The NDIS and aged care are two separate government systems, and turning 65 is where they meet. This guide explains who can stay on the NDIS after 65, who cannot join after 65, what ends an NDIS plan when someone starts aged care, and how to weigh up the choice.
For this guide we read the NDIS Act 2013, the Aged Care Act 2024, the NDIA’s guidance on turning 65 and leaving the NDIS, and the My Aged Care pages on assessment and Support at Home. Every claim below comes from those primary sources, and we link the main ones in the check-it-yourself section.
NDIS and aged care after 65: quick summary
- To join the NDIS, you must be younger than 65 on the day you apply. This is a legal requirement in the NDIS Act.
- If you became a participant before your 65th birthday, you can stay on the NDIS after 65. The NDIA says nothing changes if you choose to continue.
- You can’t use NDIS and aged care supports at the same time.
- You leave the NDIS if you move into residential aged care permanently, or start permanent home care through the aged care system, for the first time after you turn 65. There is no internal review of this.
- If you already lived in residential aged care before you turned 65, you can choose to stay an NDIS participant after 65.
- Once you leave after 65, you can’t rejoin, because anyone who applies must be younger than 65.
- For aged care, the starting point is My Aged Care (NDIS participants: talk to the NDIA first). Support at Home is the government programme for aged care at home.
Two systems that work differently
The NDIA describes the NDIS and the aged care system as “2 separate government systems that work differently”. The NDIS is for people with a permanent or significant disability who are aged under 65 when they become a participant. It provides funding directly to participants to buy the NDIS supports in their plan.
By contrast, the aged care system is for older people who need help with the costs of care related to ageing. That includes help with daily activities, nursing care and residential aged care. The NDIA notes that the aged care system pays providers directly. Aged care now operates under the Aged Care Act 2024, which started on 1 November 2025.
| NDIS | Aged care | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | People with a permanent or significant disability | Older people with care needs related to ageing |
| Age to get in | Younger than 65 on the day you apply | 65 or over; 50 or over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, or people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; or already living in an aged care home or getting aged care services |
| Where you start | An application to the NDIA | An aged care assessment through My Aged Care |
| How the money flows | Funding goes to the participant’s plan to buy NDIS supports | The system pays providers directly |
| The law | National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 | Aged Care Act 2024 |
| Phone | NDIA: 1800 800 110 | My Aged Care: 1800 200 422 |
Who can stay on the NDIS after 65
The age rule is in section 22 of the NDIS Act. It says a person meets the age requirements “if the person was aged under 65 when the access request in relation to the person was made”. In other words, the rule looks at your age on the day you apply, not your age today.
So the NDIA’s guidance is clear: you can stay on the NDIS once you turn 65, as long as you became a participant before your 65th birthday. When you reach 65, you can decide whether to keep using NDIS supports or change to aged care supports. If you stay, the NDIA says “nothing changes if you choose to continue as an NDIS participant”.
What you cannot do is use both. The NDIA says you can’t use NDIS and aged care supports at the same time. My Aged Care says the same from the other side: you cannot get Support at Home or Commonwealth Home Support Program services while you are still receiving services through the NDIS.
If you already lived in aged care before 65
Some participants were living in residential aged care before they turned 65. The NDIA’s Leaving the NDIS guideline says they can choose to remain NDIS participants and keep receiving NDIS support after 65. They can also choose to leave, with a cooling-off period of at least 90 days to change their mind.
The guideline gives an example. Jane moved permanently into an aged care facility at 50 and was found eligible for the NDIS at 64. Now 66, she is still a participant, and she uses her NDIS supports to work towards her goal of moving out to live with her children.
When aged care ends an NDIS plan
Section 29 of the NDIS Act lists when a person stops being a participant. In the current version of the Act, paragraph 29(1)(b) says this happens when “the person commences accessing ongoing funded aged care services on a permanent basis, other than under a specialist aged care program, and this first occurs only after the person turns 65 years of age”.
