NDIS Funding Categories Explained
Your NDIS plan is divided into three funding categories: Core Supports, Capital Supports, and Capacity Building Supports. Understanding each category helps you use your budget effectively.
| Category | What it funds | Budget flexibility |
|---|---|---|
| Core Supports | Daily care, community access, transport, consumables | Most flexible |
| Capital Supports | Assistive technology, specialist accommodation (SDA) | Least flexible |
| Capacity Building | Therapy, support coordination, employment, skill building | Category-locked |
Core Supports
Most flexibleCore Supports fund the everyday assistance you need to live your life and participate in the community. Most Core funds can be moved between sub-categories.
- Assistance with Daily Life — Personal care, domestic tasks, overnight support
- Consumables — Continence aids, low-cost assistive tech, mealtime supports
- Assistance with Social & Community Participation — Community access, recreation, social activities
- Transport — Getting to work, appointments, community
Capital Supports
Least flexibleCapital Supports fund higher-cost items and specialist accommodation. These budgets are strictly tied to approved items — funds cannot be redirected to other categories.
- Assistive Technology — Wheelchairs, communication devices, vehicle and home modifications
- Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) — Purpose-built housing for people with extreme functional impairment
Capacity Building Supports
Category-lockedCapacity Building Supports fund therapy and services designed to build your skills and independence over time. Each sub-category has its own budget that cannot be moved.
- Support Coordination — Help connecting with providers and managing your plan
- Improved Daily Living — OT, speech pathology, physiotherapy, psychology, behaviour support
- Finding and Keeping a Job — Employment support and workplace skills
- Improved Living Arrangements — Support to find and maintain housing
- Increased Social & Community Participation — Skill-building programs for community access
- Improved Health and Wellbeing — Exercise physiology, dietetics
- Improved Learning — Support for education transitions
- Improved Relationships — Behaviour support and positive social skills
Understanding Budget Flexibility
Core Supports is the most flexible category. If you have leftover budget in Assistance with Daily Life, you can usually redirect it to community participation or consumables without NDIA approval — as long as the supports are reasonable and necessary.
Capacity Building Supports are locked to their sub-category. If you have Improved Daily Living funding (e.g. for OT), you cannot use it for Support Coordination even though both are Capacity Building supports.
Capital Supports are the most restricted. Assistive technology funds can only be used for the specific items approved in your plan. You cannot redirect capital funds to Core or Capacity Building supports.
Some participants have flexible plans where NDIA has noted funds can be used more broadly — check your plan document or ask your plan manager.
How to Maximise Each Funding Category
Track your Core spending monthly
Core Supports runs out first for most participants. Review your budget every 4 weeks and redistribute between sub-categories if one area is underspending and another is over.
Use Capacity Building before it expires
Capacity Building funds don't carry over at plan review. Book your therapy appointments early and don't let OT, speech, or behaviour support budgets lapse unused.
Get OT reports before your review for Capital items
If you need assistive technology or home modifications, get an OT assessment done before your plan review. The NDIA requires evidence from an assessor before funding capital items.
Ask about plan flexibility at your review
At your plan review, ask your Local Area Coordinator whether any of your budgets can be made flexible. This gives you more control over where your funds go.