Does the NDIS cover that?
03 January 2020
It’s the question we hear most often. Will the National Disability Insurance Scheme ( NDIS) cover that service, device or product?
People are complex and so are their needs, hopes, dream and goals, which is why the list of supports covered by NDIS funding is so expansive. Allocated under three NDIS support categories – Core, Capital and Capacity Building – the scheme can fund everything from workplace support to home modifications.
Core Support
The first NDIS support category, core support, provides NDIS funding for all those everyday tasks that we all have to – and want to – do. This is the most flexible NDIS support category and can provide you with funding for:
- in-home assistance with self-care such as showering, personal hygiene and getting a round at home
- cooking lessons or meal assistance, including the delivery of Meals On Wheels
- help with home maintenance including gardening and cleaning
- support with learning skills such as shopping, using a computer or planning a budge t
- essential products such as continence aids, feeding equipment, special clothing and specific nutritional products
- a community bus service or taxis so you can get to work, social outings, attend appointments or get involved in a class
- attending recreational activities such as a dance or music workshop
- short term accommodation for those living with a disability , to give their family or carers’ a break .
Capacity Building
NDIS funding for capacity building is allocated across eight categories designed to help you maintain your independence, build skills , participate more fully in the community and achieve the goals set out in your NDIS plan. These categories include Choice and Control, Daily Activity, Employment, Health and Wellbeing, Home Living, Lifelong Learning, Relationships, and Social and Community Participation. Examples include:
- support to plan and manage relationships with service providers
- cooking or nutrition classes
- help with preparing an employment resume or job interview training
- exercise advice and exercise physiology to manage a physical disability
- support with accommodation issues, including learning how to apply for a rental property
- assistance with applying for a post-school course or purchasing textbooks
- support and strategies to develop social skills
- training to confidently manage public transport
- vacation care programs for school aged children.
Capital Support
Capital support funding relates to two important categories which can dramatically improve the way you manage and enjoy each day – assistive technology (for the home, the workplace or use in the community) and modifications to your home. This NDIS support category covers a broad range of devices, equipment and assistance including:
- equipment to manage vision impairment, such as screen readers or voice activation devices
- devices to help with communication, such as hearing aids
- equipment to improve mobility including a power-assist wheelchair or scooter
- vehicle modifications so you can drive yourself or be more easily driven
- ceiling hoists to assist with lifting and personal care
- a pressure mattress or a weighted blanket
- the installation of a wheelchair ramp or a grab rail in the bathroom
- the adjustment of kitchen bench heights to make meal preparation easier.
The list of supports that NDIS funding covers goes on and on and on! So it’s wise to seek advice from an approved Local Area Coordinator (LAC), such as Feros Care. We’re passionate about assisting people living with a disability to enjoy healthy, fulfilling and connected lives. We can help you understand your NDIS eligibility and the core supports NDIS funding covers.