impact of any co-contribution that much greater,” Ms Sands said.
“The key features of the NDIS, such as choice and control, and integration into the community, are simply absent for people with disability over 65 under the aged care system.”
