The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a lifeline for many Australians, providing essential support and services.

However, the system has been allegedly plagued by fraudulent activities, with service providers exploiting the scheme and its beneficiaries.

A recent NDIS investigation revealed that private buyers were charged $1,300 less for a wheelchair than those on the scheme, and a shower chair cost NDIS buyers nearly $1,000 more.

Nicole Lee, President of People with Disability Australia, is all too familiar with the issue.

The government cracks down on alleged fraudulent activities and price gouging within the NDIS system. Image source: stockking on Freepik (left), Facebook/NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme (right).

She reportedly relied on her NDIS plan to pay for assistance around the home and has experienced firsthand the sting of being overcharged.

'I'm sick of being seen as a rolling dollar sign, I'm sick of being seen as somebody's cash cow,' she said.

'I've been overcharged for things like gardening—really, really overcharged.'

The government has now taken a stand and introduced new measures to combat these rorts, including fines and potential criminal penalties.

Soon, it will also be illegal for service providers to charge NDIS participants more than other customers.

This is part of a broader crackdown on NDIS fraud, which includes a $6.7 million multi-agency task force to investigate price gouging.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten announced the crackdown, stating, 'Not only is it immoral to rip off people with disabilities when you're a service provider, from the middle of next week, it's going to become illegal.'

He added, 'It is shockingly widespread. If you tell a service provider you have an NDIS package, all of a sudden, the price for everything goes up.'

The new rules will also prohibit providers from charging NDIS participants higher prices for goods.

Those who violate these rules could face fines, suspensions, bans, or civil court proceedings.

The government is also considering introducing criminal penalties for providers who engage in fraudulent activities, with a bill expected to be introduced to Parliament early next year.

However, it's important to note that at this stage, the new rules will only apply to goods, not services.

This means that while the cost of physical items like wheelchairs or shower chairs should be regulated, the cost of services such as home help or therapy sessions may still vary.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud and Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley have both backed the move. '

We do need to crack down, and we need to have a sustainable NDIS,' Littleproud said.

Ley added, 'There is no room for scams; there is no room for rorts.'

For the 630,000 Australians on the NDIS, this issue is deeply personal.

'To watch other people overcharge us and consistently do that without a care, without any conscience, this really hurts,' Nicole Lee said.

Key Takeaways

• The government has announced a crackdown on fraudulent activity within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), with fines and potential criminal penalties for service providers who overcharge participants.
• A $6.7 million multi-agency task force will be established to investigate price gouging within the scheme.
• New rules will make it illegal for providers to charge NDIS participants more for goods than other customers.
• The Labor government is pushing forward with legislation to introduce criminal penalties for service providers who engage in fraudulent activities, with plans to present a bill to Parliament early next year.

What are your thoughts on these new measures? Have you or someone you know experienced these issues before? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

 

[Shane/#]

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a lifeline for many Australians, providing essential support and services.

However, the system has been allegedly plagued by fraudulent activities, with service providers exploiting the scheme and its beneficiaries.

A recent NDIS investigation revealed that private buyers were charged $1,300 less for a wheelchair than those on the scheme, and a shower chair cost NDIS buyers nearly $1,000 more.

Nicole Lee, President of People with Disability Australia, is all too familiar with the issue.

View attachment 37761

The government cracks down on alleged fraudulent activities and price gouging within the NDIS system. Image source: stockking on Freepik (left), Facebook/NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme (right).

She reportedly relied on her NDIS plan to pay for assistance around the home and has experienced firsthand the sting of being overcharged.

'I'm sick of being seen as a rolling dollar sign, I'm sick of being seen as somebody's cash cow,' she said.

'I've been overcharged for things like gardening—really, really overcharged.'

The government has now taken a stand and introduced new measures to combat these rorts, including fines and potential criminal penalties.

Soon, it will also be illegal for service providers to charge NDIS participants more than other customers.

This is part of a broader crackdown on NDIS fraud, which includes a $6.7 million multi-agency task force to investigate price gouging.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten announced the crackdown, stating, 'Not only is it immoral to rip off people with disabilities when you're a service provider, from the middle of next week, it's going to become illegal.'

He added, 'It is shockingly widespread. If you tell a service provider you have an NDIS package, all of a sudden, the price for everything goes up.'

The new rules will also prohibit providers from charging NDIS participants higher prices for goods.

Those who violate these rules could face fines, suspensions, bans, or civil court proceedings.

The government is also considering introducing criminal penalties for providers who engage in fraudulent activities, with a bill expected to be introduced to Parliament early next year.

