Capital Supports Budget 101: Everything You Need to Know!

There are three support budgets you might have in your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan: Capital, Core, and Capacity Building budgets. Understanding how each budget fits into your daily life and future goals is essential to utilising them fully.

Your Capital Supports Budget is for assistive technology and equipment, home modifications, and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). The Capital supports budget is less flexible than other plan budgets; if you have funds in your Capital supports budget, it will be for pre-approved items and delivery of those items.

Understanding your NDIS Capital Supports budget

Most of the supports funded by your Capital budget are higher-cost, one-off purchases that are designed to improve your quality of life by supporting your current disability related needs, so you can better pursue your plan goals.

Capital Supports make your everyday life safer, easier, or allow you to independently complete tasks that would otherwise be too difficult or dangerous.

There were three categories in NDIS Capital Supports in the old computer system:

1. Assistive Technology
2. Home Modifications
3. Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

Under the new PACE system, there is also Assistive Technology Maintenance, Repair and Rental.

1. Assistive Technology

Assistive technology includes things like adaptive equipment, prosthetics, and aids or assistive products for hearing and vision. Of the Capital Supports categories, Assistive Technology is the most common for NDIS participants to have in their plan.

Assistive Technology funds supports to help you get past functional limitations, including delivery of more expensive technology (mid-cost or high-cost), or complex technology. This can help you to participate more at home, at school or work, and in your community. Examples include:

• Assistive products for household tasks and access
• Assistive products for personal care and safety
• Prosthetics and orthotics
• Vehicle modifications

Some items up to $1,500 (low-cost assistive technology) may alternatively be funded under Core Supports – Consumables. 

Related: Capital Supports Budget: Assistive Technology

2. Home Modifications

Home Modifications is a category designed to fund changes to the structure, fittings or layout of your home in order to make it a more safe and appropriate place for you to live. The modifications list is split like so:

Minor Home Modifications (MHM)

Lower risk and straightforward modifications, usually only impacting one or two areas around the home. There are two categories within MHM:

• Category A is minor home modifications under $10,000.
• Category B is home modifications between $10,000 and $20,000 or minor modifications to a bathroom floor.

Complex Home Modifications (CHM)

These are also structural changes, but require a greater level of certification, detailed work specifications, and up to two quotes (in addition to any consent and permissions). 

Any home modification requests need to be backed by evidence – your needs will be assessed by an Occupational Therapist (OT) or other relevant, qualified home modification assessor. 

If you don’t own your home outright, you’ll also need to provide written permission from the relevant bodies (your landlord, the mortgage provider, the body corporate etc.) to the NDIS before modifications can be made.

Related: Capital Supports Budget: Home Modifications

3. Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

SDA is special housing set up to enable the consistent delivery of supports for NDIS participants with extreme functional impairments, or very high support needs.

The funding in this category can help you live in SDA, but doesn’t cover the purchase of the services delivered to you while living in SDA. To be more specific:

• SDA funding covers the accommodation itself (the cost directly related to your disability needs)
• Day-to-day help will be funded under other appropriate categories. For example: personal care like a support worker to help with showering and dressing would be funded under Assistance With Daily Life (Core Supports budget).

Related: What is Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)?

Eligibility Criteria for Capital Supports

To be eligible for Capital Supports as an NDIS participant, you’ll need to show that what you’re asking for is ‘reasonable and necessary’.

• Is it specifically related to your disability needs?
• Does it help you pursue your goals (as per your NDIS plan)?
• Does it increase your independence?
• Will it build your capacity and help you with community participation, social and recreational activities, school, work, or other civic participation?
• Does it represent value for money?

Because your Capital Supports typically require a bigger investment from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), they will be listed in your plan as stated supports (a fixed amount approved for the purchase of a specific item).

Related: Reasonable and Necessary Supports Under the NDIS

Adding NDIS Capital Supports to your Plan

To add this, you’ll need to set clear goals that are achievable with the help of specific technology, modifications, or specialist accommodation.

If you can’t align your need for Capital funding to your plan goals, your current plan might not accurately suit your needs. It may benefit you to contact your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIS planner for a review or reassessment.

Remember, the NDIS will decide what you’re eligible for at your planning meeting. Make sure you have your goals and any supporting evidence ready to go ahead of time!

What won’t the NDIS pay for?

In general, the NDIS won’t fund anything that falls outside of its ‘reasonable and necessary’ criteria. NDIS supports are disability specific supports. This means that items everyone needs regardless of ability, or items that are funded by other services, won’t be funded by your NDIS support budgets.

For example: You want to purchase a prosthetic (AT) to help you overcome a functional limitation, which has been holding you back from safely playing football. Joining a sports team supports your goals around social and community participation. You’re approved for the supply and delivery of this specialised technology, but can’t then use this funding for other sport-related costs like club fees or gym memberships.

Common sticking points with NDIS Capital Supports

1. Potential delays in approval

You must have this funding in your budget before you can spend it; however, you need approval before the funding gets added into your plan. There can be a delay between realising you need something, and when you are able to access NDIS funding for it. To mitigate this:

• Try to anticipate (as much you can) how your needs might change over the life of your plan.
• As soon as your disability needs change, get in touch with the NDIS. Any changes in funding need to be approved, so the sooner you can start the process the better.

 

You can also check if there are any community services you can access the meantime, and utilise your informal networks (like friends and family). It may not be ideal for you forever, but leaning on support outside of the NDIS can make transition periods easier!

Related: What are informal supports under the NDIS?

2. Understanding categories & NDIS funding

Capital Supports categories can have some crossover with other areas, which may be confusing – like the boundaries between Consumables, and Assistive Technology or Minor Home Modifications.

In your planning meeting, your planner or LAC will be able to discuss your funding with you; including how you can use it and what you can purchase. You can also ask your Plan Manager for help understanding your NDIS plan.

Some providers (like NDSP) even have easy-access online portals with a live view of your plan and budgets, so you can see your up-to-date details 24/7. This can help you see what you have funding remaining for.

Related: How Our Mobile-Friendly Portal Empowers You to Manage Your NDIS Plan Effortlessly

3. Getting accurate documentation

Because Capital Supports typically require special assessments from NDIS-recognised professionals, it’s important to ensure you’re using the right ones – such as an OT for Assistive Technology requests. Similarly, you should check if you need to supply quotes from providers.

Having accurate, correct documentation before your planning meeting or review means you are more likely to be approved (if eligible). Ultimately, it saves you time on back-and-forth. If you are having issues finding the right health professionals for assessments, try asking your LAC for recommendations – they’ll know who is operating in the area.

How NDSP Plan Managers helps you stay on track

Keeping track of your budgets and spend is essential; however, successfully managing your own plan can take expert-level knowledge of the complex NDIS system. Why not leverage the expertise of our team instead?

You stay in control of the important stuff – like which providers you choose to work with. NDSP takes the hassle of plan management off your plate, so you can stay focused on living your best life and achieving your goals. We handle the admin, record-keeping, budget tracking, reporting, and make sure your provider invoices are processed in a timely manner.

With NDSP, you can always see what’s happening with your NDIS funds, budgets, and invoices – in detail, at any time. And if you have any questions about your plan or the NDIS, our friendly team is available for a chat on 1800 63 63 77.

Why not contact NDSP today to find out how we can help you get the most out of your plan. We would love to hear from you!