Using your plan

What can I actually spend this on?

Updated September 2026 · 5 min read

The money in an NDIS plan is split into budgets. The three main ones are Core Supports, Capacity Building and Capital Supports, and each has its own rules. Not every plan has all three. Your plan shows which ones you have and how much is in each.

One rule sits over everything below: the NDIS only pays for a support if it's related to your disability and meets all of the reasonable and necessary criteria. The examples below are what's typically included, not a promise that something will be funded for you.

Core Supports: everyday life

For everyday activities and getting involved in your community. This is the most flexible budget: you can usually spend the total across these four categories as you need.

Assistance with daily life. A support worker helping with everyday tasks like personal care, cooking, cleaning and yard maintenance.
Consumables. Everyday items such as continence products, and low-cost equipment like a non-slip bath mat or small aids that help with dressing, eating, drinking or cleaning.
Social, economic and community participation. Support to spend more time in your local community and join group or social activities, with a support worker helping you do more independently.
Transport. Getting to your disability supports, and to things that help you work towards the goals in your plan.

Source: NDIS, What are core supports

Capacity Building: building skills

For building skills and independence, so you may need less support later. This money is set for each category, so you can't move it from one category to another. Common categories include:

Support Coordination. Someone to help you understand your plan, connect with providers and coordinate your supports.
Improved daily living. Assessments, training or therapy to build living skills and independence, for example from an allied health professional.
Employment. Building work skills, making a career plan, work experience, and support moving into work or further study.
Improved relationships. Behaviour support and help building skills for social situations.
Improved health and wellbeing. Help to improve physical and mental wellbeing where it's related to your disability.

Source: NDIS, What are capacity building supports

Capital Supports: bigger items

For higher-cost, one-off things. These usually need quotes or assessments first, and the money is set for a specific item or change.

Assistive technology. More expensive equipment for mobility, personal care, communication or independence, for example a powered wheelchair.
Home modifications. Changes to your home so you can live more independently, from smaller changes to bigger structural work.
Vehicle modifications. Changes to a car so you can travel in it or drive it.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). Specially designed housing for people with very high support needs. SDA is the home itself, not the support provided in it.

Source: NDIS, What are capital supports

What usually isn't covered

This is where people most often get caught out, sometimes by a provider saying "the NDIS will cover it". Before you pay for something, check.

Everyday living costs that anyone has. You're responsible for day-to-day costs like rent, groceries, utilities, phone and internet. Core Supports can pay for help with daily tasks, but not the costs themselves.
Medicines and supplements. Prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and homeopathic medicines are on the NDIS's official list of things that are not NDIS supports.
Health care. Things the health system is responsible for, like GP and hospital care, aren't paid for by the NDIS.
Naturopathy and other "natural health" or alternative therapies. These usually aren't funded. The NDIS only funds a therapy when there's good evidence it improves, maintains or slows the decline of disability-related functioning, and it must be delivered by a qualified practitioner, registered with AHPRA or accredited by the relevant professional body. A link to your disability is needed, but it isn't enough on its own. General wellbeing isn't enough either.

Not sure about something? Check the NDIS's lists of what is and isn't an NDIS support, or ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or plan manager before you pay. If NDIS funding is spent on something that isn't an NDIS support, the NDIS may ask for it to be paid back.

Sources: NDIS, What are NDIS supports, NDIS, What are therapy supports and NDIS Our Guidelines, Health, NDIS, Guide to your home and living options and NDIS, Debt assessment, management and recovery

Sources

NDIS rules and processes change. If anything here doesn't match what the NDIS says now, go with the NDIS, and let us know so we can fix it.

Not sure what your plan allows?

Add your plan to PaperCalm and we'll explain what's in each budget, in plain language.

Start your free 7-day trial

PaperCalm is an independent tool. It isn't affiliated with the NDIS or the NDIA, and this isn't legal, medical, or financial advice.