The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is designed to give people with disability more choice and control over the supports they receive. But if you’re new to the scheme—or even if you’ve been in it for a while—it’s not always clear which supports can be funded, and which can’t.
In this post, we’ll break down what the NDIS can cover, what’s generally not included, and how to make the most of your plan.
The NDIS in a nutshell
The NDIS provides funding for reasonable and necessary supports to help participants achieve their goals, increase independence, and participate more fully in everyday life.
“Reasonable and necessary” means the support:
- Is directly related to your disability
- Helps you work towards the goals in your NDIS plan
- Is good value for money
- Is effective and beneficial for you
- Takes into account other supports available to you (from family, community, or other government services)
What the NDIS can fund
While everyone’s plan is unique, funded supports often fall into three categories:
1. Core Supports
- Everyday activities and assistance with daily living. Examples:
- Help with personal care, cooking, cleaning, and shopping
- Consumables (e.g., continence products)
- Transport to work, study, or community activities
- Social and community participation supports
2. Capital Supports
One-off items or equipment.
Examples:
- Wheelchairs, communication devices, or specialised beds
- Home modifications (e.g., ramps, bathroom adjustments)
- Vehicle modifications for accessibility
3. Capacity Building Supports
- Services that build your skills and independence. Examples:
- Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy
- Support coordination
- Training for work or daily living skills
- Counselling and behaviour support
What the NDIS won’t fund
The NDIS isn’t designed to replace other public systems or pay for everyday expenses everyone has. Funding won’t be provided for:
- Day-to-day living costs (rent, groceries, utilities) that aren’t related to your disability needs
- Supports already provided by other services like Medicare, Centrelink, or education systems
- Anything illegal or unsafe
- Gambling, alcohol, tobacco, or similar activities
- Medical treatments not related to your disability (e.g., surgery, prescriptions covered by PBS)
Tips for getting the most from your plan
- Link supports to your goals – The stronger the connection between a support and your plan goals, the better chance it has of being funded.
- Keep good records – Receipts, service agreements, and progress notes help you track spending and show how supports are helping.
- Ask your providers – Good providers understand NDIS rules and can help you use your funds wisely.
- Review regularly – Needs change over time. Use plan reviews to make sure supports still fit your life.
The bottom line
The NDIS is there to fund supports that genuinely make a difference in your daily life and help you reach your goals. If you’re ever unsure whether something can be funded, check with your Local Area Coordinator, support coordinator, or the official NDIS guidelines before committing.
With a clear understanding of what’s in and out of scope, you can get the best from your plan and focus on what matters most—living the life you want.
Last week, Sam joined Kindship and Alee Disability for a webinar which shared the reality of what is and isn’t an NDIS support.
For anyone who prefers to take their time going through the information, we’ve made the full set of webinar slides available as a PDF — shared with permission from Kindship and Alee Disability.
You can view or download the slides from our shared drive by clicking here.
They’re a handy reference if you want to revisit key points, share with your support network, or keep on hand for future planning conversations.