NDIS Guide
When an NDIS participant can’t move into their long-term home — because it’s still being modified, because an SDA vacancy isn’t available yet, or because they’re leaving hospital — they can end up with nowhere suitable to go. Medium term accommodation (MTA) is the NDIS funding that fills this gap. This guide explains what MTA is, who can access it, what it actually pays for, and how to make sure it’s included in your plan. For a broader introduction to the NDIS, visit our guide to understanding the NDIS.
What NDIS medium term accommodation (MTA) actually is
Medium term accommodation is a type of home and living support funded by the NDIS. It pays for a participant to live somewhere temporarily — for up to 90 days — while they wait for their long-term housing situation to become available. The key word here is temporary: MTA is a bridge, not a destination.
MTA is funded from the Core Supports — Assistance with Daily Life budget. Unlike Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), which funds ongoing specialised housing, MTA is a short-duration support with a specific end date and a specific reason. The NDIA expects a clear path to permanent housing before they will fund MTA.
Who is eligible for MTA funding?
MTA is not automatically included in NDIS plans. The NDIA will only fund it when all of the following are true:
- You are an active NDIS participant
- Your need for temporary housing is directly related to your disability
- You have a confirmed path to permanent housing — a signed lease, SDA approval, or a home modification completion date
- Your current housing is genuinely unavailable for a disability-related reason (not a general housing affordability issue)
- The cost of the MTA itself is reasonable and necessary
The NDIA will ask for evidence of your long-term housing arrangement before approving MTA funding. This is the detail that catches many participants unprepared — you need to have your permanent solution lined up first.
Four situations where MTA is the right solution
MTA appears in NDIS plans for a predictable set of scenarios. If any of the following applies to you, MTA may be exactly the right support to request at your next plan review.
01
Waiting for home modifications
Your home is being modified to accommodate your disability — ramps, bathroom alterations, widened doorways — and the work is taking weeks. You need somewhere accessible to stay during the renovation.
02
Waiting for an SDA vacancy
You have been approved for Specialist Disability Accommodation but your preferred property or design category isn’t available yet. MTA covers the gap while you wait.
03
Leaving hospital or a care facility
You are ready to be discharged from hospital or a rehabilitation setting, but your home isn’t yet accessible. MTA lets you leave the clinical setting and move into suitable housing while the longer-term solution is finalised.
04
Leaving the justice system
Participants leaving custodial settings who cannot return to their previous home for disability-related reasons may access MTA while suitable permanent housing is arranged.
What MTA pays for — and what it doesn’t
MTA covers one thing: the cost of the accommodation itself. Nothing else is automatically included.
MTA will pay for:
- Rent or the nightly rate for a suitable temporary dwelling
- Accessible or disability-appropriate accommodation where required
MTA will not pay for:
- Food, groceries, or meals
- Utilities — electricity, internet, gas
- Support workers or personal care (these come from your Core — Assistance with Daily Life budget, which is separate)
- General moving or storage costs
- Accommodation that is not related to your disability situation
If you need support workers at your MTA property, those supports are funded separately from your existing Core budget — they do not come out of the MTA line item. This is an important distinction when you’re budgeting for a period in MTA.
How to get MTA added to your NDIS plan (3 steps)
MTA is not routinely included in plans — you need to request it. The earlier you raise it, the better: NDIA plan reviews take time, and if you’re waiting on hospital discharge, that time pressure is real.
Step 1
Gather evidence of both your temporary need and your permanent solution
The NDIA requires evidence on both sides. For the temporary need: a letter from your hospital, your builder’s timeline for home modifications, or your SDA provider confirming a vacancy is expected. For the permanent solution: a signed lease, a written confirmation from your SDA provider, or a completion date from your builder. Without both, the request is unlikely to succeed.
Step 2
Request a plan review or raise MTA at your upcoming planning meeting
Contact your Local Area Coordinator or call the NDIA on 1800 800 110 to request a change of circumstances review. Explain your situation clearly: what happened, why you need temporary accommodation, and where you will be living permanently. If your plan review is coming up within a few weeks, wait and raise it then — it is faster than requesting an unscheduled review.
Step 3
Choose suitable accommodation and set up a service agreement
Once MTA is in your plan, find an NDIS-registered accommodation provider or a suitable private rental. Your provider will invoice against your MTA budget. A registered plan manager handles all MTA invoices on your behalf, tracks how many days of funding remain, and flags when the 90-day window is approaching — so you don’t end up in a situation where MTA runs out before your permanent home is ready.
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The 90-day limit is firm in most cases. The NDIS guidelines on medium term accommodation state that extensions are only approved when the delay to permanent housing was genuinely outside your control and the permanent solution remains confirmed. Extensions are not guaranteed, and you cannot plan on them.
If your long-term housing will not be ready in time, act early:
- Contact the NDIA immediately if your home modification is delayed or your SDA vacancy falls through — don’t wait until the 90 days are almost up.
- Speak to your support coordinator (if you have one) — they can help escalate with the NDIA and explore alternative accommodation options.
- Request an extension in writing with updated evidence of why the delay occurred and a new confirmed timeline for permanent housing.
For participants who are waiting for Specialist Disability Accommodation, it’s worth noting that SDA vacancies do occasionally become available ahead of schedule. Staying in contact with your SDA provider throughout the MTA period can sometimes shorten the wait. Our comparison of NDIS plan managers includes providers experienced in managing complex home and living budgets, including MTA and SDA transitions.
Frequently Asked Questions About NDIS Medium Term Accommodation
What is the difference between MTA and STA?
MTA (medium term accommodation) is temporary housing for weeks to 90 days while waiting for a permanent home — it is a transitional support. STA (short term accommodation), also called respite, runs for a few days at a time and is used to give carers a break or give participants a short break from their usual environment. They are different NDIS line items and cannot be used interchangeably.
Does MTA pay for food and support workers?
No. MTA covers only the accommodation cost itself — the rent or nightly rate. Food, utilities, internet, and support workers are all funded separately from other parts of your NDIS plan or your own income. If you need support workers at your MTA property, those are funded from your existing Core Supports budget.
What if my long-term home isn’t ready after 90 days?
Extensions are possible but not automatic. You must contact the NDIA with updated evidence explaining why the delay occurred and confirming that permanent housing is still on track. Act before your MTA runs out — approaching the NDIA in the final week gives very little time for an extension to be approved. Your support coordinator or LAC can help prepare the extension request.
Is MTA funded from Core or Capacity Building?
MTA is funded from Core Supports — specifically the Assistance with Daily Life sub-category. It is not a Capacity Building support. This means MTA funding sits alongside your other everyday supports, but the MTA budget is allocated as a specific line item and cannot be redirected to other Core support workers or community access activities.
Can I access MTA after a hospital discharge?
Yes — hospital discharge is one of the most common reasons the NDIA approves MTA. You will need a letter from the hospital confirming you are ready for discharge, and evidence of your permanent housing arrangement. The NDIA can process urgent plan variations relatively quickly in hospital discharge situations, so contact your LAC or the NDIA as soon as a discharge date is set.
Do I need plan management to access MTA?
You do not need plan management specifically to access MTA, but having a plan manager makes the process significantly easier. MTA involves a time-limited budget with a firm end date, and providers invoice regularly. A plan manager tracks every invoice against your MTA budget in real time, alerts you when the 90-day window is approaching, and ensures you’re not caught off-guard. Plan management itself is funded separately and costs you nothing from your support budget.