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Cross-scheme transitions

Turning 65 and on the NDIS

If you're an NDIS participant approaching 65 — or you have a parent or partner who is — you have a choice to make, and a 12-month window to make it in calmly. Most families don't know the window is there until it's already closed. This is the page no other consumer site has.

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The basics

The three things to know

  • If you became an NDIS participant before turning 65, you can stay on the NDIS after 65 — you don't have to move to aged care.
  • If you have not yet applied to the NDIS, you must apply before turning 65. After 65 the NDIS pathway closes for new applicants.
  • Aged care is the alternative system. You can apply for an aged care assessment in parallel even if you plan to stay on the NDIS.
What to do

What we strongly recommend

  • Start aged care registration at My Aged Care at least three to six months before the 65th birthday.
  • Get an aged care assessment in hand even if you don't plan to use it. Assessments stay current for about 12 months.
  • Talk to your NDIS support coordinator (if you have one) about how the transition might look.
Why it matters

The quiet risk

NDIS funding doesn't automatically continue past 65 in every case, and aged care assessment isn't instant. People who leave the conversation until the birthday itself sometimes go weeks with no funding from either side. None of that is necessary if you start early.

Don't wait until the birthday itself.

The single biggest mistake families make at this transition is leaving aged-care registration until age 65. Even where the NDIS funding continues, the aged care assessment provides options later — and a hospital discharge at 65 with no aged-care plan in place is exactly the crisis we want to avoid.

Apply for both in parallel.

You're allowed to be assessed for aged care while remaining on the NDIS. That parallel-track approach gives you flexibility later — if your needs shift, the door is already open.
Specific situations

Which one are you?

I'm 64 and on the NDIS

You can stay on the NDIS past 65 because you became a participant before turning 65. Use the next twelve months to register with My Aged Care anyway, get an aged care assessment, and have the option in your back pocket. If your needs shift later, you can move across without scrambling.

I'm 64 and not yet on the NDIS

Apply to the NDIS now. After 65 the NDIS pathway closes for new applicants — aged care becomes the only option, and aged care is means-tested where the NDIS is not. Don't wait. Call the NDIS on 1800 800 110 to start the Access Request.

I'm caring for someone approaching 65

Run both tracks in parallel. Talk to their NDIS support coordinator about how the transition might work, and register them with My Aged Care for an assessment. The assessment doesn't commit them to anything and stays valid for about 12 months.

Keep reading

What we recommend you read next

Carers — Caring for someone?

Here's the help for you.

Funding Finder

Tell us about the situation, get the next steps in order.

Greenbees doesn't approve NDIS plans or run aged care assessments. Talk to your NDIS support coordinator and call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to start the parallel pathway.

Get the next steps in order.

Tell us about the situation and we'll show you the parallel-track plan, in plain English.

Find my funding