NDIS Guide
NDIS core supports are the part of your plan that funds help with everyday life — personal care, getting out in your community, consumables like continence products, and transport. If you’re new to the NDIS or trying to make sense of your plan, this guide explains what core supports cover, which parts are flexible, and how to make sure your budget goes as far as possible. For a broader overview of how NDIS plans are structured, see our guide to understanding the NDIS.
What are NDIS core supports and how do they work?
Core supports is one of four funding categories in an NDIS plan. Where capacity building and capital supports fund therapy and equipment, core supports fund the practical, day-to-day help most participants need most often — the support workers, community activities, household consumables, and transport that make independent living possible.
The NDIA includes a core supports budget in most plans. How much you receive depends on what you told the NDIS about your disability-related needs during your planning meeting — the more detail and evidence you provided, the more accurately the budget reflects your situation. Core supports funding cannot be used for general living costs like rent, food, or entertainment that are not related to your disability.
The four core support categories explained
Your core supports budget is divided into four sub-categories. Understanding each one helps you use your funding correctly and avoid claims being rejected.
01
Funds support workers who help with personal tasks at home — showering, dressing, grooming, meal preparation, cleaning, and laundry. Support can be provided in your home or in the community.
02
Social and Community Participation
Pays for support workers or programs that help you get involved in social, recreational, and community activities — group programs, sports clubs, community events, or employment support.
03
Covers low-cost everyday products related to your disability — continence aids, wound dressings, nutritional supplements, and other items you use regularly. Claims are usually self-managed or plan managed.
04
Funds transport to help you access the community, appointments, and activities when you cannot use public transport due to your disability. The NDIA sets fixed amounts at three levels based on your needs.
Flexible vs stated core supports: what is the difference?
Not all core support funding works the same way. Some is flexible — you can shift money between sub-categories as your needs change during the plan. Some is stated — it is locked to a specific support and cannot be redirected.
Flexible core supports include most of your Assistance with Daily Life and Assistance with Social and Community Participation budgets. If you spend less on community activities one month, that money can go toward additional support hours at home instead. This flexibility is one of the reasons core supports are the most practically useful part of most plans.
Stated core supports are locked to specific items in your plan. Transport funding is almost always stated — the NDIA specifies exactly which transport level (1, 2, or 3) applies and that budget cannot be moved elsewhere. Similarly, if a support is listed as “stated” in your plan document, that funding must be used for that specific item only.
NDIS core supports examples: what can the funding pay for?
The NDIS uses a Support Catalogue to define exactly which items each support category covers. Here are common real-world examples by sub-category.
Assistance with Daily Life
- A support worker who assists with showering, dressing, and grooming each morning
- Domestic assistance — cleaning, vacuuming, laundry, and basic yard maintenance
- Meal preparation or assistance eating
- Overnight support or active overnight supervision
- In-home nursing visits for wound care or medication management
Assistance with Social and Community Participation
- A support worker to accompany you to a local social group or recreational class
- Fees for community access programs or day programs
- Support at a sporting club, arts group, or volunteer program
- Help attending appointments or running errands in the community
Consumables
- Continence pads, catheters, and related products
- Wound dressings and disposable gloves
- Enteral nutrition products (tube feeds) where clinically required
- Low-cost assistive technology items under $1,500 (higher-cost AT sits in Capital supports)
Transport
- Taxi or rideshare fares when public transport is inaccessible
- Reimbursement of fuel costs for a driver who takes you to activities
- Community transport services run by local disability organisations
How plan management expands your core support choices
Most participants use their core support budget to pay support workers for daily tasks and community activities. Who you can hire for those roles depends on how your plan is managed — and this is one of the most practical reasons to consider plan management.
If your plan is agency-managed (controlled by the NDIA), you can only use NDIS-registered providers for core supports. Registered providers must meet the NDIS Practice Standards, which adds quality assurance — but it also removes a large portion of the market. Many skilled support workers operate as sole traders or small businesses that have not yet registered with the NDIS.