However, it's important to note that at this stage, the new rules will only apply to goods, not services.

This means that while the cost of physical items like wheelchairs or shower chairs should be regulated, the cost of services such as home help or therapy sessions may still vary.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud and Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley have both backed the move. '

We do need to crack down, and we need to have a sustainable NDIS,' Littleproud said.

Ley added, 'There is no room for scams; there is no room for rorts.'

For the 630,000 Australians on the NDIS, this issue is deeply personal.

'To watch other people overcharge us and consistently do that without a care, without any conscience, this really hurts,' Nicole Lee said.

Key Takeaways

• The government has announced a crackdown on fraudulent activity within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), with fines and potential criminal penalties for service providers who overcharge participants.
• A $6.7 million multi-agency task force will be established to investigate price gouging within the scheme.
• New rules will make it illegal for providers to charge NDIS participants more for goods than other customers.
• The Labor government is pushing forward with legislation to introduce criminal penalties for service providers who engage in fraudulent activities, with plans to present a bill to Parliament early next year.

What are your thoughts on these new measures? Have you or someone you know experienced these issues before? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

These parasites are more than likely private companies which will be looking at people with disabilities as dollar $$$$$$$$ sign's to boost their profits these bastards need to be fined appropriately and jailed if required fraud is a punishable offence with jail sentences attached lowlife oxygen thieves

 

[mylittletibbies]

They still need to clamp down on the charges of Service Providers, not only for goods, but also services such as respite care.
More money goes into these providers pockets for so called administration costs than goes to their staff who are actually doing the caring .
Perhaps they could provide instruction to the carers of disabled people, in how to self manage their plans. It's not really that hard, and by hiring a respite carer yourself you can bypass these shonky providers and negotiate a much more reasonable rate and thus make the money provided in the plan go so much further.
My daughter absolutely adores her carer and looks forward to her monthly stays with her.
Although I understand the reasoning behind the NDIS not letting you hire family members to do respite care, unfortunately some people with disabiliries do not feel comfortable with strangers and families have trouble finding appropriate people to do the caring. Perhaps this ban needs a rethink.

 

[Lizzylou]

I totally agree, you will notice now whenever you apply for some kind of assistance be it cleaning, gardening, service providers such as speech, physio, occupational therapy, they always ask or have on their web site the added column NDIS as soon as you click that they are smiling all the way to the bank. It is about time crack downs are made, my daughter has an NDIS plan and know it would go further if the costs of some things were not more expensive because she is disabled and has a NDIS plan. It stinks that there are people out there not only charging but also many do not actually know what they are talking about or indeed help. They give plans ie: behavioural plans and all they are doing is repeating what you have told them about the person and family life, the difficulties and the worries you have as parents/carers of the person who is disabled and then claim to have given you a plan and charge you 3,000 dollars for the privilege or repeating your own words.

 

[Wayneo]

These parasites are more than likely private companies which will be looking at people with disabilities as dollar $$$$$$$$ sign's to boost their profits these bastards need to be fined appropriately and jailed if required fraud is a punishable offence with jail sentences attached lowlife oxygen thieves

I agree

 

[cblayney]

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a lifeline for many Australians, providing essential support and services.

However, the system has been allegedly plagued by fraudulent activities, with service providers exploiting the scheme and its beneficiaries.

A recent NDIS investigation revealed that private buyers were charged $1,300 less for a wheelchair than those on the scheme, and a shower chair cost NDIS buyers nearly $1,000 more.

Nicole Lee, President of People with Disability Australia, is all too familiar with the issue.

View attachment 37761

The government cracks down on alleged fraudulent activities and price gouging within the NDIS system. Image source: stockking on Freepik (left), Facebook/NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme (right).

She reportedly relied on her NDIS plan to pay for assistance around the home and has experienced firsthand the sting of being overcharged.

'I'm sick of being seen as a rolling dollar sign, I'm sick of being seen as somebody's cash cow,' she said.

'I've been overcharged for things like gardening—really, really overcharged.'

The government has now taken a stand and introduced new measures to combat these rorts, including fines and potential criminal penalties.

Soon, it will also be illegal for service providers to charge NDIS participants more than other customers.

This is part of a broader crackdown on NDIS fraud, which includes a $6.7 million multi-agency task force to investigate price gouging.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten announced the crackdown, stating, 'Not only is it immoral to rip off people with disabilities when you're a service provider, from the middle of next week, it's going to become illegal.'

