NDIS Support Categories

There are three main funding types included in your NDIS plan: Core, Capital and Capacity Building. Your supports will be organised into categories under these funding types.

Each of these categories relates to a group of supports that are here to help you reach the goals you’d like to achieve in your life. These categories can cover expenses you wouldn’t think of, so read up about each category and what it covers.

Your eligibility for these supports will depend on what’s approved in your NDIS plan and whether or not the item meets the criteria of being reasonable and necessary.

Core supports

Core Supports are the basic things you need to live your daily life. Funding for Core Supports is flexible, which means you can use one Support Category’s funds to pay for another support – provided they’re both Core Supports (excluding Transport).

It’s possible to move your budgets from one Support Category to another to pay for your supports.

Assistance with Daily Living

  • Supports you to be as independent as possible at home.
  • Funds activities such as support with preparing your meals, house cleaning, gardening, showering and dressing.
  • Funds respite care as well.

Transport Allowance

  • May be available to you if you can’t use public transport because of your disability.
  • Helps cover the cost of suitable transport so you can access the supports you need outside your home.
  • You or your transport provider will be paid directly by the NDIA or your Plan Manager and in advance, usually fortnightly or monthly.

Home and Living - Non Flexible

Unlike the other supports under the core category home and living is not flexible.

  • Supports you to be as independent as possible at home.

  • Can cover the cost of medium term accommodation.

  • Funds individual living options and assistance in supported living.

Consumables

  • Are supplies you use every day and need because of your disability.
  • Covers ‘off the shelf’ items like nutrition products, continence products, colostomy bags and dressing aids.
  • Can also cover small, low risk and low cost assistive equipment - things like a walker, sensory equipment, kettle stabiliser, modified cutlery or apps for your tablet, smartphone and in some cases an iPad or tablet.
  • Can also fund costs for an assistance dog, such as pet insurance and grooming services.
  • Can also fund Auslan or services with an interpreter.
  • An allied health professional can help you determine what you need.
  • Doesn’t cover your medicines.

Assistance with Social & Community Participation 

  • Provides support for you to participate in community, social and recreational activities.
  • Covers the support you need to participate, but generally does not cover the cost of the actual activity (the actual activity may be funded in the category 'Increased Social & Community Participation').
  • So for instance, tickets for concerts or sport events will generally not be covered, but you could use your funds for a support worker to help you attend these events.

NDIS Core Supports

Tristram takes us through what an NDIS plan looks like, the 3 different sections and the types of services included in Core Supports.

Capital Supports

This funding type is for more significant, ‘one off’ items that you need to support you in your daily life. These supports are not flexible, so you can’t move budget from one category to another.

You must use the funds for the products that were discussed in your planning meeting. Generally, these items will cost more than $1,500 and you will need to get a quote to be approved by NDIS.

Assistive Technology

  • Covers specialised technology or equipment.
  • Provides funds for things like wheelchairs, prosthetics and orthotics, portable hoists, vehicle modifications, braille resources and even the cost of acquiring a guide dog.
  • Requires an assessment from a therapist and a quote from a provider.

Assistive Technology Maintenance, Repair and Rental

  • Assistive technology rental.
  • Repairs and maintenance.
  • Early childhood flexible assistive technology. 
  • Flexible equipment package (for changing need).

Home Modifications

  • Funds changes or additions to your home that make it more suitable for you to live an independent life, such rails or ramps.
  • Can also include the cost of a project manager to implement the modifications.

​​​​​​​Specialised Disability Accommodation (SDA)

  • Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) refers to accommodation for participants who require specialist housing solutions to assist with the delivery of supports that cater for their extreme functional impairment and/or very high support needs. 

 

Tristram gives the low down on Capital Supports

Don’t miss Tristram’s Blue Steel moment and get his take on what Capital Supports can be used for, including his very own wheelchair and how he secured Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).

Capacity Building Supports

This funding type supports you in building skills to become more independent. These supports are not flexible, so you can’t move budget from one category to another – you have to spend it on the agreed services. 

Support Coordination and Psychosocial Recovery Coaches 

  • Helps you find and connect with the best supports for you so you can live the life you want and achieve your goals.
  • Supports you with issues that might arise with your service providers.
  • Plan Partners provides Support Coordination.

Improved Living Arrangements

  • Helps you find, secure or keep suitable accommodation for you.
  • Includes helping you transition to more independent living.
  • May include going to inspections, finding a group home, or support with negotiating contracts.

Increased Social & Community Participation

  •  Helps you participate in community activities that build your skills and independence, such as study, life skills training or sports coaching.
  • Can also fund a mentor to help you build your independence in the community.

Finding and Keeping a Job 

  • Supports you to get, or keep, a job
  • Funds supports like help with a resume and support at interviews
  • Can also fund preparation to move into work after school or some time away from work.

Relationships

  • Supports you to make positive changes that will improve your relationships and your life.
  • Funds supports like psychology, social skills building.

Health and Wellbeing

  • Helps you support, maintain or increase your physical mobility or wellbeing if that is limited by your disability.
  • Covers supports like dietitians, exercise physiologists, personal trainers and social skills building. 

Lifelong Learning

  • Helps you transition from school to further education.
  • Funds advice, help with applications or support through orientation.

Choice and Control

  • Helps you to build your financial and organisational skills.
  • Includes Plan Management, which supports you in managing your NDIS supports.
  • Plan Partners provides Plan Management.

Improved Daily Living Skills

  • Helps you develop basic skills you need to get more from your day-to-day life.
  • Funds supports like physio or occupational therapy, speech therapy, early childhood intervention strategies.
  • Psychology and exercise physiology can be funded from this category.
  • Can fund assessments and reports you need during your plan or before a plan review to assess how you are developing.

Behaviour Support

  • Supports to help you develop behavioural management.
  • Funds supports like specialist behavioural intervention.

Tristam explains Capacity Building

Learn more about Capacity Building, including how Tristam used these funds to pay for an occupational therapist to come into his home and help him make it more functional for his needs.

Have questions?

We realise there’s a lot to think about, so feel free to get in touch if you have something you’d like to ask us.

Simply start a live chat (9am to 5pm AEDT weekdays) or give us call 1300 333 700 (9am to 7pm AEDT weekdays). We're here for you.