For Valerie Mudie, having a guide dog means absolute independence.
The 70-year-old South Australian is blind from a condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa and can see little more than variation in light.
But because of her age, she doesn't qualify for the National Insurance Disability Scheme - which means services like having a guide dog could come at an expense.
That could make it difficult for others like her to afford one.
"I can't really tell you how good it is (to have a guide dog)," she told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
"You can pick up that handle and walk out the door.
"They have been a very precious part of my life."
Ms Mudie's guide dog died about six months ago and she's been contemplating entering My Aged Care - which is the government's system to assess the needs of older Australians.
"It's a very confusing set up, I think a lot of people are not quite certain about what would be covered by the scheme."
A disabled person can benefit from the NDIS if they join before they turn 65. Those benefits continue after they turn 65.
However, if they are over 65 at the time it rolls out, they miss out.
It means two 66-year-olds with the same disability could be on different support packages: one with a disability focus and one with an aged care focus.
South Australian senator Nick Xenophon says that's not fair.
He says the NDIS is a "terrific program" but believes the government needs to sort out these types of anomalies.
"There's an injustice in the current system," he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
He wants to talk to Social Services Minister Christian Porter about tweaking the system so that people who don't fit "neatly in this box of being under 65" aren't disadvantaged.
"Valerie isn't asking for much, she's just asking for a fair go," he said.
"If you're 64 years and 364 days you're covered in terms of guide dogs and other supports, if you're a day older when it comes into force, you're not covered."
Parliament's human rights watchdog questioned the 65-year-old cut off in 2013, saying the plan raised age discrimination issues.
