NDIS Plan After 65 – What Happens to Your NDIS Plan When Your Parent Turns 65?

If your parent is approaching 65 and currently on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, you’re probably wondering what happens next. Does their NDIS plan just stop? Do they lose their support workers, therapies, and funding overnight? The short answer is no – but there are important rules, triggers, and planning steps you need to understand now, not later.

Key Takeaways

• If your parent already has an NDIS plan before 65, they can usually stay on the NDIS and continue receiving NDIS support services, as long as they meet disability eligibility criteria.
• You cannot apply for the NDIS after turning 65. If your parent has never been an NDIS participant, future support must come through the aged care system.
• Seniors can continue NDIS supports if already enrolled before 65, but entering residential aged care or starting permanent home services after 65 triggers a mandatory exit.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents can access aged care from age 50, so families should start planning how the NDIS and My Aged Care systems interact even earlier.
• Big decisions happen between ages 62 and 66. Start comparing your parent’s NDIS plan against potential aged care support options well before their birthday.

How Turning 65 Affects an Existing NDIS Plan

Here’s the most important thing to know: turning 65 does not automatically end your parent’s NDIS plan. If you’re wondering what happens to my NDIS, the short answer is that your parent usually stays on the same scheme and keeps receiving supports unless they choose to leave or trigger a mandatory exit by entering permanent aged care. Their NDIS supports stay available unless they choose to leave the NDIS or trigger a mandatory exit by entering permanent aged care.

What stays the same after 65:

• NDIS plans are reviewed regularly, even after turning 65, through the same plan review process.
• Your parent can continue to receive NDIS supports including personal care, therapies, and assistive technology.
• Participants over 65 can request increased funding or supports if their disability related needs change – for example, upgrading a wheelchair, adding occupational therapy sessions, or increasing NDIS travel and transport support.
• Community participation funding, home modifications, and allied health services remain accessible.

What may shift over time is the balance between disability needs and ageing-related needs. The NDIA might suggest exploring aged care as your parent’s health and mobility change. That doesn’t mean they’re being pushed out – it means you should start understanding both systems.

Plan ahead: schedule an NDIS plan review in the 12–18 months before and after 65, gathering medical reports and functional assessments so your parent’s care plan reflects realistic future goals.

NDIS Eligibility Rules at and After Age 65

The age rule is straightforward: NDIS eligibility requires being under 65 at the time of first application. Here’s how that plays out in practice:

• If your parent is under 65 and has a permanent or significant disability, they can apply for the NDIS. Once accepted, they stay in the scheme past 65.
• New applicants cannot apply for the NDIS after turning 65. They must seek aged care support instead – through My Aged Care, Home Care Packages, or the Commonwealth Home Support Program.
• Acquired disabilities after 65 require seeking support through aged care, not the NDIS. If your parent is diagnosed with a significant disability at 67 and was never a participant, the NDIS is not an option.
• If your parent leaves the NDIS after 65 – say, to fully switch to an aged care provider – they generally cannot rejoin later. This decision is essentially permanent.
• First Nations participants may access aged care supports from age 50, while the NDIS age limit remains the same for everyone. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families should begin coordinating both systems earlier.

NDIS vs Aged Care System: What’s Best for Your Parent?

Understanding the key differences between these two systems helps you make informed decisions rather than reactive ones.

Participants with lifelong disabilities – such as cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, or acquired brain injury – may prefer to stay in the NDIS for specialised care and personalised supports. But if age-related conditions like advanced dementia or complex nursing care become dominant, transitioning to aged care may offer more appropriate support options. Aged care services include home care and nursing assistance that the NDIS may not cover.

This is a conversation to have as a family, not a decision made under pressure.

Planning Ahead as Your Parent Approaches 65

Start early. Ideally around age 60–62. Here’s a practical timeline:

• Ages 60–62: Begin conversations about future housing – staying at home, supported accommodation, or a residential aged care facility. Explore how each option interacts with your parent’s NDIS plan.
• Ages 62–64: Review your parent’s goals and support needs. What matters most – independence, community participation, everyday tasks, specialised therapies? Document everything with allied health reports and support worker notes.
• 12 months before 65: Schedule an NDIS planning meeting or plan review. Ensure NDIS funding matches likely future needs, including higher care hours or assistive technology items if mobility is changing. Your parent can access aged care services after turning 65, so familiarise yourself with the aged care website and programs like the support at home program, respite care, and aged care assessments.
• Around 65: Clearly separate disability related needs from age-related needs in all documentation. This distinction matters when talking to the NDIA or aged care assessors and protects your parent’s eligibility to receive services under the right system.

NDIS participants can continue receiving support after turning 65, but only if the documentation supports it.

When Your Parent Might Need to Move From NDIS to Aged Care Supports

Two events trigger a mandatory exit from the NDIS after 65:

• Permanent move into residential aged care: If your parent enters a nursing home permanently after 65, they must leave the NDIS on that same day. There is no internal review available for this trigger – it’s legislated.
• Starting permanent home care services: If your parent begins receiving government-funded home services (like a Home Care Package under the support programme) after turning 65, this also triggers an exit. Individuals cannot receive NDIS and aged care supports simultaneously for the same types of support.

