FAQ's
Great information to assist with your NDIS plan.
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Support budgets in your plan
There are three types of support budgets that may be funded in your NDIS plan:
Core Supports budget
Core Supports help you with everyday activities, your current disability-related needs and to work towards your goals. Your Core Supports budget is the most flexible, and in most cases, you can use your funding across any of the following four support categories. However, there are instances where you do not have flexibility in your funding, particularly for transport funding.
Capacity Building Supports budget
Capacity Building Supports help build your independence and skills to help you pursue your goals. Unlike your Core Supports budget, your Capacity Building Supports budget cannot be moved from one support category to another. Funding can only be used to purchase approved individual supports that fall within that Capacity Building category.
The Capacity Building categories are:
Capital Supports budget
Capital Supports include higher-cost pieces of assistive technology, equipment and home or vehicle modifications, and funding for one-off purchases you may need (including Specialist Disability Accommodation). It is important to remember that funds within the Capital Supports budget can only be used for their specific purpose and cannot be used to pay for anything else. The Capital Supports budget has two support categories: Assistive Technology and Home Modifications.
Supported Independent Living (SIL)
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Supported Independent Living (SIL) services fall under the Core Supports category of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Specifically, they are part of the Assistance with Daily Life support category. SIL services provide help or supervision with daily tasks to help individuals live as independently as possible, often in shared living arrangements. This includes personal care, cooking, and assistance with activities outside the home, like attending appointments or using public transport.
A SIL budget needs to be included in a participant's NDIS plan. The SIL funding is allocated based on the participant's specific needs and circumstances, and it is detailed in their approved plan. This ensures that the necessary supports are in place to help the participant live as independently as possible.​
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Providers need to be registered with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to provide Supported Independent Living (SIL) services to participants. This registration ensures that providers meet the necessary quality and safety standards set by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, however, there is a transition period for unregistered providers to become registered.
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This process is being phased in from October 2024 to ensure that all providers can meet the new requirements.
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cliick here to find out more information about Supported Independent Living (SIL) for Participants
Using Your NDIS Plan for Travel: Can It Fund Your Holiday?
The NDIS can fund certain travel-related expenses if they are deemed "reasonable and necessary" to help you achieve your goals. This can include funding for support workers or carers to accompany you on trips, but it typically does not cover the cost of the holiday itself.
When traveling, you might require a support worker to assist you. While their salary is typically covered by your NDIS plan, they will be working beyond their usual hours during the trip. Therefore, it's crucial to plan your journey with your support worker and clearly outline all expectations to ensure the best possible experience for your holiday.
Here are a few tips to help you plan effectively:
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Discuss Expectations: Have a detailed conversation with your support worker about their role during the trip, including working hours, tasks, and any additional responsibilities.
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Plan Ahead: Make sure to plan your itinerary in advance and share it with your support worker. This helps in setting clear expectations and ensuring they are prepared for any specific needs you might have.
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Budgeting: While the NDIS can cover the salary of your support worker, you might need to budget for their travel expenses, accommodation, and meals. Discuss these costs with your support coordinator to see what can be included in your plan.
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Flexibility: Be prepared for some flexibility in your support worker's schedule, as travel can sometimes be unpredictable.
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Reasonable and Necessary Criteria: Any travel-related support must meet the NDIS criteria of being reasonable and necessary, directly related to your disability, and helping you achieve your goals.
To get a clearer picture of what can be included in your plan, it's best to discuss your specific needs with your NDIS planner or support coordinator.
New NDIS Funding Periods Start 19 May 2025: What You Need to Know
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Starting Monday, 19 May 2025, the NDIS is introducing a major change to how funding is released in new or reassessed participant plans. Instead of receiving your full plan budget upfront, funding will now be distributed in smaller chunks over the life of the plan — these are called funding periods.
Key Changes:
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Funding Periods: Your total NDIS plan budget will be broken down into smaller time-based amounts. Most supports will be released quarterly (every 3 months), while some categories—like Home and Living supports—will be released monthly. Assistive Technology (AT) and Home Modifications may still be released as a lump sum.
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Unused Funds: If you don’t use all the funding in a period, it rolls over into the next one. However, leftover funds at the end of your plan won’t carry over to a new plan.
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Plan Start Date: The new funding periods apply to all plans approved from 19 May 2025 onwards. Your funding periods begin on your plan’s start date, not the start of the calendar month.
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Claims & Transfers: Claims must match the funding period they were delivered in. If a claim exceeds the available funding in the current period, it will be rejected. You cannot borrow funding from future periods.
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Viewing Your Funding: You can see your funding periods in the NDIS Participant Portal (PACE). Your Plan Manager and Approved Support Coordinator can also view your funding breakdown, but other providers will not have access to your full funding period info.
If you need more funding sooner, you must request a variation during your planning meeting or submit a request for a plan reassessment.
Information provided by Disability Intermediaries Australia and the Disability Support Project