Modifying your home or vehicle to accommodate a severe disability

Eligibility conditions for home or vehicle modifications

If you're applying to modify your home or vehicle to accommodate special needs arising from a severe disability, you must meet the following 3 eligibility conditions:

• Condition 1 – You or your dependant have special needs arising from a severe disability. This is a severe physical or mental impairment that both
  • limits one or more functional capabilities, such as mobility, communication and self-care
  • causes substantial functional limitation in everyday activities.
• Condition 2 – You are seeking a modification to either your own
  • home, that is, the place where both you and your dependant permanently live. The home to be modified can't be a home where only your dependant lives.
  • vehicle. It can't be your dependant’s vehicle.
• Condition 3 – The modification is to accommodate your or your dependant's special needs
  • We can only consider modification expenses that specifically accommodate your or your dependant's special needs. Everyday expenses or items not specifically related to accommodating the special needs arising from the severe disability are unlikely to be approved.
  • The modification to your home may include changes to the structure, layout or fittings to make your home more accessible.
  • Your vehicle may be modified, for example, to allow wheelchair access or include additional hand controls.

Where the modification expense has already been paid for by borrowing money, you or your dependant still need to have met these criteria. You also need to meet the additional eligibility criteria for the borrowed amount.

Eligibility conditions for other accommodations for a severe disability

These types of expenses may be eligible if the following 2 eligibility conditions below are met:

• purchasing disability aids or assistive technology
• purchasing a modified vehicle where your existing vehicle is not able to be modified (for example, due to its size or age). You should consider if your existing vehicle can be used for medical transport. If your vehicle is not suitable, your quote or invoice will need to include the trade-in value of your current vehicle, to ensure the appropriate amount is considered for release.

The eligibility conditions are:

• Condition 1 – You or your dependant have special needs arising from a severe disability. This is a severe physical or mental impairment that both
  • limits one or more functional capabilities, such as mobility, communication and self-care
  • causes substantial functional limitation in everyday activities.
• Condition 2 – You are applying for an expense that will accommodate the special need.

Where the expense has already been paid by borrowing money, you or your dependant still need to have met these criteria for the expense that has occurred or is due to occur. You also need to meet the additional eligibility criteria for the borrowed amount.

Expenses that may be eligible

Expenses to modify your home could include:

• installation of ramps both inside and outside the home
• installation of handrails
• adjustment to heights of kitchen cabinetry
• changes to bathroom fixtures and fittings to make them more accessible.

Expenses to modify your vehicle could include:

• installation of a wheelchair ramp or hoist or lift
• installation of an automatic gearbox
• replacement of pedals with levers or hand controls
• changes to car seating
• installation of sensors.

Expenses that are not eligible

Expenses that are not eligible include:

• everyday living expenses
• general renovations or changes to your home or vehicle that are not specifically related to accommodating special needs arising from a severe disability.

Evidence for the expense

You must provide both a:

• quote or invoice. The quote or invoice must be addressed to you as the owner of the home or vehicle. If any of the expenses are being funded by NDIS, please note this on the invoice or quote.
• medical report from a registered medical practitioner or specialist. If you have a report from an occupational therapist, you can also attach this to support your application.

If you're applying to modify your home, you also need to provide evidence that the property is your principal place of residence. This can be a utility bill (for example, gas, or electricity bill) that:

• is less than 3 months old
• is in your name
• shows the address of the property.

If you're renting the property you're applying to modify, your landlord must provide written consent to the proposed changes.

If you're applying to pay an expense for another person, you may need to provide evidence that you're in a dependent relationship with them.

Where the expense has been paid by borrowing money, additional documents are required.

Medical reports

Ask your registered medical practitioner to use our medical report form to make sure they provide all the information we need. We also provide information for health practitioners about how to provide an appropriate report.

The report must clearly explain the following:

• Details of your or your dependant’s disability and its severity, including the special needs that must be accommodated.
• The expense required to accommodate special needs arising from your or your dependant's severe disability.
• How each expense on the quote or invoice will accommodate the special needs.

The report should also detail whether you have access to NDIS funding for the expense.