Is Anxiety a Disability? How to Get Support in Australia

Written By Nadya Pramono

Anxiety is the most prevalent mental health conditionin Australia, with more than 1 in 3 Australians experiencing an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. If you are living with an anxiety disorder or supporting a loved one, you may be wondering whether it is considered a disability and what support is available. 

We’ve put together a breakdown of how the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) may be able to provide support for people living with an anxiety disorder, along with additional resources for accessing help in Australia.

Is Anxiety considered a disability in Australia?

The short answer is, it depends. 

In Australia, it is not about the diagnosis of anxiety itself, but rather how the condition affects your day-to-day functioning. 

Anxiety can be considered a disability if it significantly affects your ability to deal with everyday life, such as your ability to work, study, maintain relationships, care for yourself, or participate in your community. 

This is called a psychosocial disability, and refers to a disability due to a mental health condition that creates barriers to daily living. 

Does the NDIS cover anxiety?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) does not provide support based solely on a diagnosis. Instead, eligibility is determined by how much a mental health condition affects your ability to manage daily life. 

In Australia, the NDIS provides funding support for people with anxiety if it is considered a psychosocial disability, meaning the mental health condition significantly impacts their everyday functioning. 

How do I get NDIS support for anxiety?

People with psychosocial disabilities are eligible to apply for the NDIS and may receive funding if their needs meet the access requirements.

When assessing applications from people with anxiety disorders, the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) looks at:

  • How anxiety impacts your capacity to perform everyday activities without support

  • Whether your condition is permanent or likely to be permanent (generally meaning it will last for at least two years)

  • What supports you currently have in place and what additional supports you need

  • Evidence from health professionals about your functional limitations

It’s helpful to share your anxiety diagnosis with the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) when applying, but the main focus will be on how anxiety affects your day-to-day life. 

You can learn more about psychosocial disability on the NDIS website. 

Challenges of Living with Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders can affect many parts of life, and for some people, these challenges make daily living more difficult without tailored support. Common challenges include:

  • Managing physical symptoms: Such as panic attacks and dizziness. 

  • Avoidance behaviours: avoiding situations, activities or places that can trigger anxiety. This can limit employment opportunities, social connections and independence. 

  • Employment and study: Difficulties with concentration or managing stress. 

  • Social isolation: withdrawing from relationships and social activities due to social anxiety, fear or worry. 

  • Sleep: experiencing insomnia or disrupted sleep. 

  • Decision making: difficulty planning ahead or making decisions due to excessive worry.

  • Exhaustion: Being in a constant state of alertness and worry can lead to mental and physical exhaustion that affects all areas of functioning.

What NDIS support is available for anxiety disorders?

If you are approved for the NDIS, the funding support you receive will be tailored to your personal needs and goals. Some services that you may be able to access include:


Support coordination

Support coordination helps you understand your NDIS plan and connect with the right services. It can assist with finding providers, managing appointments, completing paperwork, and simplifying the NDIS process. 

For example, a support coordinator might help you find a psychologist who specialises in anxiety disorder or arrange support workers who understand your triggers.

Therapy supports 

Therapy support services funded by the NDIS can include services such as psychology, occupational therapy, or social work. The focus is on maintaining emotional wellbeing and building skills related to the functional impacts of your psychosocial disability. 

For example, a psychologist may work with you to help manage or reduce your anxiety symptoms and develop coping strategies, while a social worker may help you to navigate healthcare systems and access community supports. 

Capacity building supports

Capacity building support focuses on developing the skills you need to live more independently. This is particularly important for people with anxiety who may have developed avoidance patterns, such as avoiding a supermarket out of fear of a panic attack, that limit their independence.

For example, you may work with a support worker to create a step-by-step plan to tackle avoiding a situation such as shopping at a busy supermarket. This could involve starting with a brief shopping trip during a quiet period and gradually increasing this until you are able to do it by yourself. 

Assistance with Daily Living Supports

Assistance with daily living support focuses on developing the skills you need to maintain your independence in everyday tasks. 

