The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding to people living with a disability in Australia to help support their daily life, individual needs, and goals. While how you use your NDIS funding can be tailored to suit your needs, your NDIS funding will be broken down into three support types: Core Supports, Capacity Building Supports and Capital Supports.
Let’s take a look at what each of these categories include, so you can understand what supports are available to you.
Core Supports budget
Core Supports are a budget category within the NDIS that provides funding for you to access the supports you need to live a more independent life. Core Supports funding includes help with completing daily activities, personal care and community participation.
Core Supports funding is the most flexible, meaning your budget can be moved between the following support categories:
- Daily activities – support to complete daily tasks like personal care, cleaning and gardening
- Consumables – funding to pay for everyday items you might need, such as incontinence products
- Assistance with social and community participation – help to participate in activities in the community, like social sports
- Transport – if your disability affects your ability to get around and use public transport, the NDIS may provide funding for transport options
Core Supports are designed to help you live as independently as possible and to participate more in your community.
Capacity Building Supports budget
Capacity Building Supports funding exists to help you build your skills, knowledge and confidence to increase your independence to live the life you want. Capacity Building Supports can include support in any of the following areas:
- Choice and control – this includes training on how to create and manage your NDIS plan independently
- Daily activity – therapy designed to help you be able to complete more daily tasks
- Employment – support to help you find and keep employment
- Health and wellbeing – advice around nutrition or exercise, to do with the impacts of your disability
- Home living – help to find you the most suitable living arrangement
- Lifelong learning – support to undergo further education, including attending TAFE or university
- Relationships – support to help you foster social relationships
- Social and community participation – education to help you participate in your community, such as training on how to use public transport
Ultimately, the goal of Capacity Building Supports is to empower you to live a more independent and fulfilling life. If you have a Support Coordinator funded in your plan to help you find supports, this will be included in your Capacity Building Supports budget.
Capital Supports budget
Capital Supports is the last NDIS funding category, dedicated to helping you purchase necessary items to improve your quality of life. Capital Supports can cover the following:
- Assistive technology – equipment that assists you in completing your daily tasks, that you would otherwise be unable to do due to your disability
- Home modifications – changes to your home that ensure your surroundings are safe and usable, such as rails in the shower or beside the toilet
Note that Capital Supports funding must be used for the purchase of a specific, approved item, and can’t be transferred or used for anything else.
To have Capital Supports funding included in your NDIS plan, remember to discuss your needs for assistive technology or home modifications in your planning meeting with a Local Area Coordinator.
How to access NDIS funding
To access the NDIS you must meet some eligibility criteria before you apply. If you meet the criteria you can apply to become an NDIS participant to receive NDIS funding. The process consists of four main steps.
First, you must complete an access request for the NDIS, this may include providing evidence of your disability. Second, once approved, you’ll develop a plan with a NDIS planner in a planning meeting that outlines your goals and the support you need. Third, you must submit your plan to the NDIS for approval. After your plan has been approved, you’ll receive your NDIS funding and can begin accessing your supports. You’ll regularly review your plan to make sure you are getting the support you need.
To learn more about how to apply for NDIS funding, head to our blog: Who is eligible for the NDIS? How do I apply?
What supports are not funded?
Although NDIS funding covers a range of supports and services for people with disability, there are cases where the NDIS does not provide funding such as; if it is not related to a person’s disability, relates to daily living costs that are not related to a participant’s support needs, is likely to cause harm or pose a risk or can be provided by another government system or community service.
How to know what supports are best for you
If you’re having difficulty understanding your NDIS funds managing your plan or determining what supports you need, MyIntegra Plan Management and Support Coordination can help.
Between these two services, our experienced team can make sure you’re making the most of your NDIS funds, your invoices are paid on time and that you’re connected with the right supports and providers to help you achieve your goals.
If you need a hand, reach out to the friendly team here at MyIntegra to see how we can help you today.
