Is POTS a Disability in Australia Under the NDIS?
What You Need to Prove, What Support You Can Get, and How to Get It Approved
Table of Contents
The Reality
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) can be recognised as a disability under the NDIS — but only if it causes permanent, functional impairment across key life areas.
POTS is not listed under List A, meaning it doesn’t trigger automatic eligibility. Approval depends on:
Proving lifelong impairment, even if symptoms fluctuate
Documenting that function is significantly reduced despite treatment
Demonstrating the need for disability-specific supports, not just medical management
Key NDIS Eligibility Requirements for POTS
To qualify under Section 24 of the NDIS Act, applicants must show:
Permanent impairment – POTS symptoms (e.g., syncope, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction) must be lifelong and not responsive to treatment
Substantial functional limitation in at least one domain:
Mobility (e.g., can’t stand/walk unassisted)
Self-care (e.g., needs support to shower or dress)
Learning or self-management (e.g., executive dysfunction due to brain fog)
Need for ongoing support – Not occasional assistance, but structured, capacity-building intervention
Why Most POTS Applications Get Rejected
Lack of permanence wording from GPs/specialists
Insufficient functional detail (e.g., reports saying “has fatigue” instead of “cannot prepare meals without assistance 5/7 days”)
Failure to document co-occurring conditions (e.g., Ehlers-Danlos, chronic fatigue, MCAS)
General medical evidence (diagnoses only) without linking to functional impairments
How to Build a Successful NDIS Application for POTS
1. Medical Reports
From cardiologists, neurologists, or autonomic disorder specialists:
Confirm diagnosis using criteria (e.g., HR rise ≥30 bpm within 10 mins of standing)
Explicitly state: “Symptoms are chronic, disabling, and unresponsive to medical therapy”
Document all attempted treatments: beta-blockers, fludrocortisone, IV therapy, salt/fluid loading, etc.
Include a GP letter summarising:
Exhausted treatments
Symptom severity
“Lifelong functional impairment” phrasing
2. Allied Health Functional Assessments
High-weighted assessments from:
Occupational Therapist: e.g., “Requires seated showering due to syncope risk,” “Cannot stand >5 minutes without presyncopal symptoms”
Physiotherapist: e.g., “Unable to walk >200m without fatigue collapse”
Neuropsychologist: e.g., “Impaired executive function limits planning, working memory”
Use validated tools:
WHODAS 2.0 (scores >35% = severe disability)
Fatigue Severity Scale (scores ≥5 = significant impact)
Orthostatic Grading Scale (track syncope frequency)
3. Supporting Documentation
Daily Activity Logs: Track days unable to shower/cook, use of aids, task abandonments
Carer Statements: Document the actual level of day-to-day dependency
Workplace/Education Reports: Note accommodations (e.g., lying down every 30 mins, attendance disruption)
NDIS Supporting Evidence Form: Must map impairments directly to NDIS life domains
What NDIS Supports Can Be Funded for POTS?
Mobility & Daily Living
Mobility aids: Wheelchairs, shower chairs, walkers
Compression garments: Medically prescribed
Support workers: For personal care, housework, or safety supervision
Home mods: Grab rails, non-slip floors, adjustable beds/workstations
Health-Related Supports
OT-led energy conservation plans
Graded physiotherapy (if not duplicating public services)
Meal delivery for malnutrition/dehydration risks
Continence and podiatry where relevant
Cognitive & Psychosocial Supports
Cognitive therapy for brain fog/executive dysfunction
Counselling for disability-related anxiety
Voice-to-text and planning tech for fatigue/brain fog
Education/Employment
Workplace/education assessments
Assistive tech for attention/focus
Employer/teacher training on POTS accommodation
Zyto's Role in NDIS Applications for POTS
We provide:
NDIS-compliant functional capacity assessments
Structured support from Exercise Physiologists and OTs who understand chronic, fluctuating disability
Outcome tracking to assist with NDIS plan reviews and renewals
Bundled management of comorbidities (e.g., POTS + EDS + fatigue)
What to Avoid
Relying on GP-only documentation
Submitting diagnoses without functional explanation
Non-specific symptoms (e.g., “Gets tired” rather than “Unable to prepare meals without assistance”)
Outdated reports (>12 months)
Final Word
POTS isn’t automatically covered by the NDIS. But it can qualify — if you submit evidence that:
It’s lifelong and treatment-resistant
It substantially limits your daily functioning
You require ongoing disability-specific supports
At Zyto, we work with clients, GPs, and allied health professionals to get the right evidence, get access, and get funded.
References
NDIS Eligibility: https://www.ndis.gov.au/applying-access-ndis/am-i-eligible
POTS Foundation Australia: https://potsfoundation.org.au/living-with-pots/
NDIS Supporting Evidence Guidelines: https://www.ndis.gov.au/applying-access-ndis/how-apply/information-support-your-request/providing-evidence-your-disability
Health Finance NDIS Guide: https://healthfinance.com.au/getting-technical-with-ndis/
NDIS Funded Supports List: https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding/supports-funded-ndis
NDIS Guidelines – List A/B: https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/home/becoming-participant/applying-ndis/list-conditions-are-likely-meet-disability-requirements
Evidence-Based Practice Guide: https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-09/Evidence%20Informed%20Practice%20Guide%20(July%202023).pdf
Kinora – Evidence Tips: https://www.kinora.com.au/resources/make-your-ndis-evidence-more-effective-10-tips-for-big-impact
