A South Australian coronial inquest has begun examining the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman with an intellectual disability who had been approved for substantial National Disability Insurance Scheme support but never accessed the funding.

Nancy White, aged 50, died in September 2022. The inquest heard that she had an intellectual disability, limited mobility and minimal verbal communication. She was being cared for full-time by her brother after the death of their parents.

The court was told that Ms White had been approved for an NDIS plan worth $75,000 a year after a hospital social worker applied for funding on her behalf. However, none of the approved funding was used before her death.

The inquest heard that her brother had difficulty navigating the paperwork required to activate the support. Evidence indicated that he told authorities he had continued taking care of his sister himself and had not completed the necessary steps to establish the NDIS arrangements.

Ms White's niece also gave evidence that she had offered to help with the paperwork, but the assistance did not ultimately result in the funding being accessed.

The inquest is examining whether the NDIS system could have provided more effective assistance to ensure that approved funding actually reached a person who needed it.

The court heard that Ms White had previously been hospitalised after experiencing serious health problems. During a hospital admission in 2021, concerns were raised about her future care and whether her brother would be able to continue providing all of the support she required at home.

A social worker subsequently helped initiate the application for NDIS assistance. The plan was approved after Ms White returned to her brother's care.

However, the approved services were never established.

The inquest heard that when paramedics attended the family home in September 2022, Ms White was in an extremely poor physical condition and weighed about 40 kilograms. She was also described as hypothermic.

She was taken to hospital, where she later died. The recorded cause of death was acute peritonitis caused by a traumatic bowel perforation.

The coronial inquiry is examining both the circumstances of her death and broader questions about how people with disabilities and their carers can access approved support.

The case has highlighted the difference between being approved for disability funding and actually being able to navigate the system required to receive that assistance.

The inquest is expected to hear further evidence about the operation of the NDIS and changes made to its processes since Ms White's death.

The inquiry will also consider how vulnerable people who have limited communication abilities or depend heavily on family carers can be better supported.

The proceedings are expected to continue into next week.