NDIS Guide
When the NDIA approves your NDIS application, they create a funded plan for you — and the total set of supports in that plan is what most people call an individual support package. If you’ve just been approved and aren’t sure what that means, or you’ve heard the term and want to understand what you’re actually entitled to, this guide explains what your package contains, how the NDIA decides on the amount, and what you can do if it doesn’t feel right. For context on the full application process, see our guide on how to apply for the NDIS.
What an NDIS individual support package actually is
The phrase “individual support package” gets used in a few different ways across the disability sector, which is where a lot of the confusion starts. In practice, most NDIS participants use it to mean their NDIS plan — the document that sets out your goals, the types of supports you’re funded for, and the dollar amounts attached to each.
The term also has roots in the old state-based disability systems that existed before the NDIS launched in 2013. States like Victoria and NSW provided funding under schemes where a person’s allocation was literally called an “Individual Support Package.” When the NDIS replaced those systems, many participants, families, and even service providers kept using the same language. Today, if someone in the NDIS context refers to your “individual support package,” they almost certainly mean the total funded supports in your current NDIS plan.
Understanding this removes a lot of the anxiety that can come with paperwork and meetings. Your individual support package is not some separate, complicated thing — it is your plan, and the NDIA creates it specifically around your situation.
What’s included in your support package
Every NDIS plan divides your funded supports into three broad categories. Understanding what goes in each one helps you spend correctly and avoid having funds rejected. For a full breakdown of how each category works, see our guide to NDIS budget categories explained.
01
Core Supports
The largest portion of most plans. Core covers everyday needs: personal care, community participation, household tasks, transport, and consumables. This budget is the most flexible — you can generally shift money between Core sub-categories without seeking NDIA approval. Consumables such as continence aids and low-cost assistive items also sit here.
02
Capacity Building
Funding aimed at building your independence and skills over time. This includes support coordination (if funded), therapy and allied health, improved living arrangements, employment-related supports, and improved daily living. Capacity Building budgets are ring-fenced — you cannot move this money into Core Supports.
03
Capital Supports
Larger, one-off purchases: assistive technology such as power wheelchairs and communication devices, and home or vehicle modifications. Capital items require quotes and NDIA approval before purchase. Spending this budget on everyday supports is not permitted.
Your plan will also show the duration of each budget — usually 12 months — and any conditions attached to how specific supports can be used. Reading the notes alongside the dollar figures is worth the effort.
How the NDIA decides what goes in your package
Your package amount is not arbitrary. During your planning meeting, your NDIA planner or Local Area Coordinator reviews your access decision, any functional assessments, your stated goals, and supporting evidence from allied health professionals or other clinicians.
The NDIA uses what are known as typical support packages — standard funding amounts built around common disability profiles — as a starting point. If your situation falls clearly within a recognised profile, your plan may reflect those typical amounts. If your needs are more complex or unusual, your planner makes a more individualised determination.
After the meeting, your plan is issued through the NDIS myplace portal or by post. You can ask your planner to walk through any figures that are unclear — that is exactly what they are there for.
Individual support package vs NDIS plan: is there a difference?
In practice, no meaningful difference. “Individual support package” and “NDIS plan” are used interchangeably by most participants and families to describe the same funded document the NDIA creates for you.
You may also hear the term Individual Support Plan (sometimes written as ISP). This is something different — it is a working document created by your disability service provider, not the NDIA. Your provider uses it to guide how their workers deliver your supports day-to-day. It draws on the information in your NDIS plan but is not the funding document itself and has no bearing on your budget.
Knowing which document is being discussed makes conversations with providers, your LAC, and the NDIA much cleaner. If someone asks about your “ISP,” it is worth clarifying whether they mean your NDIS funding plan or the provider’s care document — they are very different things with different purposes.
How plan management helps you use your support package
Once your individual support package is approved, you need to decide how you want to manage the money in it. There are three options, and the choice affects how much flexibility and oversight you have. If you are not sure what each option involves, our guide on what an NDIS plan manager does explains the day-to-day role.
The three management options are:
- NDIA-managed: the NDIA pays your providers directly. Only registered NDIS providers can be paid this way.
- Self-managed: you pay invoices yourself and claim reimbursement. Gives the most flexibility but requires you to keep detailed records.
- Plan-managed: a registered plan manager pays your providers, tracks your budgets, and sends you regular statements. You can use both registered and unregistered providers — a significant advantage for people who want access to a wider range of services.
