What supports aren’t funded by the NDIS?

Our easy read guide to NDIS excluded supports

On the 3rd October 2024, the NDIS made some changes.

They provided a list of items you can use your funds for.

This list is called ‘Approved Supports’.

We have explained approved supports in this blog: What can NDIS funds be used for?

The NDIS also has a list of things NDIS funds can’t be used for. This is called excluded supports.

However, there are some reasons you might request excluded supports.

In this blog, we explain how it works.

What are excluded supports?

There is a list of 15 areas that aren’t approved as NDIS supports.

Your funding can’t be used for things on this list.

Some of these areas are funded by other government agencies, like Medicare and Centrelink.

Some are things you must pay for yourself.

Here are the areas included in this list.

1. Living costs

You can’t use NDIS funds for living costs.

Living costs are things you pay for in your everyday life. They might be things you pay for weekly or monthly.

You can’t use NDIS funding for:

• Accommodation and household costs, like rent or home repairs

• Financial payments like fines or insurance

• Groceries and food

• Lifestyle costs like going to the movies or buying alcohol

• Travel and transport like going on a holiday or buying petrol

• Clothing and beauty like buying new clothes or getting a haircut

• Pet costs other than assistance animals funded by the NDIS

• Reproductive health like costs to help you have a baby

2. Supports that aren’t evidence based

You can’t spend your NDIS funding on treatment for a health problem.

Evidence based are things that are proven to work.

You can’t use your NDIS funds for alternative therapies.

This is therapies like crystal therapy, cuddle therapy, or gaming therapy.

3. Supports that are health related

You can’t spend your NDIS funding on treatment for a health problem.

This includes medicines, ambulance and treatment.

4. Supports that are related to mental health

You can’t spend your NDIS funding on treatment for your mental health.

This includes hospital treatment for a mental health problem, addiction, and medicines.

5. Supports that are related to child protection and family support

You can’t spend your NDIS funding on anything related to child protection or family support.

Child protection means keeping children safe.

Family support is therapy for families.

You can’t spend your NDIS funds on things like marriage counselling or babysitters.

6. Supports that are early childhood development

You can’t spend your NDIS funds on early childhood development.

Early childhood development is how a child grows and learns.

You can’t use NDIS funds for things like childcare.

7. Supports that are related to school education

You can’t spend your NDIS funds on supports related to school education.

You can’t use your funds for things like:

• School fees

• Before or after school care

• School uniforms

• School equipment

8. Supports that are related to higher education

You can’t spend your NDIS funds on support that are related to higher education or vocational education and training.

Higher education is education that takes place after high school. This includes university.

Vocational education and training is education that will help you in a specific job.

You can’t spend your NDIS funds on:

• University fees

• Textbooks

9. Supports that are related to employment

You can’t spend your NDIS funds on support that is related to employment.

You can’t use NDIS funds for:

• Disability Employment Services (DES)

• Aids and adjustments at work

10. Supports that are related to housing and community infrastructure

Housing is where you live. Community infrastructure is what everyone can use, like parks or libraries.

The NDIS doesn’t pay for anything related to housing, unless you qualify for specialist disability accommodation.

The NDIS won’t pay for

• costs linked to renting, like a bond cleaning

• housing support

• making community areas like parks or public spaces more accessible

11. Supports related to transport

The NDIS won’t pay for you to ride on public transport. Public transport includes buses, trains, trams and ferries.

The NDIS won’t pay for transport costs for animals that aren’t NDIS funded assistance animals.

12. Supports related to justice

The NDIS won’t pay for supports related to justice. Justice is when you commit a crime and have to go to court.

The NDIS won’t pay for help or support for someone in custody. Custody is when you go to prison.

You can’t spend NDIS money on reports for psychologists or psychiatrists for court cases.

You also can’t spend NDIS money for supervising you to make sure you follow the court’s rules.

13. Supports related to aged care

Aged care is the help you receive when you are over 65 years of age.

You can’t receive NDIS funding for aged care services, including fees or accommodation.

14. Unlawful goods and services

The NDIS won’t pay for unlawful goods and services. Unlawful are things that are not allowed.

For example, you can’t spend NDIS funding on illegal drugs, fake IDs, or weapons.

15. Income replacement

Income replacement is money you get if you don’t have a job or can’t work.

You can’t use your NDIS funding for rent subsidy or income payments.

You can read the Easy Read list of what is not approved on the NDIS website.

What if I need something on the ‘not approved’ list?

Some things on the ‘not NDIS approved’ list might still help with your disability.

You might ask for these as a replacement support.

A replacement support is something you use instead of a support already in your NDIS plan.

It is not an extra support. It replaces one you already have.

You can apply to the NDIS for a replacement support. It must help with your disability or make you more independent.

What are some examples of replacement supports?

A replacement support must meet certain criteria.

It must help you more or the same as the NDIS support it’s replacing. It must cost the same or less.

Some supports that might be replacement supports include:

• Standard commercially available items for your home.

• Assistive technology such as smart watches, tablets, smart phones, or apps. They must be for communication and accessibility needs.

If you need a replacement support, you should apply to the NDIS.

How do I know what supports I can use?

If you aren’t sure what you can spend your NDIS funding for, we can help.

We’ve made a tool called ‘Can I buy this?’ This checklist can help you see if the NDIS might pay for it.

Download it here.

You can choose how to spend your NDIS funding, as long as it follows the rules.

If you need help, talk to your NDIA Planner, Plan Manager,LAC, or support coordinator.

Can Five Good Friends help you with your plan? Get in touch with us.