Most people know the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds services like support work and allied health therapies, but did you know it can also help pay for everyday items and equipment that make life a little easier – like continence products, mobility aids and kitchen tools?
These items are funded through a support category called ‘Consumables’, and while the name might suggest it only covers things that get used up, this budget can also pay for simple, low-cost equipment that supports you with daily life – products better known as low-cost assistive technology.
In this article, we unpack what the Consumables support category can cover and how to use your NDIS funding for purchases, and we’ve added tips to help make your claims smooth and stress-free too.
The Consumables category is part of the Core Supports funding in your NDIS plan. It’s designed to help cover everyday items that support your disability-related needs, things that help you live more independently, safely, and comfortably.
Not everyone will have the Consumables category listed in their plan, but many do – especially if they regularly need to buy items related to their disability.
But the good news is, because Core Supports funding is flexible, if the Consumables category isn't listed specifically in your plan, you can often use other Core Supports funding to buy items that fall under this category. For example, if you’ve got enough funding in your Assistance with Daily Life support category, you might use it to purchase things like sterile gloves or adaptive cutlery.
The Consumables category can fund a wide range of everyday items that support your disability-related needs, but it’s limited to things that cost less than $1500. These items generally fall into two groups:
These are products that get used up or need to be replaced regularly. They’re often single-use or short-term items that help with hygiene, health, or daily routines related to your disability.
Examples include:
These are simple, reusable items that help you carry out daily tasks more easily and safely. They’re not ‘used up’, but they’re still considered low-cost, practical supports.
Examples include:
Whether it’s something you use every day or a tool that helps you do things more independently, the Consumables category is there to support your needs.
While the Consumables category can cover a wide range of helpful items, it’s important to know that not everything is eligible.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) won’t fund general household items or products that aren’t directly related to your disability support needs. This means you can’t use the funding in your Consumables category to pay for things like:
Even if these items are part of your daily routine or help you do things easier, they’re generally considered everyday living expenses and not disability-specific supports. If you’re ever unsure whether something is claimable, we can help you check before you buy. Just give us a call to talk it over.
Every person and their support needs are different, just like every NDIS plan. This means that just because another participant can claim a particular item, it doesn’t automatically mean you can do the same with your NDIS funding.
To check if you can claim from your NDIS plan, here are a few key questions to ask:
You don’t need to have the Consumables category listed in your plan, but you do need enough funding available in Core Supports to cover the cost without affecting your other essential supports
The NDIA has published lists of what is and isn’t considered an NDIS support. You can read through them here to check whether the item you want to buy is eligible.
Items claimed under the Consumables category must cost less than $1500 and be low risk – meaning they don’t pose a safety risk and are easy to buy, set up, and use without professional help.
All NDIS supports must meet the NDIA’s reasonable and necessary criteria. In short, they should be related to your disability, be effective and beneficial, represent value for money, help you reach a goal and participate in daily life, and not be funded by another source (like Medicare). You can read more about the reasonable and necessary criteria here.
If you answered ‘yes’ to all the above, it’s likely the support you’re wanting to buy can be claimed from the funding in your Consumables category or from another Core Supports category without needing to provide extra evidence or have it pre-approved by the NDIA.
If you’re ever in doubt, it’s always best to check before you buy, so give us a call or get in touch with the NDIA.
Sometimes, we might ask you for a letter of recommendation from an allied health professional to support your claim, especially if it’s not immediately clear that the proposed purchase meets all the criteria. This helps protect your funding in case the NDIA reviews the claim later, but you can read more about why we do this here.
If the item you’re looking to buy ticks most of the criteria but costs more than $1500, is considered high risk, or is custom made for you… don’t worry – you still might be able to access it with your NDIS funding, just under a different budget category. We go into this type of assistive technology, and what extra evidence you might need to help get it approved in your plan, here.
You don’t need to shop at disability-specific stores to buy items funded under the Consumables category, although those stores often have a wider range of products tailored to disability support needs. Many consumables and low-cost assistive technology items can also be found at chemists, supermarkets, online retailers, and other general stores.
Once you’ve found the item you need and you’ve confirmed it’s an approved support, there are two ways to make a purchase using your NDIS funding:
1. If you’re a My Plan Manager client, you can ask the store or seller to send the invoice to us, and we’ll pay them directly from your NDIS funding. This is often the easiest option, especially for larger or repeat orders.
2. If you’ve already paid for the item yourself or the supplier can‘t invoice for it, you can submit the receipt to us, and we’ll reimburse you – as long as the item is an approved support and there’s funding available for the purchase. To do this, you can use our client portal (web and app), or you can email us following the steps outlined here.
To process a reimbursement, we’ll need to have your bank account details on file, so make sure they’re up to date before you submit your claim.
If you’re unsure if the NDIA will fund a particular item you want to claim, it’s best to have a conversation with us, especially before paying for anything out of your own pocket. We’re here to help, and we don’t want you to be caught out if something turns out to not be covered.
We can talk through your available funding, and help you better understand the NDIA’s funding criteria.
If the NDIA decides an item shouldn’t be covered in your plan, we can also help explain the Agency’s reasoning and offer guidance on the next steps. Sometimes it’s difficult to understand the NDIA’s decisions about funding – decisions it makes based on a wide range of factors, such as your disability support needs, living arrangements, and the availability of informal supports. You can find a bit more information about how the NDIA makes decisions about reasonable and necessary supports here.
If you have any questions about consumables, low-cost assistive technology, or using your NDIS funding, we’re here to help. You can email us at enquiries@myplanmanager.com.au or call us on 1800 861 272 from 8am-5.30pm (SA time), Monday to Friday.
