Information on claims that the Minister regards as “non disability” claims

Response to this request is delayed. By law, National Disability Insurance Agency should normally have responded promptly and by (details)

Shirley Humphris

Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
Please provide the following documents under the FOI Act:

The number of claims for birdseed
Were /was the claim (s) for an assistance animal.
Was the claim in dispute by NDIA
Was the claim allowed for disability reasons
Was a debt raised
Was the plan management changed as a result of the claim.

The number of claims for mobile phones
The number of claims for mobile phones in dispute by NDIA
Number of claims allowed for disability reasons (eg participant has no other communication option).
Numbers of debts raised for mobile phone claims.
Numbers of change of management as a result of the claim

The number of claims for treadmills
The number of claims for treadmills in dispute by NDIA
Number of claims allowed for disability reasons (eg allied health recommendation).
Number of debts raised for claims
Number of change of plan management as a result of the claims

The number of claims for TV antennae
The number of claims in dispute by NDIA
Number of claims allowed for disability reasons (eg access to a TV for behaviour regulation ).
Was there a debt raised
Was there a change of management as a result of the claim.

Yours faithfully,

Shirley Humphris

foi, National Disability Insurance Agency

Thank you for your email to the National Disability Insurance Agency
(NDIA) Freedom of Information (FOI) team.
Please note: due to a high volume of requests, our ability to respond to
you in a timely manner may be affected. We will action your request as
soon as possible and will endeavour to process your matter within the
legislative deadlines. We may need to seek your agreement to an extension
of time. We appreciate your understanding if this is required.
Participant Information
Did you know the NDIA has other ways to access the documents and
information that we hold?

Participants, Guardians and Nominees can obtain copies of some participant
information through our National Contact Centre (NCC). For more
information about what’s available through the NCC, please contact 1800
800 110.
Please visit our [1]Access to Information webpage to find out more about
accessing information through:

* The [2]Participant Information Access (PIA) scheme
* The [3]Information Publication Scheme (IPS)
* The [4]myplace portal for participants   
* The [5]myplace portal for providers

Access to Data
You can also request data and statistics. Please visit our [6]Data and
insights webpage page for further information.
If you are able to obtain your information from a source listed above, you
can withdraw your FOI request by emailing [7][NDIA request email]

Further Information
Information about how to make an FOI request can be found on our website:
[8]Freedom of Information
Should you have a query unrelated to FOI, please contact the Agency by
email at [9][email address] or via webchat at [10]ndis.gov.au.
Alternatively, you can also contact us by phoning 1800 800 110.
Kind regards   

Freedom of Information Team 

Complaints Management & FOI Branch

General Counsel Division 

National Disability Insurance Agency 

E [11][NDIA request email]  

  

The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout
Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to them and their cultures and to Elders past, present
and emerging. 

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References

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2. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
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3. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
4. https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/usi...
https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/usi...
5. https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/workin...
https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/workin...
6. https://data.ndis.gov.au/
https://data.ndis.gov.au/
7. mailto:[NDIA request email]
mailto:[NDIA request email]
8. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
9. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
10. https://www.ndis.gov.au/
https://www.ndis.gov.au/
11. mailto:[NDIA request email]

foi, National Disability Insurance Agency

3 Attachments

Dear Shirley Humphris

 

Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement

 

Thank you for your request of 26 May 2024, made under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), for information held by the National
Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

 

Processing timeframes

 

In accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, a 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from 27 May 2024. You should
therefore expect a decision from us by 26 June 2024.

 

We’re sorry it is taking us longer than expected to process your request. 

We are therefore writing to seek your agreement to a 30-day extension of
time under section 15AA of the FOI Act. If you agree to this extension,
the new due date for us to make a decision on your request will be 24 July
2024.

Please let us know whether you agree by 19 June 2024.

If you don’t agree, we may need to seek an extension of time from the
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

 

Disclosure log

 

Information released under the FOI Act may be published on the NDIA’s
disclosure log located on our website. If you have any concerns about the
publication of information you have requested, please contact us.

 

Scope of your request

 

You have requested access to:

 

“The number of claims for birdseed

Were /was the claim (s) for an assistance animal.

Was the claim in dispute by NDIA

Was the claim allowed for disability reasons Was a debt raised Was the
plan management changed as a result of the claim.

 

The number of claims for mobile phones

The number of claims for mobile phones in dispute by NDIA Number of claims
allowed for disability reasons (eg participant has no other communication
option).

Numbers of debts raised for mobile phone claims.

Numbers of change of management as a result of the claim

 

The number of claims for treadmills

The number of claims for treadmills in dispute by NDIA Number of claims
allowed for disability reasons (eg allied health recommendation).

Number of debts raised for claims

Number of change of plan management as a result of the claims

 

The number of claims for TV antennae

The number of claims in dispute by NDIA

Number of claims allowed for disability reasons (eg access to a TV for
behaviour regulation ).