The NDIA’s guideline puts this in plain English. You leave the NDIS in two situations:
- moving into residential aged care permanently for the first time after you have turned 65
- starting to get home care services from the aged care system permanently for the first time after you have turned 65.
Three parts of that wording matter. First, it applies to services funded by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing through the aged care system. Second, it is about permanent care. Third, it must happen for the first time after 65, which is why Jane, who moved in at 50, can stay. The term “specialist aged care program” comes from the Aged Care Act 2024, which defines it as a Government program for delivering funded aged care services under particular Commonwealth agreements or arrangements.
What happens when you leave
If you move into residential aged care in this way, the NDIA says you leave the NDIS on the same day you move in. The law ends your participation without the NDIA making a reviewable decision, so you can’t ask for an internal review. In addition, the usual 90-day cooling-off period does not apply when you leave because you are receiving aged care supports for the first time after 65.
The guideline’s example is Vish. He is 66, an NDIS participant, and decides to move permanently into residential aged care for the first time. The law says he stops being a participant. He also can’t become a participant again, because he is older than 65.
You also need to tell the NDIA if you move into residential aged care or begin home care after you turn 65. You can call 1800 800 110, send an enquiry through the NDIA’s service hub, or talk to your my NDIS contact.
Check the timing before you apply for or start home care
The NDIA uses two slightly different phrases for home care. Its guideline says you leave if you start getting home care services permanently. However, its Guide to leaving the NDIS says you leave if you are approved for support at home services from the aged care system after you turn 65. For that reason, talk to the NDIA before you apply for an aged care assessment or accept any aged care services at home, so you know exactly when your plan would stop.
The guideline’s third example shows the choice in practice. Kirsty has just turned 65 and uses her NDIS plan for personal care. She is now eligible for home care with aged care funding, and she can decide whether to start it. If she starts getting those services permanently, she must leave the NDIS.
Who cannot join the NDIS after 65
If you are 65 or over and not already a participant, you can’t apply for the NDIS. The NDIA says you may be eligible for aged care supports instead, and its partners can help you learn about mainstream and community services in your area.
This rule also covers anyone who leaves the NDIS and later wants to return. The guideline says a person who reapplies must meet every eligibility requirement again, including being younger than 65 on the day they reapply. For that reason, leaving the NDIS after 65 is a one-way decision.
My Aged Care also mentions an older programme. People who were over 65 when the NDIS first rolled out in their area may have been accepted into the Disability Support for Older Australians (DSOA) programme on 1 July 2021. However, DSOA is not open to new clients.
How aged care works: My Aged Care and Support at Home
My Aged Care is the government’s entry point to funded aged care. Its website sets out four steps: explore whether aged care is right for you, get assessed, find a provider, and set up your services.
Getting assessed
If you are an NDIS participant aged 65 or over, talk to the NDIA before you apply, because its guide says being approved for support at home services after 65 means leaving the NDIS.
To start, you apply for an aged care assessment. You can apply online, which takes 10 to 15 minutes and needs your Medicare card. Alternatively, you can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm. You can also book a face-to-face appointment with an Aged Care Specialist Officer at a Services Australia centre on 1800 227 475.
After you apply, an assessment organisation contacts you to arrange the assessment. A trained assessor usually comes to your home, although an assessment can also happen elsewhere, by telehealth or over the phone. A family member or friend you trust can help you apply and be there with you.
What Support at Home is
Support at Home is the government programme that helps older people keep living at home as they age. It started in November 2025 and replaced the Home Care Packages Program and the Short-term Restorative Care Programme. According to My Aged Care, its services include:
- Clinical supports: such as nursing care, occupational therapy, podiatry and help with showering or dressing
- Independence: such as transport and support to attend appointments or social events
- Everyday living: such as cleaning, gardening, shopping and meal preparation.
