NDIS or My Aged Care: the age 65 boundary
The NDIS and My Aged Care can look similar from the outside because both involve support with daily life. But they are different systems, with different laws, entry rules, assessments and funding arrangements. The age 65 boundary is one of the most important differences to understand early.
This article keeps to the general principle. It does not try to cover every edge case, because the details can change and personal circumstances matter. If you are close to 65, already in the NDIS, supporting a parent, or trying to work out which door to knock on first, use this as a map and then check the official NDIS and My Aged Care pages.
The core difference
The NDIS is Australia's disability support scheme. It is for people who meet the NDIS access requirements, including age, residence and disability or early-intervention requirements. For psychosocial disability, the NDIS looks at the functional impact of a likely permanent impairment, not just the name of a mental health diagnosis.
My Aged Care is the entry point for Australian Government subsidised aged care services. It is for older people who need help with everyday tasks, home support, aged care assessments, home care or residential aged care. My Aged Care eligibility is based on age, needs and situation.
The simplest version is:
- if you are applying to the NDIS, you must do that before you turn 65;
- if you are already an NDIS participant before 65, you may be able to stay with the NDIS after 65;
- if you are 65 or older and not already an NDIS participant, My Aged Care is usually the aged-care doorway;
- you generally do not use NDIS supports and aged care supports at the same time.
The official NDIS page on age requirements is the best place to check the current rule.
Applying before you turn 65
If you are not yet an NDIS participant, the timing matters. The NDIS says a person must be younger than 65 on the day they apply. That does not mean everyone under 65 will be eligible. You still need to meet the other NDIS requirements, including the disability or early-intervention requirements and residence rules.
For mental health, this distinction matters. A diagnosis alone is not the whole application. The NDIS needs evidence of psychosocial disability and functional impact: how the impairment affects daily life, social and economic participation, self-management, learning, communication, mobility or self-care, and why NDIS supports are likely to be needed.
If you are 63 or 64 and have long-term psychosocial disability, do not wait because you feel unsure. Start gathering evidence and seek advice early. You may still decide not to apply, or you may not meet access. But if you wait until after your 65th birthday, the NDIS access door is generally closed for new applicants.
Our guides to applying for the NDIS with psychosocial disability and NDIS evidence for psychosocial disability explain the evidence side in more detail.
If you are already a participant at 65
Turning 65 does not automatically remove you from the NDIS if you became a participant before your 65th birthday. NDIS guidance says you can decide whether you want to keep using NDIS supports or change to aged care supports, and that nothing changes if you choose to continue as an NDIS participant.
That is the general principle. There are important limits. NDIS guidance on residential aged care says you will need to leave the NDIS if you move permanently into residential aged care after turning 65, and also if you start receiving permanent home care services from the aged care system after turning 65. Because these rules are significant, check the current NDIS pages and speak with your my NDIS contact before making decisions.
The practical question is not just "Which system can I use?" It is "Which system best matches my needs now?" Some people remain in the NDIS because their support needs are primarily disability-related. Some people explore aged care because ageing-related needs have become the main issue. Some people need careful transition planning so supports do not drop away.
My Aged Care and earlier access for some people
My Aged Care says eligibility for an aged care assessment is based on age, needs and situation. Its Should I apply? page says a person may qualify for assessment if they have care needs and are aged 65 or older, are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 or older, or are homeless or at risk of homelessness and aged 50 or older.
That does not mean every person in those age groups will receive the same services. An assessment decides eligibility and which program may apply. It also does not mean the NDIS is irrelevant for every person under 65. These are separate systems with separate purposes.
For First Nations people who are already NDIS participants, NDIS guidance says they can choose to access aged care supports from 50 years of age or continue as an NDIS participant. Because choices at this boundary can affect supports, it is worth getting advice before moving systems.
Psychosocial disability does not age out under 65
Older adults under 65 can have psychosocial disability. A person does not stop being a disability applicant because they are in their 50s or early 60s. The question for the NDIS is still whether the person meets the access requirements.
This is worth saying because some people assume the NDIS is only for children, young adults or people with visible disabilities. It is not. A person with enduring schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, complex trauma, anxiety or another mental health condition may have psychosocial disability if the impairment is likely to be permanent and significantly affects everyday life. The NDIS then considers the evidence against its access rules.
At the same time, not everyone with a mental health condition will meet NDIS access. The scheme is not a general mental health treatment system. Clinical treatment remains with the health and mental health system. NDIS supports focus on functional capacity, daily life, participation, independence and long-term disability-related support.
Supporting a parent through either system
Adult children often reach this question when a parent is struggling at home. The parent may be missing appointments, not eating properly, becoming isolated, falling behind on bills, avoiding services, or moving in and out of hospital. It may be unclear whether the issue is ageing, disability, mental health, physical health, housing, grief, cognition, or all of it together.
Start with age and the main support need.
If your parent is under 65 and has long-term disability-related functional impact, including psychosocial disability, look at NDIS access first. If mental health is the main issue, gather evidence from the GP, psychiatrist, psychologist, mental health team, hospital or support services. Focus on what daily life looks like, not only diagnosis.
If your parent is 65 or older and not already an NDIS participant, start with My Aged Care. You can help them check whether they should apply for an assessment, make notes about what they need help with, and be present if they want support during calls or assessments.
If your parent is already an NDIS participant and is approaching 65, encourage an early conversation with their my NDIS contact or support coordinator. Do not wait until a hospital admission or sudden move forces rushed decisions.
Questions to ask before choosing a door
Useful questions include:
- How old is the person now, and when do they turn 65?
- Are they already an NDIS participant?
- Are the main needs disability-related, ageing-related, clinical, housing-related, or mixed?
- Is there current evidence from treating professionals?
- Are there urgent safety, health or housing risks that need a faster mainstream response?
- Would a support coordinator, advocate, GP or social worker help make the next step clearer?
If you are unsure, it is reasonable to contact the relevant system and ask. NDIS partners can help people understand NDIS access and community supports. My Aged Care can explain its assessment pathway. A GP can also be a useful starting point when health, mental health and functional decline are tangled together.
Common questions
Can I apply for the NDIS after I turn 65?
In general, no. The NDIS says anyone applying must be younger than 65 on the day they apply. If you are 65 or older and not already an NDIS participant, aged care supports may be the relevant pathway.
Can I stay on the NDIS after I turn 65?
If you became an NDIS participant before your 65th birthday, you can generally choose to keep using NDIS supports. Check current NDIS guidance before moving into aged care or starting aged care-funded home care, because that can change your NDIS status.
Can I use NDIS and My Aged Care at the same time?
NDIS guidance says you cannot use NDIS and aged care supports at the same time. The boundary can be significant, so get advice before changing systems.
Is My Aged Care only for people over 65?
Mostly, but not only. My Aged Care says Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 or older, and people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness aged 50 or older, may qualify for an aged care assessment if they have care needs.
Does psychosocial disability count if I am in my 50s or 60s?
It can. Age does not remove psychosocial disability before 65. The NDIS will still look at whether you meet its access requirements, including evidence of functional impact and likely permanent impairment.
Where to from here
If you are under 65 and want help understanding NDIS psychosocial evidence, you can send a referral or book a call. If you are 65 or older and not already in the NDIS, start with My Aged Care and ask for an assessment pathway that reflects your current needs.
This article is general information, not medical or clinical advice. For support with your situation, talk to your GP, treating team, or call us on 1300 487 996. In an emergency call 000. For urgent mental-health support call Lifeline on 13 11 14.