What NDIS funding can and cannot be used for

There is now a legislated list

Since 3 October 2024 there has been a legislated definition of "NDIS supports", supported by lists of what is and is not an NDIS support. This replaced a great deal of case-by-case guesswork. If a support is not an NDIS support, plan funding cannot be used for it — regardless of how your plan is managed.

• Generally in: disability-related personal care, community participation, assistive technology, home modifications, disability-related therapy, behaviour support.
• Generally out: day-to-day living costs everyone has, mainstream health and hospital care, school tuition, rent and mortgage payments, groceries, alcohol, gambling and holidays.

The reasonable and necessary test

Even when something is an NDIS support, the NDIA applies the reasonable and necessary criteria in section 34 of the NDIS Act before funding it. A support must:

• relate to your disability and help you pursue the goals in your plan
• represent value for money, taking the long view
• be likely to be effective and beneficial for you, having regard to good practice
• account for what family, carers, networks and the community reasonably provide
• not be a day-to-day living cost unrelated to your disability support needs, and not be the responsibility of another service system

Budget adjustments from October 2026

The Government has announced that participant budgets for social, civic and community participation supports, and for capacity building daily activities, will be progressively adjusted from 1 October 2026. Critical care and daily living supports — help with eating, drinking, dressing, toileting and personal care — were stated not to be affected by these initial adjustments. If this touches your plan, the NDIA will write to you; we can help you re-prioritise hours if it does.