Govt sets aside NDIS funds

The federal government says it remains on track to fully roll out the national disability insurance scheme by July 2019.

A working-age welfare payment that includes recognising a claimant's ability to work is set to be included in a draft review of the welfare system (Getty/AFP)

 

The federal budget sets aside $825 million in 2014/15 for the DisabilityCare Australia Fund, which starts on July 1 and is set to grow by 3.5 per cent a year.

The states and territories will be able to draw down from the fund when they meet key conditions, such as an agreement to fully roll out the NDIS and milestones relating to participation of people with disabilities.

An initial allocation to the state and territory governments totalling $74 million will be given in 2015/16.

The allocation will rise to $188.5 million in 2016/17 and $298 million in 2017/18.

The budget papers show that while Western Australia has not agreed to the full scheme, if it signed up it would receive $46.3 million over the next three years.

WA will in the meantime receive $55 million over the next two years to trial its MyWay disability scheme.