‘Vapes, cruises’: What can and can’t be claimed on NDIS

People on the NDIS have been able to claim all sorts of weird and wacky treatments on the taxpayer. But apparently, no longer, writes Julie Cross.

Analysis: For years people on the National Disability Insurance Scheme have been able to claim all sorts of weird and wacky treatments on the taxpayer, from psychic readings, to crystals and cuddle therapy.

But apparently, no longer.

On Tuesday NDIS Minister Bill Shorten released a definitive list of what can and can’t be claimed.

Just in case anyone needs clarification, participants cannot use funds to buy vapes, booze, drugs, sex workers, concert tickets or cruises. As if that really needed to be said?

They also can’t use NDIS money to pay the mortgage or buy the weekly shop at Coles.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten has released a definitive list of what can and can’t be claimed. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

We’ve been hearing about these types of NDIS fails from Shorten for quite some time. No wonder the public’s confidence in the $44 billion dollar a year scheme is at rock bottom.

But part of the problem all along has been the vague criteria. Participants can claim for services they deem “reasonable and necessary”.

This is always going to be troublesome because it is such a loose term and a matter of opinion.

So, it is right that Shorten has published a list.

It makes things clearer at last.

He said the list will give all Australians confidence that the “cowboys and fly-by-nighters can’t sell their sort of nonsense and be subsidised to do so”.

There will no longer be any ‘vague criteria’ on what can be claimed. Picture: Mark Wilson

But what needs to be addressed is how this ever happened at all? Where were all the checks and balances in the system that should have stopped claims like this in the first place? Have they been fixed too?

Meanwhile, disability advocates are desperately trying to get their heads around the wider implications of this new list.

They fear the changes Shorten is not shouting about, especially as they come into force on October 3.

Disability Advocacy Network Australia deputy CEO El Gibbs says it is all well and good to ban clairvoyants or shamanic therapies, but the bigger worry is potential changes to essential supports that people with disability and their families rely on and “need time to understand and work through”.

She said with only days to go, there isn’t enough time to know what is and isn’t OK and whether these changes will leave people with disability “owing money to the NDIS”.

Originally published as ‘Vapes, cruises’: What can and can’t be claimed on NDIS