Bolt and National Disability Insurance Agency

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal considered the application of Mr. Bolt (the applicant) for review of a decision made by the National Disability Insurance Agency (the Agency) to refuse his access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The dispute centred on whether Mr. Bolt met the eligibility criteria for the NDIS, specifically concerning the nature and permanency of his disability.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether Mr. Bolt's impairments met the disability requirements for access to the NDIS. This involved assessing whether his functional capacity was substantially reduced in key areas such as mobility, self-care, and social interaction, and whether these impairments were likely to be permanent. The Tribunal also considered whether Mr. Bolt met the early intervention requirements for access.

In reaching its decision, the Tribunal carefully examined the evidence presented regarding Mr. Bolt's medical conditions and their impact on his daily life. The Senior Member applied the principles established under the *National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013* (Cth) and relevant NDIS operational guidelines. The assessment focused on the degree of functional limitation and the prognosis for improvement. The Tribunal found that while Mr. Bolt experienced some functional limitations, the evidence did not establish that these limitations were permanent or that his functional capacity was substantially reduced to the extent required for NDIS access.

The Tribunal affirmed the decision of the National Disability Insurance Agency to refuse access to the NDIS.