For example, this might include implementing strategies for managing household routines when feeling overwhelmed, developing meal planning and preparation skills to maintain nutrition during high-anxiety periods or creating systems for managing appointments.

Social and community participation

Through the NDIS, you may be able to access support for social and community participation. As anxiety often leads to social isolation, it is important to help people gradually re-engage with these activities, increase social connection and reduce isolation. This can include encouragement and practical help to join activities and connect with others. 

For example, a support worker may accompany you while you attend recreational activities such as gym classes, art workshops or sports groups, until you feel comfortable attending alone. They could also help with planning and preparing for social interactions, such as birthday parties or catching up with friends.

How to Apply for NDIS Support for Anxiety

If you think you meet the requirements for a psychosocial disability (as explained above), you may be eligible for NDIS support. 

Here are the steps to follow:


#1 Consider your eligibility

Think about how your anxiety disorder impacts your daily life and whether these challenges are likely to be ongoing. 

To help determine if you might be eligible, you may ask yourself questions such as: 

  • Do I struggle with self-care tasks, meal preparation, or managing household responsibilities due to anxiety?

  • Has anxiety affected my ability to maintain employment, work or study? 

  • Have I withdrawn from social connections or do I regularly avoid social situations? 

  • Do I need support to complete everyday tasks like shopping, attending appointments, or using public transport? 

  • Have these challenges been present for at least two years or are they likely to continue long-term? 

  • Would having professional support help me live more independently?

If you answered yes to several of these questions, particularly across different areas of your life, you may meet the eligibility criteria for NDIS support. However, a professional assessment and supporting evidence from health professionals will still be required to confirm your eligibility.

#2 Gather examples

Collect reports from your GP, psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker that outline your diagnosis and most importantly, how it affects your functioning. This should clearly describe the practical impact of your anxiety, not just the diagnosis.

 A psychosocial functional capacity assessment can be helpful for this. This assessment provides information about your functional limitation and support needs. 

#3 Apply to the NDIS

Submit an access request form to the NDIA, including all supporting documentation. You can do this online through the Myplace portal, by phone, or with the help of a support person.

#4 Work with a planner

If approved, you’ll meet with an NDIS planner to discuss your needs, goals and the supports that will help you. It may be helpful to have a think about what you want to achieve and what barriers your anxiety creates. 

#5 Choose your supports

Once your plan is approved, you can connect with services such as support coordination, therapeutic supports, or social work, depending on what is funded in your plan. Your support coordinator can help you find the right providers and get started with your supports.

#6 Review and adjust

Your NDIS plan is reviewed regularly (typically annually) to make sure it continues to meet your needs. As your circumstances change or you achieve your goals, your plan can be adjusted to provide different or additional supports.

Helpful resources 

Whether you meet the requirements for a disability or not, anxiety can still significantly impact your daily life. If you don’t meet the NDIS requirements for support or need support while going through the NDIS process, there are plenty of support options available in Australia. 

Resources to help you get started with the NDIS:

Resources for Anxiety in Australia:

  • Medicare Mental Health: medicarementalhealth.gov.au – Australian government-funded website linking to mental health services, resources and helping to connect you to professionals for support.

  • Beyond Blue: beyondblue.org.au – Support and resources for people experiencing depression, anxiety, or related conditions.

  • Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au – Crisis support and suicide prevention services available 24/7.

Western Australian services and resources: 

  • Medicare Mental Health Centres – a free, walk-in community mental health service with locations in Perth, Western Australia. No referral or appointment needed.

  • Ark Support Coordination: arksc.org – Practical support for people with psychosocial disability, including functional capacity assessments, social work, and support coordination.

Here are some of our other articles that may also be helpful: 

Getting the Right Help

Navigating the NDIS can feel complex, but having the right support makes it easier. At Ark Support Coordination, we specialise in supporting people with psychosocial disabilities, including those living with an anxiety disorder.

If you’re unsure where to start, we can guide you through the process. To find out more, get in contact with our team today or call 08 9373 7500.

Nadya Pramono
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