NDIS or My Aged Care — which one applies to your family member?

This is the question Australian families get wrong more often than almost any other. The NDIS and My Aged Care are entirely separate systems with different funding, different assessment processes, different providers, and different philosophies. Which one applies to your family member depends primarily on one thing: their age.

The basic rule

The age-based boundary is:

• Under 65 — generally the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme), if they have a permanent and significant disability
• 65 and over — generally My Aged Care / Support at Home
• Under 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — the NDIS age threshold is lower

This is not absolute — there are exceptions — but it is the right starting point for most families.

What the NDIS covers

The NDIS funds supports for people with a permanent and significant disability that is not primarily caused by ageing. It takes a life-course approach: NDIS funding is intended to help people achieve their goals and participate in the community across their whole life, not just to address immediate care needs.

NDIS funding is highly individualised — each participant has a plan tailored to their specific goals and supports. Services can include personal care, therapy, assistive technology, home modifications, transport, and support for carers. NDIS plans are reviewed regularly.

Contact: NDIS on 1800 800 110 or ndis.gov.au.

What My Aged Care / Support at Home covers

My Aged Care is the entry point for the aged care system for people 65 and over (50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people). Since 1 November 2025, the funded in-home care programme is called Support at Home — it replaced Home Care Packages. The system also includes the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) for lower-level needs and residential aged care for those who need facility-based care.

Contact: My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or myagedcare.gov.au.

The "no wrong door" policy

Both the NDIS and My Aged Care operate under a "no wrong door" principle — if you contact the wrong system, they should redirect you to the right one rather than simply turning you away. In practice, this works better in some regions than others. If you are genuinely unsure, calling either number is a reasonable starting point. Tell them your family member's age and their diagnosis or disability, and they will advise which pathway applies.

When the diagnosis is dementia

Dementia is explicitly listed as an age-related condition for the purposes of the NDIS boundary. This means that for most people, dementia-related care needs are funded through My Aged Care / Support at Home, not the NDIS — regardless of age.

The exception: if a person develops dementia at a younger age (sometimes called early-onset or young-onset dementia, typically under 65), they may be eligible for the NDIS depending on how their needs are assessed. The NDIS specifically has provisions for young people with dementia. This is worth pursuing if your family member is under 65 with a dementia diagnosis.

When the diagnosis is a physical disability, acquired brain injury, or similar

For people under 65 with a significant physical disability, acquired brain injury, or other permanent disability not primarily caused by ageing, the NDIS is generally the right pathway. The NDIS covers a much broader range of supports and typically provides more funding than My Aged Care for people with complex needs.

What happens when an NDIS participant turns 65

This is the scenario that causes the most confusion and the most distress. When an NDIS participant turns 65, they do not automatically lose their NDIS funding — but they have a choice to make.

They can choose to remain on the NDIS and continue receiving their current NDIS supports. Many people choose this, particularly if they have been on the NDIS for years and their plan is working well. NDIS supports can continue after 65 for existing participants who choose to stay.

Or they can transition to the aged care system — My Aged Care / Support at Home — which becomes available to them at 65. They cannot access both systems for the same supports simultaneously.

The decision is not always obvious. NDIS plans are often more flexible and more generously funded than aged care equivalents for people with complex needs. Before agreeing to transition, speak to your NDIS planner, a disability advocate, and My Aged Care. The decision is reversible in some circumstances, but not easily.

Disability Support Pension and carer payments

The NDIS / My Aged Care boundary is separate from Centrelink payments like the Disability Support Pension (DSP) and Carer Payment. These are income-support payments that continue regardless of which care system is accessed. If your family member is currently on the DSP and turns 65, their payment usually converts to the Age Pension — this is automatic and does not affect their NDIS or aged care access.