PARTICIPANTS in the National Disability Insurance Scheme are working more, earning higher incomes and reporting improved wellbeing in the years after joining, according to new research from the e61 Institute.
The study found that four years after entering the scheme, participants were working an average of 1.8 additional hours per week and earning $76 more per fortnight. They were also 5.7 percentage points less likely to rely on JobSeeker payments.
At the same time, participants reported a 4.1-point increase in vitality compared to when they first joined the scheme.
However, the research also found participants were 7 percentage points more likely to receive the Disability Support Pension, reflecting overlapping eligibility between different forms of support.
The report, Work, Welfare, and Wellbeing Around Entry into the NDIS, drew on longitudinal data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey, tracking individuals over time.
Research manager Pelin Akyol said the findings highlight that many participants enter the NDIS during particularly challenging periods.
“The data shows that people are typically entering the NDIS at a difficult point – after a sustained period
of declining health, growing detachment from the labour force, and increasing reliance on income support,” she said.
While overall physical and mental health outcomes remained low after entry, participants reported steady improvements in vitality each year.
“The trend away from working also begins to reverse as participants gradually transition back into employment or take up more hours after entering the scheme,” Dr Akyol said.
The research suggests these improvements build gradually over time, rather than appearing immediately.
“This indicates participants and their families need time to adapt and reorganise around a permanent impairment,” Dr Akyol said.
