Managing your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding can feel a bit tricky sometimes – especially when you’re trying to make sure you use it wisely. And although unspent funds don’t automatically translate into funding cuts in your next plan, it’s generally a good idea to spend what you have in pursuit of your goals, so you can show the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) your hard-fought-for budget has been put to good use.
There are a few more things to think about these days, and after changes were made to the NDIS Act in late 2024, how you spend your funding is one of them.
New rules about what you can and can’t use your budget for have tightened things up for everyone, and the categories of funding aren’t as flexible as they used to be. On top of that, we’re hearing more about stated supports, rejected claims, and budgets being slashed, and NDIS participants and providers are grappling with the latest round of pricing changes too.
One of the biggest NDIS upheavals in recent times has been the introduction of funding periods. When you receive a funding period plan, instead of getting your full budget up front, it will be split into smaller chunks that will made available over time.
That means you’ll need to plan carefully – how and when you spend really matters – so thinking ahead will be vital.
And while all of this means it’s less likely you’ll reach to the end of your plan period with a big chunk of funding left over, if that sounds like a possibility for you, there are a few useful things to know.
If you have funding remaining in the flexible part of your Core Supports budget, there are a few handy ways you might be able to use it (if the spending aligns with your NDIS plan).
Low cost, low risk assistive technology can sometimes be purchased (if it costs less than $1500), and consumables related to your disability (like continence aids) are also worth considering.
Capital Supports funding is a bit different. Designed to cover higher-cost items like specialised assistive technology, home modifications, and – in some instances – costs associated with Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), Capital Supports funding is fixed and prescriptive, meaning its allocated for specific supports and can only be utilised for that purpose. For instance, if funding has been set aside for something like a wheelchair, a bathroom modification, or SDA, it can only be used for those things.
If a capital support you want to claim isn’t written into your NDIS plan, you need to get in touch with your NDIA contact to find out if it’s aligned with your budget – and having a letter of recommendation from your provider about why the support is needed may help.
If you haven’t spent your Capital Supports funding and you’re nearing the end of your plan, it might be worth checking with your support coordinator or NDIA contact to decide the best way forward.
Capacity Building Supports are all about helping you to develop skills and build your independence – with funding allocated to things like therapy, social and community participation, support coordination, and more.
Although some categories of funding within Capacity Building Supports are set aside for specific purposes (like plan management or behaviour support), if you do find you have broader funding available, it might be a great time to book a few extra sessions with your providers. If there are waitlists to see providers in your area, telehealth could be a good option to keep things moving until you can see your provider of choice in person.
And here’s another idea: if your therapist has given you recommendations, you might be able to use a therapy assistant to help put those into action, especially if there’s a shorter wait time to access that kind of support.
It’s all about finding smart ways to use your funding, so you can keep working toward your goals.
Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them, but there are some common reasons why NDIS funding goes unspent. Do any of these apply to you?
If you’ve got funding left and you’re worried the Agency might reduce your budget in your next plan, it’s a good to talk with your NDIA contact to explain why. Provider reports and letters of recommendation can help too.
For higher cost items that take time to purchase – like specialised assistive technology and home modifications – it’s a good idea to get started early, so you can get quotes, place orders, book installations, attend fittings (e.g. for a wheelchair), or await deliveries. It’s also worth factoring in unexpected delays that may be caused by illness, staff shortages, product delays and more.
Having a support coordinator and a plan manager (like us) on your team can make a big difference! We help you understand your plan, stay on top of your funding, and make sure you’re spending it in ways that help you to get the best value from your NDIS plan.
With us, you stay in control while getting expert support to navigate the NDIS smoothly.
We also recommend using our client portal (web and app) to keep track of the funding you have, what you’ve spent it on, and how much you’ve got left.