People approved for ongoing services are given one of 8 classifications with funding, based on their care needs. There are also 3 short-term pathways: restorative care, assistive technology and home modifications, and end-of-life care. After approval, you choose a provider once your funding comes through. My Aged Care says wait times depend on the services you were approved for and your priority category.
Support at Home asks you to contribute to the cost of services, based on the service and what you can afford. You won’t contribute to clinical support costs. From 1 October 2026, personal care is fully funded for people approved for the personal care service type. For lower-level help at home, the Commonwealth Home Support Program continues, and it has been extended to 30 June 2029.
How to choose between the NDIS and aged care
The NDIA leaves the choice with participants. It says you can ask for an aged care assessment “when your ageing needs outweigh your disability needs”, and that moving to aged care “will be a better arrangement for some people”. It also says it is worth looking at both systems to understand which one works best for you. These steps follow that guidance.
1. List what your NDIS plan pays for now
Write down each support you use, how often, and what it helps you do. Then mark which needs come from your disability and which have grown with age. That split matters, because the NDIA links an aged care assessment to ageing needs outweighing disability needs.
2. Explore My Aged Care before you turn 65
The NDIA suggests exploring My Aged Care before your 65th birthday. Look at what services are available, how the application works and what the assessment involves. Then compare the Support at Home service list with the supports on your list.
3. Think about where you want to live
Moving into an aged care home permanently for the first time after 65 ends your NDIS plan on the day you move. If you want to stay in your own home, compare what each system offers there.
4. Remember the decision is one-way
After 65, leaving the NDIS for aged care can’t be undone, because you would not meet the age requirement if you reapplied. There is also no internal review. So take the time you need before you start permanent aged care.
5. Talk it through before you act
The NDIA suggests talking to your my NDIS contact or support coordinator about your aged care eligibility. It says they can help with the transition and make sure your current needs are included in your aged care assessment. In addition, talk to the NDIA before you apply for an aged care assessment or accept any aged care services at home, so the timing is clear.
| Your situation | What the rules say | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Under 65, with disability, not on the NDIS | You can apply, but you must be younger than 65 on the day you apply | The NDIA, on 1800 800 110 |
| 65 or over, never on the NDIS | You can’t apply for the NDIS; you may be eligible for aged care | My Aged Care, on 1800 200 422 |
| Participant turning 65, needs mainly disability-related | You can stay on the NDIS, and nothing changes | Keep using your plan |
| Participant over 65, ageing needs now outweigh disability needs | You can ask for an aged care assessment; starting permanent aged care for the first time after 65 ends your plan | Your my NDIS contact or support coordinator, then My Aged Care |
| Participant already living in residential aged care before 65 | You can choose to stay an NDIS participant after 65 | Your my NDIS contact |
| Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander participant aged 50 or over | You can choose aged care supports from 50 or continue as an NDIS participant | Your my NDIS contact, then My Aged Care |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
First Nations people can access My Aged Care from 50 years of age. The NDIA says a First Nations participant can choose to access aged care supports from 50 or continue as an NDIS participant. Under section 58 of the Aged Care Act 2024, a person under 65 who wants an aged care assessment must choose, in the approved form, to receive aged care before 65. They must also be told about other services that may meet their needs. When you apply for an assessment, you can ask for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander assessment organisation.
Younger people in residential aged care
My Aged Care says Australia’s aged care services are not meant for people younger than 65. The NDIA says it is committed to making sure no NDIS participant under 65 lives in residential aged care, unless there are exceptional circumstances or it is their will and preference.
If a participant under 65 chooses to stay in aged care, they can still use their plan for NDIS supports. However, NDIS funding can’t pay some aged care costs, such as the daily care fee for meals, cleaning and heating. For a younger person at risk of entering residential aged care, the NDIA asks you to contact its specialist aged care team as early as possible, at aged.care.advisory.team@ndis.gov.au.
