How the NDIS can fund grocery and meal deliveries (COVID-19 update)

Groceries and food are essential items, so the NDIS has made some changes to ensure all participants can continue to receive them throughout COVID-19. With many support workers now unable to accompany participants to the supermarkets or shops, it’s now possible to use your NDIS uinding to cover the cost of having items delivered to your house – in this article we explore how.

Will the NDIS fund my Grocery Deliveries?

If your disability prevents you from doing your own shopping, you’re now able to have it delivered to your home and use your NDIS’ Core budget to pay for the delivery fee. It’s important to note that this only covers the cost of delivery, not any of the groceries themselves.

In order to claim the delivery fee, you must either be Plan Managed or self-managed. Fortunately, if you are NDIA managed the NDIS has also made it easy to switch to Plan Managed as part of its COVID-19 response.

What is the priority home delivery service?

Several large supermarkets have suspended deliveries due to increased demand, but the NDIS has worked with them to introduce a priority home delivery service. All participants will receive a unique code that can be entered at participating supermarket checkouts and allows them to receive priority delivery. If you haven’t yet received your code or can’t remember it, please contact your LAC or give the NDIS a call on 1800 800 110.

What about meal deliveries?

Much like grocery deliveries, you can use your NDIS funding to cover the delivery fee for services like Uber Eats and Deliveroo. This doesn’t cover the cost of the meal itself, and you can only claim the delivery fee if meet the criteria of reasonable and necessary (more on that below).

When is it reasonable and necessary?

To use your NDIS funding to pay for grocery or food deliveries to your house, you’ll need to show that the reason you need them is directly related to your disability. For example, if you’re unable to prepare a meal yourself or your support worker can’t accompany you shopping due to physical distancing, it’s reasonable and necessary to claim the delivery cost.

How can I find out more?

If you’d like to discuss your personal situation to find out if you can use your NDIS funds to cover the cost of having your groceries or meals delivered to your door, give our friendly Plan Partners team a call on 1300 333 700 or leave your details here and we will contact you.

For more information on the NDIS’ COVID-19 response, head to our special FAQs on the topic.

Top Tips

• As part of its response to COVID-19 the NDIS has temporarily made it easier to claim the cost of having groceries and meals delivered to your house.
• You must be Plan Managed or self-managed to claim the grocery deliver fee, but fortunately the NDIS has made it easy to switch to Plan Management.
• You can only claim the delivery fee – not the cost of any of the groceries or meal themselves.
• NDIS participants can take advantage of a priority delivery service. You should have received a code either by SMS or email that you can enter at checkout at Woolworths, Coles, IGA and Foodland IGA, Foodworks and Harris Farm.