Specialist disability accommodation position paper on draft pricing and payments

Following national consultation on the Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Pricing and Payments framework, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has released the SDA Position Paper on Draft Pricing and Payments. The paper is designed to provide advice to the market and to give stakeholders the opportunity to provide feedback on the NDIA’s approach. The release of this position paper is an important step in the development of a market that meets the SDA needs of people with disability across Australia. Ensuring that people with disability have real choice and control over where they live and who they live with is an integral component in supporting NDIS participants to live ordinary lives. For that choice and control to exist, the supply of innovative, affordable and accessible housing needs to increase. The prices and processes contained in this paper have been designed to encourage the growth of that supply, whilst ensuring as smooth as possible transition for people in existing supported accommodation. The paper is not designed to be a guide for participants on how they will receive support for SDA through the NDIS.  Information for participants on SDA supports, including details on eligibility requirements, the level of support participants will receive and the processes for accessing these supports, will be released by the end of May 2016.   About Specialist Disability Accommodation Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) refers to specialist designed housing for NDIS participants that require integrated housing and supports, due to their significant functional impairment and/or complex needs.  SDA has historically been delivered primarily by State and Territory Governments, but from 1 July 2016, funding for SDA will begin to be transitioned to the NDIS. Eligible NDIS participants will receive funding in their packages to support the cost of the accommodation. This funding is not to cover support costs, which are assessed and funded separately by the NDIS. The separation of funding for the actual accommodation and the funding participants receive for support is important because it gives participants choice and control over the supports they receive. An individual is not tied to receiving support from a specific provider just because of the place they choose to live. Information for participants on SDA supports, including details on eligibility requirements, the level of support participants will receive and the processes for accessing these supports will be released by the end of May 2016