Why chronic pain is often overlooked as part of disability – and what can help

One in five Australians lives with chronic pain, meaning pain that persists longer than three months. Among people with disabilities, the rate is far higher. Yet this overlap between disability and chronic pain is still misunderstood. Even if someone is on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for a disability, they may not get adequate support for how pain also affects their functioning and interacts with their other impairment/s. Many people with chronic pain are not eligible for the NDIS, despite it having a severe, ongoing impact.