You must notify the NDIS in writing to transition to aged care. You can switch to aged care if you leave the NDIS, but once out, there’s no going back.

What changes for your family member after transition:

• NDIS funding is often higher and more flexible than aged care programs. Disability support like specialised therapies, behaviour support, and high levels of one-to-one support may be reduced under aged care funding.
• Some assistive technology may move with your parent; other supports won’t carry over.

Do not exit the NDIS until you have written confirmation of aged care approvals – including an ACAT outcome and a specific home care package level – with a clear start date. AIHW data shows that gaps between systems can leave people without basic assistance.

How to Access Aged Care Support While Protecting Disability Supports

My Aged Care is the gateway for Australians aged 65 and older – or 50 and older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. You can apply for My Aged Care online or by phone.

Here’s how to navigate it step by step:

• Request an aged care assessment: Contact My Aged Care and arrange an assessment at your parent’s home. Assessors evaluate daily living tasks – bathing, dressing, meal preparation, mobility, continence, and safety. ACAT assessments for aged care can take weeks to months, so don’t leave this until the last minute.
• Separate disability from ageing needs: During the assessment, clearly identify which supports are currently NDIS-funded (assistive technology, specialised therapies, community assistance) versus what is purely age-related. This prevents unintentional duplication or a forced NDIS exit before you’re ready.
• Research local providers: Look at aged care provider options in your area. Check cost structures, whether they understand permanent disability, and whether they offer community participation, transport, and respite care. Not all providers have disability expertise – seek support from those who do.
• For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families: Ask assessors specifically about culturally safe services, community-controlled organisations, and any specialised aged care support options. These families can access services through a Services Australia centre and through government programs designed for older Australians in First Nations communities.

Supporting Your Parent Emotionally and Practically Through the Change

This isn’t just a paperwork exercise. Your parent may fear losing the personalised supports they’ve relied on for years. They may worry about what happens to their independence, their routines, their support workers.

• Start conversations early about fears around “getting old,” losing the NDIS, or moving into aged care. Let your parent feel in control rather than pressured. This is about their life and their ability to live independently.
• Bring your parent to every major meeting – NDIS plan reviews, aged care assessments – and make sure they’re involved in decisions about providers and living arrangements. A protected special category visa holder or permanent resident has the same rights to personalised advice and dignity in this process.
• Act as an advocate: keep notes, ask follow-up questions, and request written explanations when the NDIA or aged care system proposes changes. Challenge decisions that don’t reflect your parent’s documented disability past and current needs.
• Prioritise continuity – keeping familiar support workers, the same allied health professionals, and maintaining community participation routines reduces anxiety during any transition.
• Look after yourself. Explore carer support programs, respite options, and counselling if the planning process becomes overwhelming. You can’t help your parent if you’re running on empty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my parent apply for the NDIS after they turn 65 if they get a new disability diagnosis?

No. If your parent is already 65 or older when a disability is diagnosed, they cannot newly apply for the NDIS. They must instead access support through My Aged Care and other aged care programs. Encourage their doctors to document both the disability and ageing issues thoroughly so the aged care assessment accurately reflects all support needs and captures the need for specialised care. An Australian citizen or permanent resident over 65 follows the same pathway – aged care, not NDIS.

Can my parent stay on NDIS and also get a Home Care Package at the same time?

Generally, no. The NDIS and aged care system will not both fund similar everyday supports for the same person at the same time. Some people may use small, time-limited aged care services (like respite care) while still on the NDIS. But once an ongoing home care package or other supports start permanently after 65, the NDIA usually expects the person to leave the NDIS. The Australian government maintains this “no double funding” principle across both systems. Service agreements with an aged care provider should be reviewed carefully before committing.

What happens to my parent’s assistive technology and home modifications if they move into residential aged care?

Some equipment – like wheelchairs or communication devices – may move with your parent into the facility. Major home modifications obviously stay with the old home and won’t be funded again. Ask the aged care provider which equipment they supply, what your parent can bring, and whether new assistive technology will be funded under aged care rather than the NDIS. The Commonwealth Continuity of Support Programme and other aged care programs may cover some ongoing disability needs, but coverage is typically less comprehensive.

How early should I start planning if my parent is on the NDIS and approaching 65?

Start serious planning around age 60–62. Review the current NDIS plan, clarify long-term goals, and learn the basics of the aged care system. Book a thorough NDIS plan review within 12 months of 65 so that funding lines up with realistic needs for the next couple of years while you explore aged care options. Gather all medical evidence, occupational therapy reports, and functional assessments early – missing documentation delays everything.

Does being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander change how NDIS and aged care work for my parent?

Yes. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can often access My Aged Care from age 50, while NDIS age rules – under 65 to apply – are the same for everyone. This earlier access means planning should start sooner. Ask specifically about culturally safe aged care services, community-controlled organisations, and how to coordinate existing NDIS supports with earlier access to aged care programs. Your parent deserves providers who understand their cultural needs alongside their disability needs.