NDIS Support Categories
Understanding NDIS Funding Types & Support Categories
A Comprehensive Guide
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) offers a variety of funding types and categories designed to support the diverse needs of participants. These supports are structured to ensure that individuals receive the appropriate assistance to enhance their quality of life. The main funding types are Core Supports, Capacity Building Supports, Capital Supports, and Recurring Supports. With each funding type there are different support categories and each serves a specific purpose, from everyday assistance to skill development and major investments in technology and housing. Understanding these categories is crucial for making the most of your NDIS plan.
It’s important to recognise that each participant’s plan is unique, and not every plan includes funding for all types of eligible NDIS supports.
From 3 October 2024, participants can only use their NDIS funds for items listed as approved supports. Additionally, there is a list of items that NDIS funding cannot be used for. In certain cases, participants may request a substitution from the replacement support list.
NDIS typically funds a requested support if it meets all the following criteria:
1. It addresses impairments that meet the disability or early intervention requirements (or both).
2. It helps with the participant’s individual goals and aspirations.
3. It supports social and/or economic participation.
4. It is value for money, which means:
• The cost of the support is comparable to or cheaper than alternative options that deliver the same outcome; and/or
• Purchasing the support is likely to reduce the cost of funding other supports in the long term.
5. It is effective and beneficial for the participant.
6. It helps to maintain informal supports.
7. It is categorised as an NDIS-approved support.
More information regarding changes to NDIS legislation can be found here:
Stated and Flexible Supports
Stated supports refer to specific, non-flexible supports that are clearly outlined in a participant’s NDIS plan. These supports are designated for a particular purpose and must be used exactly as specified in the plan. Unlike flexible supports, which can be adjusted within their category, stated supports cannot be altered, reallocated, or used for other purposes, even if the participant’s needs or circumstances change.
Flexible supports refer to funding in a participant’s NDIS plan that can be used flexibly within specific budget categories to meet their needs and goals. Unlike stated (non-flexible) supports, flexible supports provide participants with the freedom to choose how they spend their funds within the boundaries of the relevant budget categories, allowing for adjustments as their needs or circumstances change.
However, it’s important to note that while these supports offer flexibility, they still must align with the goals outlined in the participant’s NDIS plan and be considered reasonable and necessary.
Funding Types & Support Categories
Core Supports are a category of funding in a participant’s NDIS plan designed to assist with everyday activities and enable greater independence, social and community participation, and improved quality of life. Core Supports are highly flexible, allowing participants to use their funding across various sub-categories to best meet their individual needs and preferences.
Core Supports funding is designed to be flexible within its sub-categories, allowing participants to adapt their use of funds as their needs change over time, provided the expenditure aligns with their NDIS goals and is deemed reasonable and necessary.
| Support Category Code | Category Name (these supports are flexible) | Description |
| 01 | Assistance with daily life | Supports to assist or supervise you with your personal tasks during day-to-day life so you can live as independently as possible. These supports can be provided individually in a range of environments, including your own home. |
| 04 | Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation | Supports to help or supervise you to take part in community, social, recreational, or economic activities. These supports can be provided in a range of environments, such as in the community or a centre. |
| 03 | Consumables | Supports to purchase everyday use items that you need because of your disability. For example, continence, low-cost assistive technology and Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN) products are included in this category. |
| Category Name (these supports are not-flexible) | Description | |
| 02 | Transport | This category covers supports for paying a provider to transport you to an activity that is not itself a support, or to a support delivered by another provider. This category specifically applies to transport services provided by a provider. If you receive funding for routine day-to-day transport, such as taxis or public transport, you would typically use the Transport Recurring support category instead. |
| 16 (New) | Home and Living | Includes supported independent living, medium-term accommodation, and individualised living options |
| 21 (New) | YPIRAC – Cross Billing | For younger people in residential aged care, including cross-billing arrangements |
Capacity Building Supports are designed to help participants develop skills and capabilities to achieve their goals, increase independence, and improve their overall quality of life. Unlike Core Supports, Capacity Building Supports are less flexible and are allocated to specific categories within a participant’s plan, each aligned with particular goals. Funding in this category must be used for the intended purpose and cannot be transferred between categories.
