What is NDIS fraud?
NDIS fraud is a crime and is not tolerated by the NDIS. It is when people are intentionally doing something wrong to benefit themselves.
Some examples of types of fraud within the NDIS include:
- Claiming for services or items that were not provided
- Overcharging
- Providing incorrect or misleading information
- Creating fake documents or invoices
- Lying about the service that was provided or using funds for a different purpose than stated
- Accessing and/or using NDIS information without permission.
There are some steps you can take to protect your funding from fraud.
Chose providers carefully
Researching the provider that you choose to use is a great step to protect yourself from fraud. You might like to look at their website, read reviews, meet the support worker, or even talk to someone who receives services from them.
Don’t be afraid to ask them questions about their services and charges. Not all providers are suitable for all participants’ needs. It is important to get a good understanding of the type of support to find a good fit for you.
Complete a service agreement and read it carefully
Service agreements are not a requirement for providers but it is highly recommended to create one with your providers.
The agreement should contain information about the type of service, including when, where, and how it will be provided, and the cost of the service and extra fees, such as transport or non-face to face costs. It should also outline the responsibilities of both the provider and the participant as well as details on cancellations, feedback and complaints, and the duration of the agreement. The NDIS website has a lot of resources on creating and understanding service agreements.
Review your invoices or funding statements.
P2P has two invoice approval options you can choose from, you can decide to approve each claim before it is submitted or the invoices can be paid once received by P2P. Changes to your approval arrangements can be made at any time by contacting the P2P office.
Regardless of your approval choice, you will receive a monthly statement listing the claims paid on the 1st of each month or you can log into your Planability account to see your invoices. It is worth spending some time going through the invoices on your list and checking to ensure that you were expecting them and they were billed correctly. If you have concerns about any information, please let P2P know.
Choose who can access your information.
P2P will not share your information with anyone we do not have consent to speak with. If you choose to allow P2P to have consent to speak with your providers, we will only contact them regarding invoicing issues and will not share the details of your plan or personal information.
If there is someone you have a concern about obtaining information, please alert P2P and we will update our records accordingly.
What to do if you suspect fraud?
If you suspect fraud has taken place, there are a few options you can follow.
- Speak with your provider in the first instance if you feel comfortable doing so. There is always a chance that a mistake was made and it can be corrected.
- You can talk to P2P to get more information if you need some details about an invoice.
- Report fraud using the NDIS tip off form.
- Submit a complaint to the Quality and Safeguards Commission.
The P2P Plan management team is always working on improvements to ensure that we can communicate effectively with all of our participants and their families.
We would love to hear suggestions from our participants, you can get in touch with the Plan management team by calling 1800 777 723, or by email at ndisfinance@p2pqld.org.au.