Understanding Your NDIS Support Budgets

Understanding these NDIS support budgets allows you to make informed decisions about how your funding is utilised to achieve your goals effectively. 

Core Supports Budget

The Core Supports budget is designed to assist you with everyday activities and address your current disability-related needs while helping you work towards your goals. This budget offers flexibility across several support categories:

Capacity Building Supports Budget

The Capacity Building Supports budget aims to develop your independence, skills, and capabilities to achieve your long-term goals. Unlike Core Supports, this budget is not interchangeable between categories and must be used for approved individual supports within specific Capacity Building categories:

Support Coordination: Funding for a Support Coordinator to assist you in navigating and utilising your NDIS plan effectively.

Improved Living Arrangements: Supports to find and maintain suitable living arrangements.

Increased Social & Community Participation: Development and training to enhance skills for community and social activities.

Finding & Keeping a Job: Employment-related support, training, and assessments to help secure and maintain employment.

Improved Relationships: Assistance in developing positive social interactions and behaviours.

Improved Health & Wellbeing: Advice and interventions like exercise or dietary guidance to manage disability impacts.

Improved Learning: Support for educational transitions, such as from school to university or TAFE.

Improved Life Choices: Services for effective plan management and financial administration.

Improved Daily Living: Training, therapy, or assessments to improve independence and community engagement.

Capital Supports Budget

The Capital Supports budget covers higher-cost items like assistive technology, equipment, home modifications, and one-off purchases essential to your needs. This budget is specific to its purpose and cannot be reallocated:

Assistive Technology: Funding for specialised aids or equipment to support daily living activities.

Home Modifications: Financial support for modifying your home to enhance accessibility and independence, including Specialist Disability Accommodation.

What is Reasonable and Necessary

The NDIS provides funding for a diverse range of supports and services aimed at enhancing education, employment, social engagement, independence, living arrangements, and overall health and well-being.



For a support or service to be deemed reasonable and necessary under the NDIS:

• It must directly relate to the participant’s disability.
• It should not cover day-to-day living expenses unrelated to disability support needs, such as groceries.
• It must offer value for money, ensuring cost-effectiveness.
• It should be likely to achieve positive outcomes for the participant.
• It considers the additional support provided by other government services, family, caregivers, networks, and the broader community.

This criteria ensures that NDIS funding is directed towards supports and services that genuinely contribute to improving the participant's quality of life and independence. Each allocation is carefully tailored to meet individual needs while maximising the effectiveness and efficiency of the support provided. 

For personalised guidance on managing your NDIS plan, feel free to contact us at PotentialMe. We are independent NDIS registered plan managers and here to assist you in maximising the benefits of your NDIS plan.