What are the NDIS areas of support?

February 28, 2022

The NDIS delivers supports and services to people with disabilities, not only to meet their needs but to help them achieve their life goals. The different NDIS areas of support can fund anything from accommodation for a participant, right through to services that build their independence and skills.

As an NDIS-registered provider, Disability Plan Services is experienced in providing support to participants for plan management and support coordination (coordination of supports). Once you are approved and have the applicable funding within your plan to access plan management or support coordination, our team is here to ensure you make the most of your funds and achieve your goals.

Here we break down the different NDIS areas of support so you can enter a planning meeting or plan review feeling confident and informed about what you need.

What are the different NDIS areas of support? 

Each person with a disability has different wants and needs, so it only makes sense that each NDIS plan is unique and tailored to a participant’s requirements and goals. NDIS funding exists to support you with your disability, therefore funding is granted on what is reasonable and necessary to assist you in your day-to-day life, and help you achieve your goals. 

NDIS support services fall into three categories: core, capital, and capacity building. 

Your core support budget is made up of four categories – assistance with daily living, transport, consumables, and assistance with social & community participation. Your core support budget is flexible, meaning the funding you receive for this support can be shifted around those four categories, depending on your needs. Some examples of supports that may be funded within your core budget include transport (if you are unable to use public transport), meal preparation, Auslan training and more.  

Capital supports budget 

Your capital support budget is used for two categories – higher-cost assistive technology or home modifications. This might include items such as wheelchairs, handrails for your home, ramps, and vision assistive technology. Funding in this budget is not flexible and can only be used for the specific purpose outlined in your plan.

Capacity Building Budget

Your capacity-building budget is all about supporting your independence and working towards the goals you have outlined in your NDIS plan. Have dreams of getting a job or going back to study? Good news – this is the category that will fund these things. However, it’s important to note that this support does not have flexibility for funding to move from category to category. Your capacity building budget funds a variety of supports, including assistance in finding and maintaining a suitable home, employment-related support and NDIS support coordination and plan management – these latter two services are available through Disability Plan Services for eligible NDIS participants.

How Disability Plan Services can handle your support coordination

A support coordinator works with you to make the most out of your NDIS plan and takes the stress out of organising your supports. Support coordination is a capacity-building support under the NDIS, which was designed to ensure participants have a mix of supports that can be used to increase their capacity to maintain relationships, manage service delivery tasks, live more independently, and be included in their local community.

The NDIS breaks down support coordination into three sub-categories:

1. Support connection – This is short-term assistance to help you connect and build relationships with your service providers.
2. Support coordination – NDIS Support Coordinators provide you with ongoing assistance to navigate the NDIS, connect you with supports, resolve any issues and more.
3. Specialist support coordination – For those with a complex living situation, difficulty communicating, or who have other family members also living with disability, specialist support coordination, also known as complex case management, helps to address barriers and reduce complexities.

Support coordination is a service that Disability Plan Services proudly offers. If you’d like to rely on a team of experts that can help you navigate the various NDIS areas of support, get in touch with us today.  

How Disability Plan Services can help with your plan

On top of the support coordination services on offer, Disability Plan Services can also help you with plan management. Plan management is required to keep track of the funding you receive from the NDIS. You can self-manage, but in doing so, you’ll be required to keep track of all receipts, track your budget, and pay service providers. 

When you choose us as your plan manager, you can rest assured knowing you’re getting the most out of your NDIS support services and that you have access to:

• a team who understands your needs and can provide you with the financial know-how and budget advice needed to get the most out of your plan;
• experts that can help you navigate the NDIS in language you can understand;
• plan management that is no extra cost to you (simply ask for additional budget for a registered Plan Management provider at your next NDIS plan meeting). 

Contact us today to learn more about our plan management services. 

Disability Plan Services is an independent NDIS provider. Our team of expert NDIS support coordinators and plan managers can help you navigate the complexities of the various NDIS areas of support. To receive assistance in managing your NDIS plan or support coordination from people you can trust, get in touch with Disability Plan Services by calling 1800 312 870 or email info@disabilityplanservices.com.au.