NDIS Core Support: Transport

The NDIS Consumables category falls within the purpose of Core Support, and it is intended to help people with disabilities access necessary products and devices for daily living. Depending on a person’s disability, they may need different types of consumable items. This support cannot be used for everyday items that anyone needs, such as groceries or toilet paper; it can only be used for items that a person needs because of their disability. 

Common examples of consumable items that can be purchased with NDIS funds include incontinence items, skin care items, and modified eating aids. 

This is a very flexible budget category in your NDIS plan. There are no price limits set in the pricing arrangement guide for these items, and you can use the money in this budget for any consumable items that are ‘reasonable and necessary’. Since most of these items are low-cost, you don’t need to get a quote before you purchase them. However, you do need to budget appropriately to make sure that you’re able to purchase all the consumable items you need throughout the year. 

Your consumables budget can also be used for low-cost, low-risk assistive technology. This makes it simple for you to purchase simple assistive technology items, such as moulded silverware that’s easier to grip, elastic shoelaces, or a kettle tipper. Generally, a consumable or assistive technology item that costs less than $1,500 doesn’t need a quote to be purchased with this budget category. 

Using Your NDIS Consumables Budget for Low-Cost Assistive Technology

Low-cost assistive technology items don’t have price limits in the NDIS pricing arrangement, and you don’t need to get a pricing quote before you purchase them. This means you can buy them from any provider you choose. However, they do need to be ‘reasonable and necessary’, which means the price needs to be reasonable and comparable to other providers, and the item needs to be necessary and related to your disability. 

In order to use your consumables budget to purchase assistive technology, it must be both low cost and low risk. Low cost means it costs under $1,500 per item. Low risk means you can safely use the item in daily life without risk of harm, and you don’t need help from a specialist or health professional to understand how to use the item correctly. Low-risk items are usually easy to find and available for sale in retail stores. 

Here are some examples of low-risk, low-cost assistive technology: 

• Non-slip bath mat
• Specialised eating utensils 
• Large print labels 
• Handrails 
• Talking alarm clock 

These items do not have price limits in the NDIS pricing arrangement guide, but they can be claimed using the notional amount of $1 per item. 

General transport

This core support item can be used to help with transport to any activity or event, as long as the activity will help you meet your goals. Although there are no provider price limits, there are several levels that set a maximum annual amount, depending on your situation and needs. You can use this allowance to pay for taxis, rideshare services, public transit, or other transport services that meet your needs. 

• Level 1 provides a transport allowance up to $1606/year. You may be eligible for this level if you do not work or go to school, and you want transport to help you access general community events, activities, and resources. 
• Level 2 provides a transport allowance up to $2472/year. You may be eligible for this level if you attend work, school, or a day program part-time for less than 15 hours per week. You can use this allowance for transport to any community location or event, not just work or school. 
• Level 3 provides a transport allowance up to $3456/year. You may be eligible for this program if you attend work, school, or a day program for 15 hours per week or more. You can use this allowance for transport to any community location or event. 

This allowance does not change if you live in a remote or very remote location.

Specialised transport

You’ll use a different support item in your NDIS budget if you need specialised transport, such as transport in a modified vehicle. This item is subject to the same rules and maximum limits as General Transport.

Other transport support 

Your Core Support: Transport budget is not the only way you can receive NDIS funding to help with the cost of transport to work, school, and activities. There are three other support budgets that you can use toward the cost of transport: 

• You can pay a support worker to drive you to events and activities or to assist you while you travel on public transit. This funding can be claimed through your Assistance with Social, Economic, and Community Participation core support budget. 
• You can increase your ability to transport yourself independently with funds from your Improved Daily Living capacity building budget. This support can help you take lessons on using public transit, take driving lessons, or otherwise increase your ability to transport yourself around your community. 
• You can modify a vehicle so you can drive it using your Assistive Technology capital supports budget. 

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