| Support Category Code | Non-flexible categories | Description |
| 07 (Amended) | Support Coordination and Psychosocial Recovery Coaches |
Support Coordination and Psychosocial Recovery Coaches provide assistance in navigating the NDIS and connecting you with the appropriate services to achieve your goals. Support Coordination helps you understand and implement your NDIS plan by linking you with community, mainstream, and other government services. Support Coordinators assist in building your capacity to manage your supports independently. Psychosocial Recovery Coaches offer specialised support for individuals with psychosocial disabilities. They work collaboratively with you to develop strategies for recovery, build resilience, and improve your ability to live independently. Both roles are critical in enhancing your ability to make informed decisions and access the supports you need. |
| 08 | Improved Living Arrangements | Support to help you find and maintain an appropriate place to live. |
| 09 | Increased Social & Community Participation | Development and training to increase your skills so you can participate in community, social and recreational activities. |
| 10 | Finding and Keeping a Job | This may include employment-related support, training and assessments that help you find and keep a job, such as the School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES). |
| 11 | Relationships | This category focuses on helping participants develop and maintain meaningful relationships with others. It includes support for building social and communication skills, improving interpersonal relationships, and fostering community connections. |
| 20 (New) | Behaviour Support | Behaviour Support address and manage behaviours of concern that impact a participant’s ability to participate in their community or engage in daily activities. It includes developing strategies and interventions to reduce or manage challenging behaviours. |
| 12 | Health and Wellbeing | Including exercise or diet advice to manage the impact of your disability. The NDIS does not fund gym memberships. |
| 13 | Lifelong Learning | Examples include training, advice and help for you to move from school to further education, such as university or TAFE. |
| 14 | Choice and Control | Plan management to help you manage your plan, funding and paying for services. |
| 15 | Improved Daily Living Skills | Assessment, training, or therapy to help increase your skills, independence, and community participation. These services can be delivered in groups or individually. Typically, they are provided by allied health professionals who have at least a bachelor’s degree and hold current membership with their relevant professional body. |
Capital Supports are funding provisions within a participant’s NDIS plan specifically allocated for high-cost items that assist with mobility, independence, or accessibility needs. These supports are less flexible and are strictly designated for purchasing specific types of assistive technology, equipment, and modifications that are essential for the participant’s daily functioning and participation in the community.
Additionally, Capital Supports can cover funding for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), which is housing designed for participants with very high support needs, providing a living environment that better meets their specific requirements.
Capital Supports are carefully assessed and prescribed based on individual needs, and their allocation is based on what is deemed reasonable and necessary to assist the participant in achieving their goals. As these items typically involve significant investment, the NDIS ensures that assessments and recommendations from allied health professionals or other specialists guide the funding decisions.
| Support Category Code | Category name (these supports are not-flexible) | Description |
| 05 | Assisitve Technology | Assistive technology is the equipment you might need to help you with everyday tasks. Assistive technology may be equipment or items to support a person with a disability to reach their potential at home, in the community and the workplace. This support category is for mid-cost and high-cost assistive technology. For low-cost assistive technology, under $1,500, use the support category Consumables in the Core supports budget instead. |
| 19 (New) | Assistive Technology Maintenance, Repair and Rental | This includes provisions for short-term rental and trial of assistive technology supports: • Minor repairs and maintenance (up to $1,500) • Major repairs (a quote may be required) • Short-term or extended rental • Short-term or extended equipment trials |
| 06 | Home Modifications | Supports to make changes to the structure, layout, or fittings of your home, so you can safely access it and move around comfortably. |
| 17 (New) | Specialised Disability Accommodation (SDA) | Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a specially designed house for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs |
Recurring Transport is a type of funding provided under the NDIS Core Supports budget to assist participants who are unable to use public transport due to their disability. This support is designed to help participants travel independently to work, school, medical appointments, community activities, or other important engagements.
Recurring transport funding is specifically allocated to participants who face significant barriers to accessing public transport options, ensuring they can participate more fully in community and economic activities.
A claim is not required for these supports.
Participants who are not eligible for transport funding will have a zero-dollar amount against this support category in their plan.
| Support Category Code | Category name | Description |
| 18 (New) | Transport Recurring |
Transport supports paid by the NDIA on a regular basis (usually fortnightly) to your nominated bank account. Recurring transport funding is for everyday transport needs and can be used to cover the costs of taxis, rideshares, community transport, or other private transport options. It cannot be used for purchasing or maintaining personal vehicles but is intended to subsidise the travel costs associated with accessing essential activities and services. |
Other Information
Each support category has many specific supports and services that are recognised in the NDIS payment system. These are referred to as ‘line items’ and are in most cases are not prescribed in participant plans. A comprehensive listing of support line items is kept up to date as a separate file (csv format) on the NDIS website. This file is referred to as the NDIS Support Catalogue and includes item descriptors to assist providers to claim payments using a “best-fit” approach, and to assist participants in engaging and negotiating with service providers.
Providers are responsible for issuing invoices using the support line item that most closely aligns to the service they have delivered.
When claiming, it is the responsibility of the provider to ensure that the claim accurately reflects the supports delivered, including the frequency and volume of supports. Falsifying claims for any aspect of supports delivered, is a serious compliance issue and may result in action against the provider. Providers are also required to keep accurate records of claims, which are subject to audit at any time.
| Support Category | 01_020_0112_1_1 |
| Support Item | 01_020_0112_1_1 |
| Registration Group | 01_020_0112_1_1 |
| Outcome Domain | 01_020_0112_1_1 |
| Support Purpose | 01_020_0112_1_1 |
Supports which are listed as in-kind means the services have been pre-paid by your state, territory, or the Australian Government.
Your existing provider will deliver your in-kind supports and they will not be paid for out of your plan.
Gradually in-kind supports have changed to being paid from your NDIS plan. Some pre-paid arrangements have already changed, and the remaining will occur by 31 December 2024.
Supports which are listed as quote required in your plan, means extra information such as a quote or specialist assessment/reportmust be completed and sent to the NDIA for review. If the quote is approved, additional funding will be made available in your plan.
Key terms for understanding the NDIS: Glossary