Your NDIS Funding Explained!

The most common question we see on social media is, how can I use my NDIS funding, and what does it all mean? It can be an overwhelming experience getting your first plan approved and having your implementation meeting. It can also be confusing; the messaging around your plan might be that it is flexible, and it is your choice to use it the way you would like. However, there are quite a few rules around how and where you can use your funding that falls under specific budgets. Of the four support budgets (only PACE plans, plans not build in PACE can have 3), only one is flexible, and even within that support budget, some support categories are not flexible.

It is important to note that not all plans will have every support budget; it would be incredibly rare to see a plan with every support budget and support category. This guide includes every budget to give you a complete view. 

So, what are the four Support Budgets?

CORE - The Core Supports budget is made up of six support categories. It is the only flexible budget (excluding Home and Living and YPIRAC funding, this cannot be moved around). This means you can move your funding around based on where you need it most.

CAPACITY - The Capacity Support Budget helps build your independence and skills to help pursue your goals. Your Capacity Budget is not flexible and must be used for its specific purpose. The Capacity Support Budget has a total of 10 support categories.

CAPITAL—Capital Supports include higher-cost assistive technology, equipment, or vehicle modifications. Four support categories fall under this support budget. This funding budget is not flexible; it must be used for its specific purpose. Quotes can be required.

RECURRING (only in PACE plans)—The NDIA pays recurring support on a regular basis, so you don’t need to claim it. Only one support category comes under recurring, and that is transport recurring. This funding is not included anywhere else in your budget.

CORE EXPLAINED-

Assistance with Daily life

For example,

• Yard maintenance

• House cleaning

• Support workers for – showering, dressing, meal assistance, assistance over night, etc

Consumables (below the value of $1,500)

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 to attend social and community activities, events and programs. This might be a support worker assisting you to attend a football game, or a music gig. A support worker may help you attend a drama class, or be involved in the local photography club. 

Transport

For example,

• Support that helps you travel to work, or other places that will help you pursue your goals. This funding can pay for a taxi, ride share options, or public transport. 

• Note - Transport funding can be paid to everyone differently, it can be paid directly into the bank account of the participant, or it can be Plan Managed.

Home and Living (only in PACE plans) – stated

For example,

• Supports to help you live as independently as possible.

• Supported Independent Living (SIL), Medium Term Accommodation (MTA), Independent Living Option (ILO), and Assistance with daily life tasks provided in a residential aged care facility.

Young People Living in Residential Aged Care (YPIRAC) (Only in PACE plans)

• Funding for some of your fees and charges if you are a younger person in residential aged care (cross billing).

CAPACITY EXPLAINED–

Support Coordination & Psychosocial Recovery Coaching

• A fixed amount for a Support Coordinator or Psychosocial Recovery Coach to help you understand and use your plan, coordinating supports and providers for you and providing updates to the NDIA.

Improved Living Arrangements

• Support to help you find and maintain an appropriate place to live e.g. 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.

• Eg. 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.

• Eg. Career mentors, career counsellors, training to go into a job and on the job training, recruitment specialists.

Relationships

• This support will help you develop positive social skills and interact with others.

• Eg. Mentoring, social skills coaching, behaviour therapies

Health & Wellbeing

• Supports that are directly related to managing the impact of your disability on your health.

• Eg. Dietitian, personal trainer, exercise physiologist

Lifelong Learning

• Support, training and advice to help you move from school to further education, such as University or TAFE.

• Eg. Support worker to assist you to go to TAFE or uni, school leaver employment supports (SLES).

Choice and Control

• 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 Skills

• Assessments, training or therapy to help increase your skills, independence and community participation.

• Eg. Occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, psychology, play therapy, art therapy, music therapy (note: the NDIS will only pay for evidence-based therapy).

Behaviour Support (only in PACE plans)

• Supports to develop behavioural management strategies to reduce behaviours of concern.

• Eg. Behaviour Support Practitioner to assist in developing a behaviour support plan.

CAPITAL EXPLAINED-

Assistive Technology

For example,

• Mobility & personal care items

• Prosthetics

• High powered wheelchairs

• Communication devices

• Vehicle modifications

Assistive Technology Repairs and Rental (Only in PACE plans)

For example,

• Supports to repair and maintain assistive technology.

• short-term rental and trial of assistive technology.

Special Disability Accommodation (SDA) (Only in PACE plans)

• Funding to live in a specially designed house for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.

Home Modifications

For example,

• Handrails

• Ramp installation

RECURRING EXPLAINED (Only in PACE plans) -

Transport Recurring- (only in PACE plans)

• This funding is for your everyday transport needs. You can use it on the form of transport that suits you best, including public transport, taxis or share riding services.

Look at your plan, check which support categories you have in your NDIS plan and then come back here to read about what the funding can be used for in those support categories. Not every support category can be used flexibly across other support categories as we have discussed. The use of budgets, however, is up to you; for example, two participants might have Finding and Keeping a Job. One participant might engage with a mentor to help them build their confidence and seek out jobs they would be interested in, while another participant might engage with a recruitment specialist to help them understand the different jobs in the market and what might be a good fit. This is where your choice and control comes in, where you decide (within the scope of what the funding was intended to do) how it is used.

As your plan manager, we make it our priority that you understand the funding in your plan and how it could be used. Every single NDIS plan is different, written for the individual it has been created to support. We will always take our time with all of your funding queries to ensure you have all the correct information to make decisions on how you want to use your NDIS funding.