With plan management, you can pay both registered and unregistered providers. This matters because:
- Unregistered support workers are often easier to find in regional and rural areas
- They can sometimes offer more consistent hours or a better personality match
- You retain full choice while your plan manager handles all invoicing and compliance checks
Plan management itself costs nothing from your core supports budget — it is funded separately by the NDIA from your Improved Life Choices budget at approximately $104.45 per month. It does not reduce what is available for your support workers. If you are considering this option, our independent comparison of NDIS plan managers can help you find one that suits your situation.
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What to do if your core supports are running low
Core supports is a fixed budget for your entire plan period — typically 12 months. If you are spending faster than expected, it is worth acting before the budget runs out rather than after.
Step 1: Check your actual balance. If you are plan managed, your plan manager should give you access to a real-time portal showing spending by category. If you are agency managed, log into the myNDIS app or myplace participant portal. Do not rely on memory — the numbers are what matter.
Step 2: Talk to your plan manager or support coordinator. A good plan manager will flag overspending trends early. If you do not have a support coordinator and your needs have genuinely increased, contact your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) to discuss your options.
Step 3: Request a plan review for change of circumstances. If your disability-related needs have genuinely changed — not just budget miscalculation — you may be eligible for a NDIS change of circumstances review before your plan’s scheduled end date. The NDIA can add funding to address the new need, but they need supporting evidence from a health professional.
Step 4: Do not stop supports without a plan. Running out of funding does not mean your support should stop abruptly. Talk to your providers and plan manager or LAC about a temporary arrangement while you pursue a review. Abruptly ending essential daily supports can affect your safety and health, which itself strengthens a change of circumstances application.
Frequently Asked Questions About NDIS Core Supports
Can I move core supports funding between categories?
Yes, in most cases. Most of your core supports budget is flexible, meaning you can redirect money between Assistance with Daily Life and Social and Community Participation based on what you need that week or month. Transport funding is almost always stated and cannot be moved. Check your plan document to confirm which line items are stated — they are labelled clearly.
What is the difference between core supports and capacity building?
Core supports fund ongoing, day-to-day needs — the regular help you need to function. Capacity building supports fund time-limited therapy, training, or skill development designed to improve your independence over time (for example, occupational therapy or employment assistance). The key distinction is that capacity building aims to reduce the level of support you need; core supports fund the support itself. For a full breakdown, see our guide to NDIS budget categories.
Can I use unregistered providers for core supports?
It depends on how your plan is managed. If your plan is agency managed (NDIA-managed), you must use NDIS-registered providers for core support services. If your plan is plan managed, you can use both registered and unregistered providers — which significantly widens your options, particularly for finding support workers. You can compare registered NDIS plan managers to find one that suits your situation.
Are consumables covered under core supports?
Yes. Consumables are one of the four core support sub-categories. They cover low-cost, regularly used items related to your disability — continence products, wound care supplies, nutritional supplements, and some low-cost assistive technology under $1,500. Items over $1,500 typically fall under the Capital supports budget and require a quote and approval. Your plan manager can advise on which category applies before you make a purchase.
How do I know how much core support funding I have left?
If you are plan managed, your plan manager should provide access to a real-time portal or dashboard where you can see your balance by support category at any time. If you are agency managed, you can check remaining funds through the myNDIS app or the myplace participant portal at my.ndis.gov.au. Ask your plan manager or LAC if you cannot find this information — you are entitled to know your balance.
What happens if core supports funding runs out before my plan ends?
If your needs have genuinely increased due to a change in your disability or circumstances, you can apply for a NDIS change of circumstances review to have extra funding added before your plan end date. If the budget ran out due to spending mismanagement, the NDIA will generally not add more until your next plan review. This is one reason it is valuable to have a plan manager who monitors your spending and alerts you to any overspend early.