He added, 'It is shockingly widespread. If you tell a service provider you have an NDIS package, all of a sudden, the price for everything goes up.'

The new rules will also prohibit providers from charging NDIS participants higher prices for goods.

Those who violate these rules could face fines, suspensions, bans, or civil court proceedings.

The government is also considering introducing criminal penalties for providers who engage in fraudulent activities, with a bill expected to be introduced to Parliament early next year.

However, it's important to note that at this stage, the new rules will only apply to goods, not services.

This means that while the cost of physical items like wheelchairs or shower chairs should be regulated, the cost of services such as home help or therapy sessions may still vary.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud and Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley have both backed the move. '

We do need to crack down, and we need to have a sustainable NDIS,' Littleproud said.

Ley added, 'There is no room for scams; there is no room for rorts.'

For the 630,000 Australians on the NDIS, this issue is deeply personal.

'To watch other people overcharge us and consistently do that without a care, without any conscience, this really hurts,' Nicole Lee said.

Key Takeaways

• The government has announced a crackdown on fraudulent activity within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), with fines and potential criminal penalties for service providers who overcharge participants.
• A $6.7 million multi-agency task force will be established to investigate price gouging within the scheme.
• New rules will make it illegal for providers to charge NDIS participants more for goods than other customers.
• The Labor government is pushing forward with legislation to introduce criminal penalties for service providers who engage in fraudulent activities, with plans to present a bill to Parliament early next year.

What are your thoughts on these new measures? Have you or someone you know experienced these issues before? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

About time. People with funding gave been overcharged for most things since NDIS started. Example If you want a wheelchair (not specifically made) you need an assessment from an occupational therapist who will write a report for NDIS approval. Generally the wheelchair will then cost $800 min. All up $2000+ plus many months. No NDIS $200 and immediate purchase. And so it goes on.

I have experience as I worked in the field.

 

[Wayneo]

When ever the government runs these programs they are ripped of by unscrupulous people. Also construction works undertaken by governments always costs double to build compared to private sector.

 

[Rain72]

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a lifeline for many Australians, providing essential support and services.

However, the system has been allegedly plagued by fraudulent activities, with service providers exploiting the scheme and its beneficiaries.

A recent NDIS investigation revealed that private buyers were charged $1,300 less for a wheelchair than those on the scheme, and a shower chair cost NDIS buyers nearly $1,000 more.

Nicole Lee, President of People with Disability Australia, is all too familiar with the issue.

View attachment 37761

The government cracks down on alleged fraudulent activities and price gouging within the NDIS system. Image source: stockking on Freepik (left), Facebook/NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme (right).

She reportedly relied on her NDIS plan to pay for assistance around the home and has experienced firsthand the sting of being overcharged.

'I'm sick of being seen as a rolling dollar sign, I'm sick of being seen as somebody's cash cow,' she said.

'I've been overcharged for things like gardening—really, really overcharged.'

The government has now taken a stand and introduced new measures to combat these rorts, including fines and potential criminal penalties.

Soon, it will also be illegal for service providers to charge NDIS participants more than other customers.

This is part of a broader crackdown on NDIS fraud, which includes a $6.7 million multi-agency task force to investigate price gouging.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten announced the crackdown, stating, 'Not only is it immoral to rip off people with disabilities when you're a service provider, from the middle of next week, it's going to become illegal.'

He added, 'It is shockingly widespread. If you tell a service provider you have an NDIS package, all of a sudden, the price for everything goes up.'

The new rules will also prohibit providers from charging NDIS participants higher prices for goods.

Those who violate these rules could face fines, suspensions, bans, or civil court proceedings.

The government is also considering introducing criminal penalties for providers who engage in fraudulent activities, with a bill expected to be introduced to Parliament early next year.

However, it's important to note that at this stage, the new rules will only apply to goods, not services.

This means that while the cost of physical items like wheelchairs or shower chairs should be regulated, the cost of services such as home help or therapy sessions may still vary.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud and Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley have both backed the move. '

We do need to crack down, and we need to have a sustainable NDIS,' Littleproud said.

Ley added, 'There is no room for scams; there is no room for rorts.'

For the 630,000 Australians on the NDIS, this issue is deeply personal.

'To watch other people overcharge us and consistently do that without a care, without any conscience, this really hurts,' Nicole Lee said.

Key Takeaways

• The government has announced a crackdown on fraudulent activity within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), with fines and potential criminal penalties for service providers who overcharge participants.
• A $6.7 million multi-agency task force will be established to investigate price gouging within the scheme.
• New rules will make it illegal for providers to charge NDIS participants more for goods than other customers.
• The Labor government is pushing forward with legislation to introduce criminal penalties for service providers who engage in fraudulent activities, with plans to present a bill to Parliament early next year.

