How Do I Use My NDIS Core Supports Funding? With Examples

What is Core Supports Funding?

Your CORE SUPPORTS funding is put in place to help you work towards your long-term goals, but more importantly to help you, or the person with a disability to increase their independence and make your everyday life more accessible.

This is the most flexible budget because you can use your funding across any of the 4 support categories that fall under this category.

What Can I Use My Core Supports Funding For?

The NDIA uses the reasonable & necessary criteria to determine if a support should be funded, and what would be necessary for you/your child under this category. These supports look different for everyone, however it’s often that children under a certain age get limited funding in this area, as the NDIA may determine a large number of these ‘Core supports’ to be are a parental responsibility.

Types of Core Supports Categories

The are 5 categories in your CORE budget. These include:

Assistance with Daily Life

Transport

Consumables

Assistance with Social & Community Participation

Home & Living

Young People in Residential Aged Care

Assistance with Daily Life (Category 1)

This includes funding for a support worker/nurse/carer to provide:

assistance with daily personal activities (showering, personal hygiene and moving around the house)
assistance with household tasks – such as cleaning and maintenance to help maintain your home environment
assistance with preparation and delivery of meals – covers costs for a chosen service provider to prepare and deliver food on a weekly basis, taking your specific needs into account
assistance in shared living arrangements / supported independent living (SIL) – incorporates assistance with and/or supervising daily life tasks in a shared living environment. This is typically a STATED line item

Transport (Category 2)

This is support that helps you travel to work or other places that will help you achieve the goals in your plan.

How you can spend your transport funding and how it is paid to you (whether upfront or in regular payments) will be different for each person. Your LAC will explain how you can use this budget

I.e. Taxi expenses if you are unable to access public transport or specialised transport to/from school, work, activities, community

Consumables (Category 3)

This includes items you may need like continence products or low-cost assistive technology (AT) and equipment to improve your independence and/or mobility.

These are items that you do not require an assessment or quote to purchase.

Examples of Consumables

Daily living solutions/daily adaptive equipment: e.g. medication management devices, non-slip bathmats, signature guide, long-handled or adapted grip equipment, cutlery,
Mobility: e.g. replacement mobility cane; replacement covers (like for like); walking stick
Hearing & communication devices: Auslan or Signed English Training
Interpretation & translation services
External continence: One off/short term supply of washable briefs, pads, bedding protectors
Low-cost Assistive technology: low risk items under $1500

Assistance with Social & Community Participation (Category 4)

This includes support to help you to engage in social or recreational activities and become more involved in your community. These activities may be provided in a centre or in a comm unity setting to strengthen your ability to participate independently

The NDIS may fund a support worker to support YOU to:

Join a social group
Go on a holiday camp
Visit your local library
Attend a personal development course
See a movie or concert
Go to community events or join a sporting club
Attend an art class

Note: The NDIS does not fund the actual COST of the activity

Home & Living (Category 16)

This is support that assists in appropriate home & living options specific for your disability needs and can only be used flexibly WITHIN this category.

Short term accomodation (STA) – respite away from your carers (max 14 days)
Medium term accomodation (MTA) – up to 28 days while looking for housing
Supported Independent Living (SIL) – paid personal support to help you live independently in your home or shared accomodation
Individualised Living Options (ILO) – package of supports that can help you live how you want in the home environment you have chosen

Young People in Residential Aged Care (Category 21)

This is funding for a younger person living with a permanent disability (aged under 65 years) who lives in a residential aged care facility. It cannot be used flexibly across other CORE budgets, is agency-managed and is cross-billed

Support workers to assist you in the aged care facility
Supports to explore moving to other accomodation or to get ready to move out of residential aged care facilities
Other care and accomodation costs that the NDIS have agreed to – this will be reimbursed to you if included in your plan funding

What If I Do Not Have Funding for This Support?

If your plan has not included funding for these supports, and you feel this is reasonable & necessary for your disability needs, you will need to get in touch with your NDIA planner or LAC directly, or call NDIA on 1800 800 110 to discuss a plan review or your options for funding.

Important Takeaways

Core Supports is the most flexible part of your NDIS plan
It is designed to support your day-to-day needs and independence
Funding and flexibility will look different for everyone
Core Supports can be used for daily living, transport, consumables, community participation, and home and living supports
Some supports have limits based on age, plan details, or NDIA rules
If you believe a support is reasonable and necessary but not included, you can request a plan review
Having the right support in place can make managing your Core Supports simpler and less stressful

How a Plan Manager Can Help You Manage Your Core Supports Funding

Core Supports funding is flexible, but that flexibility can also make it confusing. A plan manager helps you use your Core Supports funding correctly, without the stress of guessing or worrying about making a mistake.

For example, a Plan Manager can help by:

Checking claims before you spend
If you are unsure whether you can use Core Supports funding for a support worker, transport costs, or consumable items, your plan manager can confirm whether it is reasonable and necessary before you book or purchase the support.
Making sure invoices are claimed correctly
If a support worker provides assistance with daily life or community participation, your plan manager checks the invoice, claims it against the correct Core Supports category, and pays the provider for you.
Helping you understand flexibility across categories
Core Supports can often be used across different categories. For example, if you have unused funding in Assistance with Daily Life, your plan manager can help you understand whether it can be used for another Core Support that meets NDIS rules.
Tracking your Core Supports budget
Your plan manager keeps track of how much funding you have left so you do not accidentally overspend. For example, they can let you know if your transport funding is running low or if you need to adjust your supports.
Supporting you with plan changes or reviews
If your Core Supports funding is not meeting your needs, your plan manager can help you understand what evidence is needed and support you to prepare for a plan review.
Helping you avoid common mistakes
For example, they can explain that the NDIS does not pay for the cost of activities under Social and Community Participation, only the support to attend, helping you avoid rejected claims.

At Plan Hero, our plan managers work with you to explain your Core Supports funding in plain language, help you make informed choices, and ensure your funding is used in a way that supports your independence and everyday life.