In our new computer system, funding in NDIS plans is built at the support category level.
In your plan we describe NDIS support categories as flexible or stated, based on NDIS laws.
You must spend your funding in line with your plan.
Flexible support categories
Funding for NDIS supports included in the Core support category of the participant’s plan can be used flexibly when they are part of the same fund management type .
Stated support categories
Stated supports have flexibility within the same support category. For example, Improved Daily Living Skills. This flexibility allows you to choose supports within the category that best meet your individual needs. You can’t use them flexibly with other types of support categories in your plan.
Your plan may include information that describes what the support category budget is for. This is to help you understand the purpose and intention of what has been funded in your plan. You still have the flexibility to use your funds for any support as long as its within that same support category, is an NDIS support, and aligns with your individual support needs.
If you’re unsure about your stated supports, ask your my NDIS contact, support coordinator or recovery coach.
To learn more about what supports are stated and flexible, go to Factsheet: Support categories and Our Guideline - Your plan.
Example one
Lucy has a new NDIS plan with two types of funding: Agency managed and managed by a registered plan manager.
Agency managed Core supports:
- $25,000 for Assistance with Daily Life
- $10,000 for Social and Economic Participation.
Lucy can use these two budgets flexibly, meaning she can spend up to $35,000 total across both categories in the way that best supports her goals. For example, if Lucy needs more support with daily life and less with social participation, she can adjust her spending to suit her needs.
Supports managed by a registered plan manager:
- $3,000 for Transport
- $2,000 for Consumables
Lucy and her plan manager can also use these budgets flexibly, combining them to spend up to $5,000 across both categories. This gives Lucy the freedom to choose how much she spends on transport or consumables, depending on what helps her most.
Lucy can only combine budgets that are managed the same way. She can’t combine budgets that are Agency managed with those managed by a registered plan manager.
Example 2
Lewis has a new NDIS plan. His plan is Agency managed.
He has $10,000 in his Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living budget. This is a stated support category, which means Lewis can choose how to use the funding on supports that align with his goals and meet his disability support needs but can only use supports within that support category.
Lewis wants to improve his communication and daily routines. He decides to use his funding for both speech therapy and occupational therapy.
Because there is flexibility within this support category, Lewis can:
- decide how to split the $10,000 between different types of therapy, such as speech therapy and occupational therapy
- explore options, get advice, and decide what best supports his goals
- change how he uses the funding during his plan if his needs change
- only use the funds for supports that fall under the Improved Daily Living support category.