The NDIS budget is the financial part of a Participant’s NDIS Plan. It sets out the funding available to access supports and services that help the Participant pursue goals and live an ordinary life. Each Plan is tailored to the Participant’s goals, needs, and circumstances. Clear understanding of the budget helps the Participant get the best value and flexibility from their funding.
NDIS Budget Types
NDIS funding is grouped into three main support budgets: Core Supports, Capacity Building Supports, and Capital Supports. If a Plan is issued in the NDIA’s new computer system, PACE, there may be a fourth budget called Recurring Supports.
Properly comprehending these categories is essential to invest your funding effectively during the plan duration and meet all your objectives.
Core Supports: Core Supports fund everyday supports such as Assistance with Daily Life, Consumables, Assistance with Social and Community Participation, and Transport. Core is generally the most flexible budget, allowing movement between Core categories; however, Transport is usually not flexible and may be treated differently to other Core categories. Low-cost Assistive Technology can also be purchased from the Core Consumables category where appropriate.
Capacity Building Supports: Capacity Building Supports help the Participant build skills and independence, for example Therapies, Employment-related Supports, Training, and Development. Capacity Building funding is not flexible between its categories; it can only be used for approved supports within the specific Capacity Building category included in the Plan, such as Improved Daily Living.
Capital Supports: Capital Supports cover higher-cost items and one-off investments such as Assistive Technology and Home or Vehicle Modifications, and may include Specialist Disability Accommodation where appropriate. Capital funding is tightly controlled, purpose-specific, and often requires quotes and assessments prior to authorisation. It is not flexible and cannot be repurposed for other supports.
Recurring Supports (PACE Plans): PACE introduces Recurring Supports, which are paid on a periodic basis. In practice, Recurring Supports are used for Recurring Transport: regular Transport payments that are self-managed to help the Participant travel for work, study, or supports. This budget is not intended for Allied Health or general subscriptions.
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What May Be Included in an NDIS Plan Budget
The Participant’s NDIS Plan budget may include supports that are reasonable and necessary to pursue goals, build independence, and participate in community life.
Typical examples include:
- Personal care and Assistance with Social and Community Participation delivered by Support Workers.
- Allied Health and Therapy services, such as Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, and Psychology, including assessments and ongoing therapy.
- Low-cost Assistive Technology and Consumables that support daily living, where appropriate.
- Transport for the Participant where disability prevents safe use of public transport, to access community, education, or employment.
- Home Modifications and Vehicle Modifications that improve accessibility and safety, following required assessments and approvals.
- Higher-cost Assistive Technology and Specialist Equipment where recommended and approved.
What Is Generally Not Funded
NDIS funding does not cover personal or day-to-day living costs that are unrelated to the Participant’s disability, non-disability-related travel, or items and services that are the responsibility of other service systems such as health or education.
Tracking and Reviewing an NDIS Plan Budget
Regular oversight helps the Participant avoid both overspend and underspend, smoothing supports across the whole Plan period. The my NDIS Participant Portal provides up-to-date balances by budget and category, and a Support Coordinator or Plan Manager can help interpret trends and act early.
- Check balances in the my NDIS Participant Portal at least fortnightly and after large invoices are processed.
- Set simple monthly targets for each budget and compare actuals against target.
- Reconcile provider invoices against Service Agreements and booked hours.
- Use early warning triggers, for example investigate if more than half of Core is spent before the halfway point of the Plan period.
- Hold a brief monthly check-in with the Support Coordinator or Plan Manager to adjust bookings and visit frequency.
Proper Utilisation of an NDIS Plan Budget
Good utilisation means spending aligns with Plan goals and Scheme rules, with clear records to support decisions. Start with a practical spend plan, then review and adapt based on outcomes.
- Map each Plan goal to specific supports, hours, and expected outcomes.
- Allocate funding sensibly across categories and providers, and avoid front-loading Core spending early in the Plan.
- Obtain quotes and required assessments before purchasing Capital items or higher-cost Assistive Technology.
- Keep audit-ready records, including invoices, quotes, Service Agreements, progress notes, and outcome summaries.
- Prioritise supports that show measurable progress, and taper or redesign those that are not delivering outcomes.
Using NDIS Budget Tools
Simple tools make monitoring easier and reduce surprises. Choose options that match how the Plan is managed.
- my NDIS Participant Portal for live budget visibility and claims history.
- Plan Manager statements or portal (if Plan-managed) for real-time balances and invoice tracking.
- A shared spreadsheet or budgeting app for monthly targets, upcoming appointments, and variance flags.
- Calendar reminders for mid-month and month-end checks, plus a quarterly utilisation review.
NDIS Plan Budget Reviews
Reviews keep the Plan aligned with changing needs and goals. Timing and process vary, but preparation is consistent.
- Scheduled Plan reassessment typically occurs every 12 to 24 months; confirm the date and begin preparing 6 to 8 weeks prior.
- Lodge a Change of Circumstances request when needs, goals, living situation, or risk factors change during the Plan period.
- If a funding decision is disputed, request an Internal Review of the decision by the NDIA.
- Before any review, gather current therapy and assessment reports, a utilisation summary, evidence of outcomes, and a list of unmet needs.
- During the meeting, state what is working, what is not, and propose adjustments, including management options such as Self-Managed, Plan-Managed, or Agency-Managed.
- After the meeting, confirm next steps with providers, update Service Agreements and bookings, and refresh the monthly spend plan.
Practical Example: A Participant has 12 months of funding, with Core at 60 percent utilisation by month 4. The Support Coordinator reviews portal balances and invoices, then shifts two hours per week from community access to daily living supports to address new morning routines. Capital is used for a shower chair after an occupational therapy assessment and quote. Records are saved in a shared folder, and a quarterly review shows utilisation back on target with improved morning independence.
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Conclusion
NDIS Plan budgets exist to help Participants access the supports and services that improve quality of life. When the Participant understands how each budget category functions, what is typically included, and how to monitor utilisation using the my NDIS Participant Portal or Plan Manager statements, funding can be directed strategically to goals. Regular reviews, clear records, and open communication with providers, the Support Coordinator, and the Plan Manager help maximise NDIS funding so every dollar contributes to meaningful outcomes across the Plan period.
FAQs
1. What is the NDIS budget?
The NDIS budget is the funds allocated as part of your NDIS plan. It describes the funds available to you to spend on reasonable and necessary supports, services, and equipment associated with your disability goals.
2. How much is the budget for the NDIS?
The NDIS budget includes the combined amount allocated to all participants, as well as the individualised budgets provided to individuals. For 2025–26, the Australian Government provided $175.4 million over four years to ensure the integrity of the Scheme, with most plans having funds apportioned among three main categories: Core, Capacity Building, and Capital Supports.
3. What is the NDIS budget annually?
The value of an individual’s NDIS budget is tailored to their needs and varies widely. Nationally, the overall scheme’s actual expenditure is tracking lower than previous forecasts, with the government noting a year-on-year growth rate for NDIS spending at around 10% as of 2025. Individual budgets can range from a few thousand to over $100,000 per year, depending on support requirements.
4. How to review your NDIS budget?
To have your NDIS budget reviewed, log in to the NDIS Participant Portal and review all categories and their expenditure. Collect progress notes, therapy notes, and records of met or not met goals, then book a review meeting. During the review, talk about what is going well, what needs more funding, and new next-period goals. If you think your plan is not meeting needs, ask for an internal review.
