Your NDIS Funding Buckets Explained

There are three types of support budgets that can be funded in your NDIS Plan. You may not have all three budgets, this depends on your individual needs. Each budget has subcategories that cover different supports and services. 

Core Supports:

• Assistance with Daily Life

• Consumables

• Assistance with Social & Community Participation

• Transport

Your Core Supports budget is made up of four categories. It is the only flexible budget (excluding transport). This means you can move your funding around based on where you need it most. These supports help you with everyday activities, your current disability-related needs and to work towards your goals.

Assistance with Daily Life- for example: Yard maintenance, House cleaning, Support workers for - showering dressing, meal assistance.

Consumables- for example: Continence products, Low-cost assistive technology, Non-slip mats, Eating utensils, Food preparation and delivery.

Assistance with Social & Community Participation- For example: Support worker to assist you in attending social and community activities, events and programs.

Transport- Support that helps you travel to work, or other places that will help you pursue your goals.

NOTE! Transport funding can be paid to everyone differently. It may be sent directly to your bank account, it may be plan managed, or it might be paid from your pocket and then you are reimbursed.

Capacity Building Supports:

• Support Coordination

• Improved Living Arrangements

• Increased Social & Community Participation

• Finding & Keeping a Job

• Improved Relationships

• Improved Health & Wellbeing

• Improved Learning

• Improved Life Choices

• Improved Daily Living

Your Capacity Building Support Budget helps build your independence and skills to help pursue your goals. Your Capacity Building Budget is not flexible and must be used for its specific purpose.

Support Coordination- A fixed amount for a Support Coordinator to help you understand, and use your plan. Coordinating supports and providers for you and providing updates to the NDIA. Or a fixed amount for a Psychosocial Recovery Coach to help you take control of your life and better manage the complex challenges of day-to-day living. Working collaboratively with you, your family, carers and other services to design, plan and implement a recovery plan, and assist with the coordination of NDIS and other supports.

Improved Living Arrangements- Support to help you find and maintain an appropriate place to live. For example: A support worker who helps you attend inspections or complete rental applications.

Increased Social & Community Participation- Development and training to increase your skills so you can participate in community, social and recreational activities. For example: Programs, day classes, camps, mentors and therapists that work to build your skills for participation.

Finding & Keeping a Job- This may include employment-related support, training and assessments that help you find and keep a job. For example: Career mentors, career counsellors, training to go into a job and on the job training, recruitment specialists.

Improved Relationships- This support will help you develop positive behaviours and interact with others. For example: Mentoring, social skills coaching, behaviour therapies

Improved Health & Wellbeing- Diet and exercise advice to help you manage the impact of your disability. For example: Dietitian, personal trainer, exercise physiologist.

Improved Learning- Training and advice to help you move from school to further education, such as University or TAFE. For example: Support worker to assist you to go to TAFE or uni, school leaver employment supports.

Improved Life Choices- Plan Management to help you manage your funding, pay for your supports and services and provide guidance on understanding and utilising your funding

Improved Daily Living- Assessments, training or therapy to help increase your skills, independence and community participation. For example: Occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, psychology, play therapy, art therapy, music therapy (the NDIS will only pay for evidence-based therapy).

Capital Supports:

• Assistive Technology

• Home Modifications

Capital Supports include higher-cost pieces of assistive technology, equipment or vehicle modifications. This funding budget is not flexible, funding must be used for its specific purpose. NOTE: Quotes may be required before an item can be purchased.

Assistive Technology- For example: Mobility items, personal care items, prosthetics, high powered, wheelchairs, communication devices, vehicle modifications

Home Modifications- For example: Handrails, ramp Installation, Specialist Disability Accommodation for those that require special housing.

If you have any questions about your budgets and how to use them, don’t hesitate to call the team on 1300 467 284. When you are NDIS plan managed you have a team of experts on your side helping you use your NDIS funding the best way possible.