What are your thoughts on these new measures? Have you or someone you know experienced these issues before? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

Long overdue and don't go far enough. The penalties should also apply to service providers, including those involved in program planning and budgeting and processing claims for NDIS clients.

 

[mylittletibbies]

I totally agree, you will notice now whenever you apply for some kind of assistance be it cleaning, gardening, service providers such as speech, physio, occupational therapy, they always ask or have on their web site the added column NDIS as soon as you click that they are smiling all the way to the bank. It is about time crack downs are made, my daughter has an NDIS plan and know it would go further if the costs of some things were not more expensive because she is disabled and has a NDIS plan. It stinks that there are people out there not only charging but also many do not actually know what they are talking about or indeed help. They give plans ie: behavioural plans and all they are doing is repeating what you have told them about the person and family life, the difficulties and the worries you have as parents/carers of the person who is disabled and then claim to have given you a plan and charge you 3,000 dollars for the privilege or repeating your own words.

Know exactly how you feel. My daughter had to have an OT report done at NDIS request. As I self manage my daughter's plan the bills came direct to me. I nearly choked when I saw the thousands of dollars they charge. The silly part about it was to see where they might be able to cut my daughter's funding. That backfired as the OT recommended more money for travel because of our regional location, a gopher because she can't walk very far which restricts her outings..
I have been having trouble with her plan organisers for years as they would not agree to provide services
for problems related to her cancer treatment, saying it had nothing to do with her disability.
The OT report pointed out that if she hadn't had her original disability she would now be able to apply under her disabilities caused by her cancer.After three bouts of oral cancer she has lost her whole tongue, replaced by pieces of her wrists and a piece from her leg to make a fake tongue. Obviously this tongue has no muscle so she can't swallow properly and all her food has to be blended, she has no control over her saliva and dribbles constantly and can't speak clearly.
It appears that now instead of reducing her services they will need to increase them.
Life has been very difficult for my beautiful daughter and I will be grateful for any services I can get to make her life more bearable.

 

[Fussy]

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a lifeline for many Australians, providing essential support and services.

However, the system has been allegedly plagued by fraudulent activities, with service providers exploiting the scheme and its beneficiaries.

A recent NDIS investigation revealed that private buyers were charged $1,300 less for a wheelchair than those on the scheme, and a shower chair cost NDIS buyers nearly $1,000 more.

Nicole Lee, President of People with Disability Australia, is all too familiar with the issue.

View attachment 37761

The government cracks down on alleged fraudulent activities and price gouging within the NDIS system. Image source: stockking on Freepik (left), Facebook/NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme (right).

She reportedly relied on her NDIS plan to pay for assistance around the home and has experienced firsthand the sting of being overcharged.

'I'm sick of being seen as a rolling dollar sign, I'm sick of being seen as somebody's cash cow,' she said.

'I've been overcharged for things like gardening—really, really overcharged.'

The government has now taken a stand and introduced new measures to combat these rorts, including fines and potential criminal penalties.

Soon, it will also be illegal for service providers to charge NDIS participants more than other customers.

This is part of a broader crackdown on NDIS fraud, which includes a $6.7 million multi-agency task force to investigate price gouging.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten announced the crackdown, stating, 'Not only is it immoral to rip off people with disabilities when you're a service provider, from the middle of next week, it's going to become illegal.'

He added, 'It is shockingly widespread. If you tell a service provider you have an NDIS package, all of a sudden, the price for everything goes up.'

The new rules will also prohibit providers from charging NDIS participants higher prices for goods.

Those who violate these rules could face fines, suspensions, bans, or civil court proceedings.

The government is also considering introducing criminal penalties for providers who engage in fraudulent activities, with a bill expected to be introduced to Parliament early next year.

However, it's important to note that at this stage, the new rules will only apply to goods, not services.

This means that while the cost of physical items like wheelchairs or shower chairs should be regulated, the cost of services such as home help or therapy sessions may still vary.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud and Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley have both backed the move. '

We do need to crack down, and we need to have a sustainable NDIS,' Littleproud said.

Ley added, 'There is no room for scams; there is no room for rorts.'

For the 630,000 Australians on the NDIS, this issue is deeply personal.

'To watch other people overcharge us and consistently do that without a care, without any conscience, this really hurts,' Nicole Lee said.

