•  

Financial support for autism spectrum disorder: navigating the system

By Raising Children Network
 
 

Therapies and early intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can cost a lot of money. Families often have other expenses, too, such as equipment, travel and child care. Below is an overview of the different types of financial support available from federal, state, territory and local governments.

Accessing financial support for children with ASD

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families have rights to different kinds of financial support, often called funding entitlements. You have to apply for funding entitlements – you don’t get access to them automatically when your child is diagnosed. It helps to be prepared to spend time on the phone, filling in forms and making appointments.

Some funding entitlements require only proof of your child’s ASD diagnosis. Others will ask you to explain why you or your child need extra assistance. Some entitlements or services have only a limited amount of funding available, so you might be put on a waiting list.

When you’ve successfully accessed funding entitlements, they might be:

  • paid directly to you, either as income support or as medical or health rebates. For example, you might qualify for the Carer Allowance or Medicare rebates
  • allocated to your child and administered by a government officer or case manager. This might be done to fund a specific purpose, such as equipment, home modifications or certain therapy costs
  • allocated to your child and paid directly to a service provider. Examples of this include the preschool inclusion support subsidy
  • paid to a service provider without being specifically allocated to you or your child – this is sometimes called a ‘direct service’. For example, an early intervention program might be given money to offer children in your community places in their service
  • offered as concession rates on certain goods and services. For example, concessions are provided to Health Care Card holders for prescription medicines and certain utility bills.
In some cases, your request for funding might be unsuccessful. If you feel the decision made about your application is unfair, you have the right to ask for an explanation or review of the decision. If you want a review, consider asking an autism advisor about how this can be done.

Federal government funding entitlements available before and during diagnosis

SourceProgram or serviceFunding type and detailsWhere to find more information
Helping Children with AutismMedicare
  • You can get Medicare rebates for assessment and treatment sessions by psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists.
  • You can claim only a limited number of treatments per child.
Department of HealthMedicare Safety Net (MSN)The MSN helps with high out-of-pocket costs for certain Medicare services. Once you’ve spent a certain amount on approved services in a calendar year, you might be eligible for additional Medicare payments for the rest of the year.Read more about the Medicare Safety Net.
Commonwealth Respite and Carelink CentresThese centres provide free, confidential information on respite and support services available in your local area.Find out more about Carelink centres in your area or phone 1800 052 222.

State and territory governments funding entitlements available before and during diagnosis

SourceProgram or serviceFunding type and detailsWhere to find more information
HealthPublicly funded ASD assessment servicesYou won’t have to pay for these assessment services, but you might have to wait a long time before your child is assessed.Contact your state or territory autism association.
Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS)Assessment, family support and guidanceECIS is the general term for a range of government-funded early intervention services. Funding is paid to these services directly, and you will usually work with a case manager to access the service.
  • Find out more about ECIS using our service pathfinder.
  • Search your state/territory government websites for ECIS services, or contact your local autism association.

Federal government funding entitlements available after diagnosis

SourceProgram or serviceFunding type and detailsWhere to find more information
Centrelink
  • Carer allowance (non means-tested)
  • Carer payment (means-tested)
  • Carer Allowance (child) is a payment for people who care for children with a disability at home. The application form requires the carer and a medical professional to each complete a section. The payment starts from the date the form is lodged, not the date of diagnosis, so it’s a good idea to apply as soon as possible.
  • Carer Payment (child) supports people who can’t support themselves because they’re caring for a child with a disability.
  • Both allowances are fortnightly cash payments. Additional one-off payments are also announced from time to time.
Read more about Carer Allowance and Carer Payment.
Health Care Card
  • A Health Care Card is automatically issued for your child when you receive the Carer Allowance.
  • It entitles your child to concession rates for prescription medicines.
 
