5 NDIS Questions We Have About the 2021-22 Budget

The team at D-Stress Solutions, our sister company, are diving into the latest NDIS General Issues report to find what participants and health organisations need to know in the second half of 2021. This time, we’ve gone into the Budget.

May be an image of text that says "The Budget also includes further measures that focus on disadvantaged job seekers and those most impacted by the pandemic. The Government will introduce a new employment services program to replace jobactive from 1 July 2022. The new program will enable job-ready job seekers to self-manage their job search on a digital platform and redirect resources to intensive face-to-face services for the most disadvantaged job seekers. Job seekers in Disability Employment Services will also be able to participate in digital services to find employment from January 2022."
Budget Paper #1 – Page 24

Will Disability Employment Services (DES) Participants Be Able to Opt-Out of Digital Services From Jan 2022?

Page 24 of Budget Paper 1 contains a reference to upcoming changes in the structure of the existing Disability Employment Services (DES.)

According to NDIS information, APM are one company who will overtake the Independent Assessment process, and who also currently offer JobSeeker and DES Services.

Will Australians with a Disability, who are deemed “non-severe,” still be able to choose face-to-face meetings if they want?

May be an image of text that says "A significant portion of government expenditure is for demand-driven programs. Outcomes for these programs could differ from the estimates and projections due to changes in economic circumstances and other factors. For example, differing levels of unemployment will mean expenditure for related social services payments, including allowances, will continue to vary. Similarly, a number of other support programs, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme, are demand-driven and outcomes for these programs may differ from the estimates in the Budget."
Budget Paper #1 – Page 257

Will The NDIS Be “Fully Funded” At A Fixed Cost, or Based on Up-And-Down Demand?

While the Treasurer told the Chamber that the NDIS will always be “fully funded” by the Coalition, a clause on page 257 of the first paper reveals commitments to costs are not fixed.

I interpret this to mean that where demand will fluctuate over the coming years – in other words, go up and down – so will the amount of government support varying projects will actually receive.

What does this mean for the NDIS during the aftermath of an ongoing international health crisis?

May be an image of text that says "$860.4 million over four years from 2021-22 by transitioning from jobactive to NESM rom 1 July 2022, which provides more efficient services through enabling job seekers to choose digital support services rather than face to face services, if they are eligible. Job seekers in Disability Employment Services will also have the option of digital services from 1 January 2022, initially through Online Employment Services and NESM from 1 July 2022"
Budget Paper #2 – Page 105

Why Are Disability Payment Recipients Being Pushed Into An Experimental Overhaul of The Jobactive System First?

Language used on page 105 of Budget Paper 2 seems to suggest that JobActive will transition to a system called NESM next year.

I interpret the language to mean mainstream welfare services will also be amalgamated into the changes.

Does this mean that persons on the DES will be used as the test case for the overhaul of service delivery, to something called the NESM?

May be an image of text that says "$112.4 million over four years from 2021-22 for continuity of psychosocial support services for people with a severe psychosocial disability who are not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme"
Budget Paper #2 – Page 105

Does The Fund for ‘Psychosocial’ Support Suggest NDIS Diagnosis Assessments Will De-Prioritise Mental Disability?

On page 105 of Budget Paper 2, there is mention of AUD$112M to support Psychosocial services.

According to our Legal Analysis published earlier this week, upcoming Independent Assessment changes to the NDIS will categorically make it harder for Australians with a non-physical and non-brain Disability to legitimise a claim for support.

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Page #4 – Page 112

Will Australians Be Able to Meaningfully Unpick NDIS Non-Departmental Cost Expenditure?

On page 112 of Budget Paper 4, beneath a table of expenditure costs, there are several methodological notes.

The fourth note, note (d), reveals “Non-Departmental” costs will be labelled as ‘External Revenue.’

I interpret this language is intended to strategically award NDIA proponents significant wiggle room in the public reporting of actual costs spend by the NDIS in the service delivery arms.

I interpret the language of footnote (d) to imply that actual service delivery costs will be labelled as ‘Administered Costs,’ instead of ‘Departmental Costs,’ for which reporting requirements are far more relaxed.

And will this affect the level of perceived demand?

By: Jonathon W. Davidson, Managing Facilitator at D-Stress Solutions.