As we head toward the End of Financial Year (EOFY) in June, many NDIS participants, parents, and Support Coordinators are reviewing their plan balances. It is a critical time to ensure you are strategically using your remaining funds to build independence.
However, one of the biggest hurdles is the complex terminology. If you have ever looked at your portal and wondered about the difference between NDIS support categories—specifically why a visual calendar falls under one budget while a wheelchair falls under another—you are not alone.
To help you navigate your EOFY spending confidently, we have broken down the NDIS funding categories so you know exactly where your Assistive Technology (AT) fits, how to claim it, and how to avoid audit red flags.
The Three Main NDIS Funding Categories
An NDIS plan is generally divided into three primary support budgets. Understanding which "bucket" of money you are pulling from is the first step to a successful claim.
1. NDIS Core Support Funding (Your Flexible Everyday Budget)
This is the most flexible budget in your plan. It is designed to help you with everyday activities and your current disability-related needs. For most Low Cost Assistive Technology (LCAT) under $1,500, this is the budget you will use.
Within Core Supports, there is a specific sub-category called Consumables. This is where the magic happens for daily living aids.
What you can buy with Core - Consumables:
- Sensory Tools: Noise-cancelling headphones, deep pressure weighted items, and tactile calming devices. Commonly claimed under Core - Consumables: 03_090000911_0103_1_1.
- Cognitive Supports: Digital visual schedules (like the Skylight Calendar) or visual countdown timers to support executive function.
- Adaptive Daily Living Aids: Adapted cutlery, long-handled reachers, and dressing aids.
2. NDIS Capital Supports (Your Higher-Cost AT Budget)
Unlike Core funding, NDIS Capital Supports are strictly dedicated to specific, higher-cost items. This budget is not flexible; you cannot use Capital funds to pay for a support worker, and you cannot use it for everyday low-cost sensory items.
Capital Supports are divided into two categories: Assistive Technology and Home Modifications.
What falls under Capital Supports (AT)?
- Mid to High-Cost AT: Items generally costing over $1,500.
- Complex Communication Devices: Rugged, dedicated AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) tablets designed for meltdown-prone participants.
- Mobility Equipment: Customized wheelchairs, hoists, and specialized standing frames.
Note: Accessing Capital AT often requires a detailed assessment and written evidence from an Occupational Therapist or Speech Pathologist.
3. NDIS Capacity Building Supports
This budget is designed to help you build your independence and skills to reach your long-term goals. While it is primarily used for therapies (like OT, Speech Pathology, or psychology), some specialized therapeutic tools or learning apps may occasionally be funded here if directly tied to a capacity-building goal.
Strategic EOFY Spending: Using the "Core Consumables" Budget
With EOFY approaching, participants often look at unspent NDIS core support funding. It is vital to move away from "panic buying" and instead focus on strategic capacity building.
Before purchasing an item from your Core - Consumables budget, ask yourself:
- Does this relate to my disability? (e.g., "I am Autistic and require ear muffs to manage auditory overload in public").
- Does it replace or reduce the need for other supports? (e.g., "This visual calendar reduces my need for a support worker to prompt me through my morning routine").
- Is it safe and value for money? (This is the definition of Low Cost AT).
How to Order & Claim Your AT with Confidence
At LowCostAT, we ensure that your invoices map correctly to the right NDIS support categories, so your Plan Manager (or the NDIA) can approve them without delay.
Option 1: Plan Managed Participants
Need a compliant invoice to send to your Plan Manager? Add your items to the cart and select 'NDIS Checkout'. We will instantly email you and your plan manager a tax invoice featuring the correct Core - Consumables codes for rapid approval.
Option 2: Self Managed Participants
Self-Managed? Buy online today using your preferred payment method. You will instantly receive a comprehensive tax invoice with the correct NDIS codes to easily claim your funds back through the NDIS portal.
Option 3: Agency (NDIA) Managed Participants
Agency-Managed? Let us handle the portal paperwork. As an NDIS-Registered Provider, we can claim the funds directly from the NDIA on your behalf.
- Add your items to the cart and select "NDIS Checkout".
- Fill out the secure form with your NDIS number and Date of Birth.
- Our team will lodge the claim directly via the NDIA portal. Once approved, we ship straight to your door!
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