Plan management is funded by the NDIA through a separate Capacity Building line in your plan — it costs approximately $104.45 per month and does not reduce any other part of your individual support package. Around 66% of NDIS participants choose plan management. Your plan manager monitors every invoice, keeps your budgets visible in real time, and flags when you are at risk of overspending before it becomes a problem.
Not sure which plan manager is right for you?
Tell us about your situation — we'll match you with the most suitable NDIS plan manager. Free, takes 2 minutes, no obligation.
Find my plan manager — submit a free inquiry
What to do if your package doesn’t match your needs
Receiving a plan that feels too low, or missing supports you clearly need, is more common than it should be. You are not stuck with it. There are several ways to act.
Step 1
Request an internal review of the decision
If you believe the NDIA made an error or the decision was not reasonable, you can request an internal review within three months of receiving your plan. Gather supporting evidence before you lodge — functional capacity assessments, therapy reports, and letters from treating clinicians all strengthen your case. Contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 to initiate the process.
Step 2
Make the case at your scheduled plan review
Plan reviews usually occur every 12 months. Treat yours as a formal opportunity, not just a check-in. Document everything between reviews: which supports you used, where gaps appeared, and how your goals have evolved. Our guide on preparing for your NDIS plan review walks through what to bring and how to present your case.
Step 3
Request an unscheduled review if your circumstances have changed
A significant change — a new diagnosis, a deterioration in function, a change in your living situation — can justify requesting a plan review before your scheduled date. This is known as a change of circumstances, and the NDIA has a formal process for it. See our guide to NDIS change of circumstances for how it works.
Step 4
Escalate to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
If the internal review outcome still does not reflect your needs, you can escalate to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. This is a formal process and it is worth seeking independent advocacy before you proceed. Disability advocacy organisations across Australia can help you navigate it at no cost.
Throughout this process, your plan manager’s records do much of the work. They track exactly where your budget has gone, which makes it far easier to demonstrate gaps and build a factual case for more funding. If you are weighing up your options, our comparison of NDIS plan managers includes providers with strong participant support.
Frequently Asked Questions About NDIS Individual Support Packages
What is an individual support package in the NDIS?
An individual support package refers to the total funded supports in your NDIS plan — the combination of Core, Capacity Building, and Capital budgets the NDIA allocates based on your disability and goals. The term comes from pre-NDIS state-based funding systems, but in current usage it means your NDIS plan and the funding in it.
Is an individual support package the same as an NDIS plan?
Yes, in practice they are the same thing. People use both terms to describe the funded document the NDIA creates for you after your planning meeting. The only time the terms differ is when someone specifically means a “Typical Support Package” — a standard funding template the NDIA uses as a starting point for common disability profiles.
How long does an NDIS individual support package last?
Most plans run for 12 months, after which you go through a plan review. Some plans are set for shorter or longer periods depending on your circumstances — a new participant might receive a shorter first plan while evidence is gathered, while a participant with stable long-term needs might be given a two-year plan.
Can I use my support package funding however I want?
Within each budget category, there is meaningful flexibility — particularly within Core Supports, where you can generally move money between sub-categories. However, you cannot move money from Capacity Building into Core Supports, or spend Capital funds on everyday services. Each support must also be directly related to your disability and the goals in your plan.
Does plan management cost extra from my support package?
No. Plan management is funded by the NDIA as a separate Capacity Building line item in your plan — approximately $104.45 per month. It is added to your plan in addition to your other supports and does not reduce any other part of your individual support package. You can request to have plan management included at your next planning meeting or plan review.
Can I change what’s in my individual support package?
Yes, through a plan review. If your circumstances have changed significantly — a new diagnosis, a major change in function, or a move in your living situation — you can request an unscheduled review at any time. At your scheduled annual review, you can make the case for additional or different supports by presenting evidence from treating clinicians and documenting gaps in your current plan.
What’s the difference between an individual support package and an individual support plan?
An individual support package (or NDIS plan) is the funding document created by the NDIA that sets out your budgets and approved supports. An individual support plan (ISP) is a separate document created by your disability service provider — not the NDIA — that describes how their workers will deliver your supports day-to-day. Both are important, but they serve different purposes and are created by different organisations.
Who do I contact if I disagree with what’s in my package?
Contact the NDIA directly on 1800 800 110 to request an internal review of the decision. You have three months from receiving your plan to lodge a review request. If the outcome of the internal review still does not reflect your needs, you can escalate to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. A disability advocacy organisation can support you through either process at no cost.