Understanding NDIS Provider Travel: What You Need to Know
At MyIntegra, we know that managing your NDIS plan can sometimes be confusing—especially when it comes to things like provider travel. If your provider needs to travel to deliver your service, it’s important to understand what the NDIS does (and doesn’t) fund, and when a provider can claim for it.
What’s the difference between Provider Travel and Participant Transport funding?
Provider Travel: Refers to funding for the time and costs involved when a service provider travels to deliver a support. This includes the time spent travelling to and from the participant, mileage and other non-travel related expenses such as parking or tolls. Provider travel is only claimable when the travel is linked to the delivery of a specific support item in the participants plan that allows for travel to be claimed.
Participant Transport: Refers to funding for transport a participant uses to get to an activity or appointment, if they are unable to use public transport without substantial difficulty. That could include options such as taxi’s or rideshares. These are usually funded under the transport budget.
Does the NDIS Cover Provider Travel?
Yes, the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (previously known as the NDIS Price Guide) does allow registered providers to claim for travel—but only in connection with the support item they are delivering, and only if the rules for that item allow it.
It’s important to note that the NDIS does not usually account for provider travel when building NDIS plans unless that has been negotiated at the planning meeting and agreed to. Therefore, participants should be aware of how provider travel expenses can affect the available funding for Supports.
For example: 26 hours of speech therapy over 12 months would be equivalent to a fortnightly session for 1 hour. However once provider travel, time and kms or both are taken out it could reduce the number of face-to-face support hours available by up to 50% meaning the participant may only be able to access 13 sessions or less if a report needed to be written.
Who Can Claim for Provider Travel?
Only certain types of providers can claim travel costs under the NDIS—and only when the service they’re delivering allows it.
This usually includes:
- Support workers delivering Core Supports like Assistance with Daily Life or Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation
- Allied Health Professionals (e.g. occupational therapists, physios, speech pathologists) delivering Capacity Building Supports
- Support Coordinators in some limited circumstances, such as if they’re meeting with you in person
When Can Providers Claim for Provider Travel?
Service providers can only claim Provider Travel from a participants plan if ALL of the following conditions are met:
- The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits indicate that travel can be claimed for that specific support item
- The claims are within the allowed limits for time, distance and rates
- The travel is directly related to delivering a support item to the participant
- The support is delivered in person/face-to-face
- The provider explains to the participant why claiming for travel is a reasonable and necessary use of their plan funds
- The participant (or nominee) gives advance agreement, with travel charges clearly outlined in the service agreement
- The provider must pay the worker for travel time – unless they are a sole trader traveling from their usual workplace to or from a participant
How Is Provider Travel Calculated?
Provider travel is generally broken into two parts:
- Time spent travelling to (and in some cases from) your location
- Non-labour costs, such as tolls or parking
Under NDIS rules:
- Providers can usually claim up to 30 minutes of travel time in urban areas, and up to 60 minutes in regional/remote areas
- They can claim non-labour costs e.g. km travelled up to $0.99 per km (more for modified or commercial vehicles) and other travel costs such as tolls or parking.
- Travel time is claimed at the provider’s hourly rate for the relevant support item (e.g. if your therapist charges $100/hour for therapy, they may charge $50 for 30 minutes of travel)
How do Providers Claim for Travel?
To claim Provider Travel:
- Providers must use the same support item code as the service they are delivering
- A separate line item should be created on the invoice or claim to reflect the travel component
- Time and/or non-labour costs (Like kms or parking) should be clearly broken down and explained so the participant understands the value of activities and why they represent a good use of the participants funds.
- Claims must be agreed to, reasonable, necessary, and within pricing limits
Can You Say No to Provider Travel Charges?
As a participant, nominee or support coordinator, you can negotiate travel costs with your provider and choose whether you agree to them. These costs:
- Must be clearly written into your service agreement
- Should be explained in plain language so you understand how it affects your funding
- Should not come as a surprise—if it’s not in the agreement, it shouldn’t be charged
Not all providers charge to travel, some charge both kilometre and time, while others do not.
Key Takeaways:
- Not all supports types allow for provider travel claims – check the NDIS Pricing Arrangements.
- Not all providers charge for travel; and travel costs can be negotiated.
- Provider travel costs must be agreed in advance and included in the service agreement.
- Provider travel is usually capped at 30–60 minutes depending on if they are metro, regional or remote, and $0.99/km for mileage.
- Talk to your plan manager like MyIntegra if you are unsure what’s allowed
Still have questions?
If you are still unsure or if you’re working with a new provider, our team at MyIntegra is here to help you understand what’s allowed and manage your plan with confidence so you can make informed decisions about provider travel.
