NDIS Funds Calculator

Find out how much eligible funding you could get from NDIS

NDIS Funding

At Maple, we understand the challenges that face participants when navigating NDIS funding. Often it can take time, patience and a lot of experience before we truly grasp the nuances of NDIS funding, how budgets are allocated, what is covered, where we can spend the funding, how we get paid, and of course, its limitations.

As seasoned service providers, we’ve dedicated ourselves to mastering the inner workings of NDIS funding. Our mission now is to equip our participants with the knowledge and self-assurance to navigate this complex system. We strive to make the entire process as smooth and stress-free as possible, ensuring that our participants can access the support they need with confidence and ease.

Take a look at our NDIS support calculator below to help you estimate the funding you may be eligible for under the NDIS. Whether you're just starting out or looking to review your current plan, our calculator is a valuable tool to ensure you're fully informed about the support available to you. Enter your details, and let our calculator guide you through the potential funding options to best support your individual needs.

What is NDIS funds?

The purpose of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, commonly referred to as NDIS, is to provide support, in the form of essential funding, to people with disabilities. NDIS funding is financial assistance offered to those who qualify, to help them access the necessary services and support they need to live more independently and engage in their communities.

The scheme was introduced to provide much needed support and services for people with disabilities living in Australia and to enhance their quality of life. To receive funding for any NDIS supports, you must be able to show in your plan that the supports are reasonable and necessary and help you to work towards your goals.

Daily personal activities

The NDIS can provide funding to assist participants with activities of daily living. These activities can include:

Personal care such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting to maintain dignity and personal hygiene.
Support workers can help with meal planning, preparation, and cooking to ensure participants receive proper nutrition.
They can also help with medication management to organise and administer medication effectively.

Transport

Assistance with transportation to enable participation in the community and help with daily life activities. This can include:

Funding for accessible vehicles or modification of existing vehicles for those who require specialised vehicles to accommodate their mobility needs.
Travel training to help participants learn how to use public transportation independently and safely.
Assistance while using public transport such as boarding and disembarking from vehicles, managing mobility aids and providing guidance throughout the journey.
Transport for medical appointments.
Funding to enable community participation and social interaction.
Funding for assistive technology related to transportation such as communication devices or apps that allow individuals to request rides or communicate with drivers.

Workplace assistance

The NDIS can provide support for people with disabilities to help them to participate in the workforce and achieve their employment goals. This can include:

Helping individuals prepare for job seeking such as resume building, interview coaching and job search assistance.
Workplace assessments to identify accommodations and support needed for a person with disabilities to perform specific jobs.
Employment service providers to help participants find suitable employment opportunities based on their skills, interests and goals.
Workplace accommodations such as ergonomic furniture, assistive technology or modifications to make the workplace more accessible.
Transportation to and from work.
Job coaching and mentoring services to provide ongoing support and guidance within the workplace.

Therapeutic supports

Therapeutic supports funded by the NDIS can address the physical, emotional and developmental needs of participants. This can include:

Assessments by qualified therapists such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, or physiotherapists to identify a participant’s needs and set specific therapeutic goals.
Various therapy services such as speech therapy for individuals with communication and speech difficulties;
- Occupational therapy to assist with daily living, fine motor skills, sensory integration and assistive technology;
- Physiotherapy to improve mobility, strength and physical functioning;
- Psychological therapy for mental health support and counselling;
- Behavioural support to address challenging behaviours and develop behaviour management strategies;
- Art therapy, Music therapy, or Play therapy to support emotional expression and well-being, especially for children.
Developing behaviour support plans designed to understand and manage challenging behaviours effectively.

Household tasks

NDIS can fund assistance with household tasks to help maintain a clean, organised and safe home environment for participants. This can include:

Funding towards a support worker to assist with various household tasks such as cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, garden maintenance and other household activities.
Pre-prepared meal delivery or support workers who can help with nutritional planning and meal preparation.
Errand management with a support worker or organising transportation options to help participants complete shopping and other essential errands.
Household management planning with support workers or therapists to develop strategies for effectively managing the household tasks and routines.
Funding for home cleaning services for participants if this is proven to be the most reasonable solution to provide a safe and clean environment.

Skill development

The NDIS aims to empower participants to build and develop their skills in various aspects of life. Funding can be allocated to acquiring new skills, enhancing existing abilities and achieving personal goals. This can include:

A comprehensive assessment of the participants needs, abilities and goals. Through this, skill development opportunities can be identified and specific goals can be set.
Education and training programs to acquire new skills and qualifications, such as vocational courses and further education.
Essential life skills training such as cooking, budgeting, time management, and personal hygiene.
Skill building programs and activities tailored to your interests and goals such as sports, arts, or recreational activities.
Skills training identified for a job role so it can be performed more effectively.
Regular reviews and assessments are conducted to track progress towards your skill development goals and adjustments can be made to the NDIS plan to ensure the participant is on the right track.