Helping Children with AutismMedicareRead more about accessing Medicare items for autism.
Early intervention funding
  • Funding of up to $12,000 paid to the Helping Children with Autism service provider(s). You can use this funding until your child’s 7th birthday, with a maximum of $6000 per financial year. You must apply for this funding before your child’s 6th birthday.
  • For outer regional and remote families, or families with two or more children with a diagnosed disability, an additional payment of $2000 can be made directly to you to help with extra travel and accommodation costs. Some families who are experiencing financial hardship may also be eligible for this payment.
  • It is essential to contact your local autism advisor after your child has been diagnosed to register for this funding.

 

  • You can also phone the Helping Children with Autism Helpline on 1800 289 177.
Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations (DEEWR)Inclusion Support Subsidy
  • This is a subsidy paid to approved child care services to enable them to provide extra care for children with special needs.
  • Not all children with additional needs will be eligible. Your child care service will need to apply through their Inclusion Support Facilitator.
Read more about the Inclusion Support Subsidy.

State and territory governments funding entitlements available after diagnosis

SourceProgram or serviceFunding type and detailsWhere to find more information
State or territory government departmentEarly Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS)
  • ECIS is the general term for a range of government-funded early intervention services. Funding is paid to these services directly, and you will usually work with a case manager to access the service.
  • Some governments might also offer flexible support packages to fund specific needs, as determined by a case manager or government officer.
  • Find out more about ECIS using our service pathfinder.
  • Search your state/territory government websites for ECIS services,  or contact your local autism association.
Your local municipal or shire officeHome and community care (HACC)
  • HACC funding helps councils provide in-home respite care and other forms of home help.
  • Families usually have to pay a part of the cost.
Contact your local council or shire office. You can find contact details in your local phone book or through our My Neighbourhood tool.
State or territory government department responsible for preschool or kindergarten servicesPreschool Inclusion SupportYour child’s preschool or kindergarten can apply for Inclusion Support funding to provide additional resources, usually an aide, to assist your child.Ask your preschool or kindergarten director to get the forms necessary to apply for this funding.
State and territory governmentsConcession schemes
  • The types of concessions and eligibility vary greatly. Concessions might apply to utility costs, public transport and taxi fares.
  • Most concessions will only apply to the child who is the Health Care Card holder.
Search your state or territory government websites using the keywords ‘concessions’ or ‘subsidies’.
State and territory governmentsCompanion Cards
  • Eligible people with a lifelong disability can receive a free ticket for their companion to attend participating attractions.
  • Companion Cards are available in all states and territories. 
Read more about the Companion Card.

Applying for financial support: tips from other parents

Applying for funding can be a complex process, so it’s really important to get organised. Parents of children with ASD often say the following strategies are helpful:

  • Keep all your documents – including letters, reports and copies of forms – in one folder or box.
  • Start a notebook with details from all your phone conversations – including notes on when you contacted each organisation, who you spoke to, and what they told you.
  • Keep receipts and make a note of all your expenses. This includes therapy and equipment charges, special clothing, household modifications, medical costs and program fees – anything you consider additional to the usual costs of raising a young child.

These records will be a big help when it’s time to prepare income tax returns, lodge Medicare claims and demonstrate what you need to case managers and government officers. Perhaps you could use a simple budget planner or spreadsheet – there are many available online that you can adapt to suit your purposes.

The autism association in your state or territory can help you, especially with state, territory or local government funding entitlements.

When it’s difficult
Applying for funding and getting approval isn’t always straightforward. Sometimes you’ll be faced with a delay, a waiting list or the need to go back a step before moving forward again. It can be disappointing or frustrating when this happens, especially if you need an answer about support as soon as possible.

The key is to prepare for the process as well as you can. When faced with challenges, try to stay positive, keep asking questions, and focus on what you can do next to help things along.

Talking with other parents in similar situations can help, too. You could start with our parents of children with ASD forum.

VIDEOID=7382
Keep at them. Ring them and send emails. I found through this process that we – the parents – have to be the proactive ones! The therapists and associations are often so overwhelmed they can get a bit behind.
 
 
 
  • Last updated19-07-2010
  • Last reviewed19-07-2010
  • Acknowledgements

    Article developed in collaboration with Amanda Golding, AmaGol Services.