Key Takeaways

• The government has announced a crackdown on fraudulent activity within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), with fines and potential criminal penalties for service providers who overcharge participants.
• A $6.7 million multi-agency task force will be established to investigate price gouging within the scheme.
• New rules will make it illegal for providers to charge NDIS participants more for goods than other customers.
• The Labor government is pushing forward with legislation to introduce criminal penalties for service providers who engage in fraudulent activities, with plans to present a bill to Parliament early next year.

What are your thoughts on these new measures? Have you or someone you know experienced these issues before? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

I was blown away with the cost of having things done, for example my father in-law had rail installed at his back door the cost of this was $1000 which I thought was a bit excessive as I had earlier installed one at his front door for a total cost of $180 it was outrageous what these companies were ripping off the system.

 

[Ezzy]

These rorts are inexcusable. I believe there is a lady in Bunbury, W.A. who should be investigated. Besides taking Superannuation from her employees & not paying this into an account she retained these monies. Staff members only found out when they resigned. My daughter is one of those people owed a large sum of money. It is also possible she used some of those NDIS FUNDS for overseas holidays & lavish gifts for herself, husband, daughters, other relatives & staff. This has to be fraudulent activities. Many of the staff were family members with her at the helm.

Yes costs for products do go up when a Govt Dept is involved. Back in about 1981 the Manager of a company l worked for bid on a single aluminium window for a W.C. for a Govt Dept. The price was elevated for what was also a standard size for the company. The bid was won at a tidy profit for the company.

 

[Bagshaw]

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a lifeline for many Australians, providing essential support and services.

However, the system has been allegedly plagued by fraudulent activities, with service providers exploiting the scheme and its beneficiaries.

A recent NDIS investigation revealed that private buyers were charged $1,300 less for a wheelchair than those on the scheme, and a shower chair cost NDIS buyers nearly $1,000 more.

Nicole Lee, President of People with Disability Australia, is all too familiar with the issue.

View attachment 37761

The government cracks down on alleged fraudulent activities and price gouging within the NDIS system. Image source: stockking on Freepik (left), Facebook/NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme (right).

She reportedly relied on her NDIS plan to pay for assistance around the home and has experienced firsthand the sting of being overcharged.

'I'm sick of being seen as a rolling dollar sign, I'm sick of being seen as somebody's cash cow,' she said.

'I've been overcharged for things like gardening—really, really overcharged.'

The government has now taken a stand and introduced new measures to combat these rorts, including fines and potential criminal penalties.

Soon, it will also be illegal for service providers to charge NDIS participants more than other customers.

This is part of a broader crackdown on NDIS fraud, which includes a $6.7 million multi-agency task force to investigate price gouging.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten announced the crackdown, stating, 'Not only is it immoral to rip off people with disabilities when you're a service provider, from the middle of next week, it's going to become illegal.'

He added, 'It is shockingly widespread. If you tell a service provider you have an NDIS package, all of a sudden, the price for everything goes up.'

The new rules will also prohibit providers from charging NDIS participants higher prices for goods.

Those who violate these rules could face fines, suspensions, bans, or civil court proceedings.

The government is also considering introducing criminal penalties for providers who engage in fraudulent activities, with a bill expected to be introduced to Parliament early next year.

However, it's important to note that at this stage, the new rules will only apply to goods, not services.

This means that while the cost of physical items like wheelchairs or shower chairs should be regulated, the cost of services such as home help or therapy sessions may still vary.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud and Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley have both backed the move. '

We do need to crack down, and we need to have a sustainable NDIS,' Littleproud said.

Ley added, 'There is no room for scams; there is no room for rorts.'

For the 630,000 Australians on the NDIS, this issue is deeply personal.

'To watch other people overcharge us and consistently do that without a care, without any conscience, this really hurts,' Nicole Lee said.

Key Takeaways

• The government has announced a crackdown on fraudulent activity within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), with fines and potential criminal penalties for service providers who overcharge participants.
• A $6.7 million multi-agency task force will be established to investigate price gouging within the scheme.
• New rules will make it illegal for providers to charge NDIS participants more for goods than other customers.
• The Labor government is pushing forward with legislation to introduce criminal penalties for service providers who engage in fraudulent activities, with plans to present a bill to Parliament early next year.

What are your thoughts on these new measures? Have you or someone you know experienced these issues before? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.

Thank goodness Providers who do the wrong thing are being brought to justice. Age Care Providers also need to be looked at. Unfortunately ripping the Disabled and Aged off has been out there since it all started.