Home modifications

NDIS funding can be allocated to home modifications with the help of an occupational therapist to make participants’ living environments more accessible, safe and suitable for their needs. NDIS can fund a wide range of home modifications such as:

Ramps for wheelchair access;
Bathroom modifications such as grab rails;
Kitchen modifications such as adjustment of counter height;
Widening doorways to accommodate mobility aids;
Stair lifts and elevators;
Accessible flooring;
Door automation;
Lighting and sensory modifications for those with specific sensory needs;
Communication systems for those with speech or hearing impairments.

Home modifications typically begin with an assessment by an occupational therapist or another qualified professional to identify the specific home modifications required to meet the participants needs. A home assessment and approval will be needed before the modifications are carried out to determine if the proposed changes meet safety standards.

NDIS funding can also cover ongoing maintenance and repair of modified areas to ensure their continuous functionality and safety.

Assistive technology

NDIS funding can be allocated to assistive technology. This could come in the form of devices, equipment and/or software.

The need for assistive technology is determined through an assessment by an occupational therapist, speech therapist or another qualified professional. This assessment can identify the specific assistive technological needs of a participant. NDIS can fund a wide range of assistive technology such as:

Communication aids in the form of devices or software;
Mobility aids such as wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walking aids and other devices that can improve mobility and independence;
Hearing aids or related devices;
Visual aids such as magnifiers, screen readers;
Home automation with smart technology that allows participants to control various aspects of their home environment;
Computer and tablet accessibility such as adaptive software, screen readers and input devices.

NDIS can also fund training and support to help participants and their caregivers to effectively use and maintain assistive technology.

Respite care

NDIS funding can provide support and funding for respite care services to participants and their carers. Various types of respite care can be funded by NDIS:

In-home respite care where a trained support worker takes over the role of your regular carer.
Out-of-home respite care overnight in a respite care facility or the ability to attend day programs.
Emergency respite for unexpected or critical circumstances.
Recreational and social respite where participants can engage in group activities, outings, or social events.

NDIS can also provide funding for training in individual circumstances so that support workers are equipped to meet the unique needs of each participant.

Community participation

NDIS funding can help participants engage in various community activities and pursue their interests and goals. It can do this by:

Funding support workers to assist participants in accessing community facilities such as libraries, sports centres, swimming pools and community centres.
Funding participation in community based programs and activities such as art classes, sports teams, social clubs, music groups, or recreational events.
Funding for social and recreational activities that align with the participant’s interests and goals. This could include attending local events, going to the cinema, or joining community groups.
Providing peer support that connects participants with others who share similar interests or experiences.
Helping participants explore and engage in volunteering opportunities that align with their interests.

Although each individual’s NDIS plan and funding allocation will be distinct to their own unique needs and include different supports based on their personal goals, there are certain items and services that are not covered by NDIS funding. These items include:

Ordinary living expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, groceries, or clothing.
Medical and healthcare expenses such as hospital stays, prescription medication, or other healthcare related expenses. These costs are typically covered by the healthcare system or private health insurance.
Education expenses such as regular school fees or education related costs that would fall under the responsibility of the education system.
Transportation for social or recreational purposes.
Activities that don’t align with the participants goals.
Luxury or non-essential items or services such as holidays or high-end electronics.
Costs covered by other government departments, organisations or other funding sources, as it is designed to complement and not replace them.
Supports or services provided outside of Australia.

How do I claim funds from NDIS?

To access NDIS core funding, you must first meet the eligibility criteria and have an approved NDIS plan. If you are eligible, you will work with an NDIS planner to create your personalised plan, which will outline the supports and funding allocated to you.

You then can choose your service provider who will deliver the agreed upon services and supports according to your NDIS plan. Once the services have been provided, your service provider will issue an invoice for the services. You or your service provider can then submit the invoice to the NDIS for reimbursement. This can often be done online through the NDIS participant portal or by mail.

How do NDIS payments work?

Your NDIS plan will include a budget allocation for various support categories. These categories may include Core Supports, Capacity Building Supports, Capital Supports, Support Coordination among others. Each category has its funding limit, and the participants’ budget is divided among these categories based on their assessed needs and goals.

Service providers typically invoice the NDIS for the services they provide. If the participant is NDIA managed, the NDIA will pay the service provider on behalf of the participant. If the participant is self-managed or plan managed, they may choose to pay the providers directly and then claim reimbursement from the NDIS.

What is the average amount of NDIS funding?

It’s important to note that everybody is unique and has different life goals. In addition to this, some services and supports cost more than others. NDIS funding is personalised and tailored to the specific requirements and circumstances of each participant and there is no fixed or uniform funding amount. This means funding can significantly vary from one eligible participant to the next.

Some participants may have relatively modest funding packages that primarily cover essential supports, while others with more complex needs may receive larger budgets to address a broader range of services and goals. With that being said, according to the NDIS Annual Financial Stability Report for 2020-21, on average participants can receive between $38,000 and $54,000 of funding a year.If you want to learn more about NDIS funding and how we can start your journey towards becoming an NDIS participant, Maple Community Services can guide you towards a more fulfilling future.

NDIS Funds Calculator

NDIS Funding