How to check the NDIS and aged care rules yourself
Rules and page wording change, so it helps to know where to look. Each of these takes a few minutes:
- Open the NDIS Act 2013 on the Federal Register of Legislation. Read section 22 for the age rule and section 29 for when participation ends. Check the compilation date at the top.
- Read the NDIA’s page on what the age requirements are. The section “After you turn 65” covers both participants and non-participants.
- Read the NDIA’s guide to residential aged care and its guide to leaving the NDIS. The second page links the full Leaving the NDIS guideline, with the Vish, Jane and Kirsty examples.
- For the aged care side, read My Aged Care’s page on support for people with disability, then its pages on how to get assessed and the Support at Home programme.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay on the NDIS after I turn 65?
Yes, if you became a participant before your 65th birthday. The NDIA says nothing changes if you choose to continue. You leave only in set situations, such as starting permanent aged care for the first time after 65.
Can I apply for the NDIS at 65 or older?
No. Section 22 of the NDIS Act requires you to be under 65 when you apply. Instead, you may be eligible for aged care, starting with an assessment through My Aged Care.
Can I get NDIS and aged care at the same time?
No. The NDIA says you can’t use NDIS and aged care supports at the same time. My Aged Care also says you cannot get Support at Home or Commonwealth Home Support Program services while you are still receiving NDIS services.
Do I lose my NDIS plan if I move into an aged care home?
Yes, if you move in permanently for the first time after you turn 65. You leave the NDIS on the day you move in. If you already lived in residential aged care before 65, however, you can choose to stay on the NDIS.
Can I get Support at Home while I am on the NDIS?
No. You would need to choose. Starting permanent home care through the aged care system for the first time after 65 ends your NDIS participation, and the NDIA’s guide links leaving to being approved for support at home services, so talk to the NDIA before you apply for an aged care assessment or accept any aged care services at home.
Can I go back to the NDIS after I move to aged care?
Not after 65. Anyone who reapplies must be younger than 65 on the day they reapply, so leaving after 65 is permanent.
Can I ask for a review if my plan ends because I started aged care?
No. The NDIA says the law ends your participation without a reviewable decision, so there is no internal review. That is why it pays to decide carefully beforehand.
Can First Nations people get aged care before 65?
Yes. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access My Aged Care from 50. A First Nations NDIS participant can choose aged care supports from 50 or continue on the NDIS.
Who should I talk to before deciding?
The NDIA suggests your my NDIS contact or your support coordinator. For the aged care side, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. Family members can also help you apply and be at your assessment.
How Centre of Hope can help
Centre of Hope is one team providing NDIS services and aged care services. If you are an NDIS participant weighing up the choice, our support coordination service can help you understand your plan and your options, and prepare for the conversation with the NDIA. If one of those options is one of our own services, we tell you plainly, talk through the alternatives, and leave the decision with you.
You can see our full range of NDIS services, or read about our aged care services, such as personal care, companionship, transport to appointments and care coordination. If you are an NDIS participant, start with our NDIS services, and talk to the NDIA before using any aged care service. To talk it through, call us on 0432 250 900 or contact our team.
Related reading
- NDIS eligibility criteria and checklist: the age, residence and disability requirements
- How the NDIS works: a plain-language guide to plans and funding
- Support coordination at Centre of Hope
- Aged care services at Centre of Hope
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and does not replace personal advice about your circumstances. Information is current as at 21 October 2026 and reflects the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (compilation of 1 October 2026), the Aged Care Act 2024 (compilation of 1 July 2026), the NDIA’s Leaving the NDIS guideline (30 September 2026) and the NDIA and My Aged Care pages named in this article. The examples come from the NDIA’s guideline, are illustrative and are not an entitlement: what applies to you depends on the NDIA’s and the aged care system’s decisions about your situation. Rules and programmes change, so always confirm the current position with the NDIA at ndis.gov.au and with My Aged Care before you rely on it. Centre of Hope is a registered NDIS provider in NSW, registration 4050161679.