Will the NDIS fund house modifications?

The NDIS may pay for changes to your house but these changes have to be reasonable and necessary. This means they have to be fair and something you need.

Examples of home modification that can be funded are:
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Installments and products

Elevators
Ramps
Slip resistant tile coating
Assistive products for personal care and safety

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Services

Certification of approval of home modifications
Project manager or building certifier
Consultation about home modifications with builder
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

We can advise you on whether you might be able to get this into your plan, either get in touch via email at hello@providerchoice.com.au.

How can I use the money in my budget?

Each funded support in your plan has a budget. These budgets are placed in a support category based on why you need that support. There are 15 support categories.

You can't take money from one budget and spend it on a different support category, but there are a range of supports you can fund in each category. However, if you have a 'STATED SUPPORT' you have to use your budget to buy that support.

What will the NDIS not pay for?

The NDIS will only pay for supports that are reasonable and necessary, that is supports that are fair and something you need. The NDIS won't pay for your groceries, but they will pay for a support person to take you shopping if that is a support that you need.

Think of the things that any non-disabled person pays for themselves, these are the things that NDIS does not pay. In general, belonging to a club or sport, registration for these or uniform and basic equipment are all costs a non-disabled person pays for themselves. We can chat to you about what is reasonable and necessary for you. Some of these things include occupational therapists, assistive technology, continence products, and some people have even been able to buy things like Fitbits.

There actually is no legally verified list of "things" that are unable to be purchased with NDIS funds - except booze, smokes, the pokies/gambling and anything that's illegal.

Remember always that the NDIS is about choice, so we encourage people not to be afraid to think creatively about their supports.

A few questions you might want to consider in determining if a product or service is reasonable and necessary:

Disability Related - Do I need this because of my disability?

Goals - Does it help me achieve my goals in my plan?

Value for money - Are the costs reasonable, noting both the benefits and the cost of other ways that might get similar results?

Will the NDIS pay for domestic help, for example cleaning, and gardening, in my home through the NDIS?

The NDIS may fund domestic help such as having someone help clean or cook, if it's a reasonable and necessary support for you. This means that this help has to be fair and needed. We can advise you on whether you might be able to get this into your plan, just get email us at hello@providerchoice.com.au.

Will the NDIS fund car modifications?

The NDIS may pay for changes to your car or van, but these changes have to be reasonable and necessary. This means they have to be fair and something you need. We can advise you on whether you might be able to get this into your plan, either get in touch via email at hello@providerchoice.com.au.

Will the NDIS fund sport and exercise activities?

The NDIS won't pay your sports fees, but we may fund supports that help you with sports and exercises.

How are prosthetic limbs funded under the NDIS?

The NDIS will fund reasonable and necessary prosthetic limbs that are suited to your disability and your goals. Reasonable and necessary means that a prosthetic limb has to be fair and something you need.

Does the NDIS fund medical expenses?

The NDIS will pay for medical therapy and early intervention if it's related to your disability and we'll pay for supports to help you go to appointments if it's reasonable and necessary. This means it has to be fair and something you need. They won't pay for medicine, doctor's visits, or surgery as these are covered by other government branches.

Will the NDIS fund education?

We'll pay for supports that will help you get an education, but other groups are better suited to pay for things like fees tutors, and changes to school buildings.

Does the NDIS fund transport?

The NDIS will pay for your transport if you can't use public transport or if you're not part of a taxi scheme, and it's reasonable and necessary. This means that funding your transport has to be fair and something you need.

Here are the NDIS rules around transport:

Level 1
The NDIS will provide up to $1,606 per year for participants who are not working, studying or attending day programs but are seeking to enhance their community access.

Level 2
The NDIS will provide up to $2,472 per year for participants who are currently working or studying part-time (up to 15 hours a week), participating in day programs and for other social, recreational or leisure activities.

Level 3
The NDIS will provide up to $3,456 per year for participants who are currently working, looking for work, or studying, at least 15 hours a week, and are unable to use public transport because of their disability.

If it is reasonable and necessary, participants are able to receive money for transport above the level 3 payments.

Can I have funding for Housing / Specialist Disability Accomodation?

Specialist Disability Accommodation (or SDA) is a support that is available to eligible NDIS participants. It is a housing solution for people who require specialist accommodation solutions, and in particular for those with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs and who cannot live in mainstream housing.

Under new NDIS rules:

NDIS participants will be able to immediately apply for SDA without having to investigate other accommodation options first
The majority bedroom rule has been removed, allowing more properties to be enrolled as SDA and couples and siblings can now share a room
There will now price certainty for NDIS participants making it easier for them to own their own SDA property

To see if you are eligible try this useful tool: https://www.veraliving.com.au/eligibilitytool/.

Can I have respite included in my plan?

The NDIS uses the phrase 'short term accommodation' as an alternative to respite.

Having short term accomodation ('respite') included in your plan is often dependant on what goals you go into your planning meeting with and what is accepted by the NDIS.

Goals that provide funding for short term accomodation can include:

Time for my family to have a break and recharge
Learn to live independently
Transitioning into supported accomodation

Remember goals are always framed from the participant's perspective not the family's.

Can I use NDIS funding for assistive technology, and what things can I buy?

Assistive technology is any device or system that allows you to do something that you wouldn’t be able to do without it (or can be used to increase the ease or safety of things that you do).

Anything that is considered to be “mainstream technology” that does not overcome a functional limitation. For example, a car is not assistive technology but modifications to a car could be.

The need for assistive technology is assessed by the NDIS on a case-by-case basis. It will be included if it is decided to be a ‘reasonable and necessary’ support that meets your needs and will help you to achieve your goals.

Examples of assistive technology include:

Communication Technology

Voice generator
Face to face communication assistive products
Communication and information equipment
Text to speech devices

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Hearing technology

Hearing aids, maintenance, replacement
Cochlear implant

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Vision equipment

General vision equipment
Braille Equipment

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Mobility products

Lifts
Hoists and slings
Sit to stand chairs
Personal mobility equipment

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Wheelchairs and related items

Regular wheelchairs
Sports wheelchairs
Trailer to carry wheelchair

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General assistive products

Assistive products for personal care and safety
Assistive equipment for recreation
Assistive equipment for household tasks

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Rental and repairs of equipment

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Other

Orthotics
Prostheses
Vehicle modifications
Adapted furniture
Tactile devices
Apps
Environmental control systems

What are consumables?

Consumables are part of your core funding.

Consumables funding can be used to purchase continence products such as:

Continence alarms
Continence packages
Catheter bags
Catheter
Pullups
Pads
Wipes
Sterilising equipment
Specialised waste disposal equipment

It can also be used for:

Daily adaptive equipment
Home enternal nutrition (HEN) products and repairs
Interpreting and translation

Can the NDIS pay for driving lessons?

Yes, the NDIS funding may be able to pay for driving lessons.

For this to be paid a participant needs to have funding for Improved Daily Living, driving lessons need to be seen as 'reasonable and necessary' and they need to be connected to your goals.

What can I buy with my NDIS money?