Was there a debt raised

Was there a change of management as a result of the claim.”

 

At present, the scope of your request does not include a timeframe and I
consider it may be too large to process. Therefore, I am seeking your
agreement to narrow the scope to the following:

 

“For the period 1 July 2023 to the date of the request (26 May 2024):

 

Part 1

 1. The number of participants who have claimed funding for the purchase
of birdseed.
 2. The number of participants who have claimed funding for the purchase
of birdseed for an assistance animal.
 3. The number of these claims disputed by the NDIA.
 4. The number of these claims in respect of which a debt was raised by
the NDIA.
 5. The number of these claims that resulted in a change to the management
of an NDIS plan.

Part 2

 1. The number of participants who have claimed funding for the purchase
of a mobile phone.
 2. The number of these claims disputed by the NDIA.
 3. The number of these claims accepted by the NDIA as a reasonable and
necessary support.
 4. The number of these claims in respect of which a debt was raised by
the NDIA.
 5. The number of these claims that resulted in a change to the management
of an NDIS plan.

Part 3

 1. The number of participants who have claimed funding for the purchase
of treadmills.
 2. The number of these claims disputed by the NDIA.
 3. The number of these claims accepted by the NDIA as a reasonable and
necessary support.
 4. The number of these claims in respect of which a debt was raised by
the NDIA.
 5. The number of these claims that resulted in a change to the management
of an NDIS plan.

Part 4

 1. The number of participants who have claimed funding for the purchase
of TV antennae.
 2. The number of these claims disputed by the NDIA.
 3. The number of these claims accepted by the NDIA as a reasonable and
necessary support.
 4. The number of these claims in respect of which a debt was raised by
the NDIA.
 5. The number of these claims that resulted in a change to the management
of an NDIS plan.”

Unless you advise otherwise, we will take it that you agree to the names
and contact details of NDIA staff being excluded from the scope of your
request (that is, the information will be treated as irrelevant).

 

Next steps

 

If you are happy for us to proceed as outlined above, please let me know
by 12 June 2024.

 

Please contact us at [1][NDIA request email] if you have any questions or
require help.

 

Regards

 

Helen

Assistant Director – Freedom of Information

Complaints Management & FOI Branch

General Counsel Division

National Disability Insurance Agency

 

The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout
Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to them and their cultures and to Elders past, present
and emerging.

 

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Shirley Humphris

Dear foi,

Extension agreed

Yours sincerely,

Shirley Humphris

foi, National Disability Insurance Agency

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Dear Shirley Humphris
 
Thank you for email below. Your prompt response is much appreciated.
 
Could you please also advise whether you agree to amending the scope of
your request to the following:
 
“For the period 1 July 2023 to the date of the request (26 May 2024):
 
Part 1
1. The number of participants who have claimed funding for the purchase of
birdseed.
2. The number of participants who have claimed funding for the purchase of
birdseed for an assistance animal.
3. The number of these claims disputed by the NDIA.
4. The number of these claims in respect of which a debt was raised by the
NDIA.
5. The number of these claims that resulted in a change to the management
of an NDIS plan.
 
Part 2
1. The number of participants who have claimed funding for the purchase of
a mobile phone.
2. The number of these claims disputed by the NDIA.
3. The number of these claims accepted by the NDIA as a reasonable and
necessary support.
4. The number of these claims in respect of which a debt was raised by the
NDIA.
5. The number of these claims that resulted in a change to the management
of an NDIS plan.
 
Part 3
1. The number of participants who have claimed funding for the purchase of
treadmills.
2. The number of these claims disputed by the NDIA.
3. The number of these claims accepted by the NDIA as a reasonable and
necessary support.
4. The number of these claims in respect of which a debt was raised by the
NDIA.
5. The number of these claims that resulted in a change to the management
of an NDIS plan.
 
Part 4
1. The number of participants who have claimed funding for the purchase of
TV antennae.
2. The number of these claims disputed by the NDIA.
3. The number of these claims accepted by the NDIA as a reasonable and
necessary support.
4. The number of these claims in respect of which a debt was raised by the
NDIA.
5. The number of these claims that resulted in a change to the management
of an NDIS plan.”
 
I look forward to your advice.
 
Kind regards
 
Helen [HIL533]
Assistant Director – Freedom of Information
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
 
The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout
Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to them and their cultures and to Elders past, present
and emerging.
 
 

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Shirley Humphris

Dear foi,

Thank you for your request.
I can narrow to between Jan 1st 2022 to date of the application of the FOI.
This would then include the time of the Fraud fusion taskforce, and that data available to John Dardo and the Minister.
We are interested in the claims made and the extent of the problem. Also whether they were legitimately claimed and disability related for the participant. The statements made by John Dardo were not able to be substantiated when mentioned in Estimates.

Kind Regards

Shirley Humphris

Yours sincerely,

Shirley Humphris