As NDIS participants, understanding how your funding is allocated and how therapy supports can be claimed is key to making the most of your plan. You may have heard some discussions about whether therapy supports can be invoiced from your core funding, and this can sometimes feel like a bit of a “grey area.” However, recent guidance clarifies this issue, and there are some important updates you should know about.
Visualising How Your NDIS Funding Works
To help you visualise how your NDIS plan works when it comes to therapies, think of it like this:
Improved Daily Living (Category 15): This budget is designed for therapies that promote functional improvement. It’s a more flexible area for therapy supports, including things like Art Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Psychological support.
Core Funding: This is focused on maintenance care and specific disability-related health supports, such as those listed above. The scope is narrower and designed to assist with ongoing health needs directly related to your disability.
Core Funding and Therapy Supports
When a service provider invoices for therapy supports using core funding, they are legally declaring that the therapy they are providing falls within the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (PAPL). This means the therapy must address specific health-related needs directly linked to your disability. These include:
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
Respiratory issues
Nutrition
Diabetes management
Continence care
Wound and pressure care
Podiatry
Epilepsy management
For example, if you receive therapy that helps with functional improvement in any of these areas, core funding might be used appropriately. But therapies outside these health-related areas, such as Art Therapy, may not fit under core funding. While art therapy could support your overall functional improvement, it’s likely better claimed under the Improved Daily Living budget (category 15), which covers a broader range of therapy services.
Changes Coming in 2025-26
From the 2025-26 financial year, certain therapy support items in the NDIS core budget are scheduled for removal. This is important because some participants currently use core funding for therapies. However, before proceeding, you and your service providers need to make sure that claims are compliant with NDIS guidelines.
Stay Compliant and Get the Most from Your Plan
It’s always a good idea to review your invoices and make sure your service providers are clear on how to bill for therapies. This will ensure that your claims are processed smoothly and that you’re getting the maximum benefit from your plan. If in doubt, ask your provider to explain how they’re invoicing and what category they are using in your plan.
By staying informed and working with your providers, you’ll be able to navigate these changes and use your NDIS funding in a way that best supports your needs.