Yes, the NDIS does pay for support—often quite a bit of it. But what it pays for depends on you, your disability, and what’s considered “reasonable and necessary” under your NDIS plan. If you’ve ever sat through a planning meeting wondering what’s on the table (and what’s definitely not), you’re not alone.

Let’s break it down, plain and simple.

What’s the Quick Answer?

The NDIS pays for supports and services that help you live an ordinary life—things you can’t manage because of your disability, but that help you participate in daily activities, work, or the community. This includes things like personal care, therapy, equipment, and sometimes even help around the house.

But here’s the catch: the NDIS won’t cover anything that isn’t directly related to your disability or that’s considered a general day-to-day living cost.

What Are the Main Categories of NDIS Funding?

There are three core categories where the NDIS allocates funding:

1. Core Supports

These are the basics—the stuff that helps with daily living. Think:

• Help with showering, dressing, or eating

• Domestic assistance like cleaning or laundry

• Transport to community activities or appointments

• Assistance with meals or food preparation

• Consumables like continence products

This is where most people see services like ndis in home support pop up. If you can’t clean your house or prep your meals safely, the NDIS may fund someone to help you do it.

2. Capacity Building Supports

These are all about learning, growing, and becoming more independent. You might get funding for:

• Occupational therapy

• Physiotherapy or speech therapy

• Support coordination

• Counselling or psychosocial recovery coaching

• Skills-building (like cooking, catching public transport, or budgeting)

In other words, it’s not just about doing things for you, but teaching you how to do more yourself.

3. Capital Supports

This covers the big-ticket stuff—equipment and home modifications. Examples include:

• Wheelchairs or walkers

• Prosthetics

• Modifications to your bathroom, kitchen, or doorways

• Assistive technology like communication devices

• Vehicle modifications (in some cases)

You usually need quotes and specialist assessments for these, and they’re approved based on clinical need.

What Services Can the NDIS Fund at Home?

Let’s get practical—what does this mean day-to-day? At home, the NDIS might fund:

• Personal care workers to help you shower, dress, and get out of bed

• Support workers to assist with meal prep, grocery shopping, or cleaning

• Home cleaning, if your disability stops you from keeping things hygienic

• Laundry help, if mobility or fatigue makes it too difficult

• Help with gardening or outdoor maintenance in limited cases, especially if it’s a safety issue

Keep in mind: these supports usually need to be linked to your functional needs. Just being time-poor isn’t enough.

What Doesn’t the NDIS Pay For?

NDIS won’t cover everything—and that’s where a lot of confusion comes in. They’re pretty firm on not paying for:

• Rent, groceries, and utility bills

• General living costs like Netflix, phone plans, or petrol

• Items not related to your disability (e.g. a general gym membership)

• Medical services covered by Medicare (like GP visits or hospital stays)

• Supports that are the responsibility of other systems—like education, health, or housing departments

A good rule of thumb? If it’s something everyone has to pay for, NDIS usually won’t fund it.

Can NDIS Pay for Holidays, Pets, or Gym Memberships?

Sometimes. And sometimes not.

• Holidays? If the holiday supports a goal in your plan (like community participation or respite), the NDIS might fund the support worker’s costs—but not the trip itself.

• Pets? The NDIS won’t fund pet care or vet bills, but they may help cover assistance animals like guide dogs.

• Gyms? You’ll need to show the gym program is linked to your disability goals and supervised by a qualified professional, like a physio.

So yes, there are grey areas. But if you can connect the dots between your disability, your plan goals, and the support—you’ve got a shot.

What Do Real Participants Actually Get?

Here’s a real-world look: Jason, 27, lives in Geelong and has cerebral palsy. His plan includes:

• A support worker 5 days a week (3 hours/day)

• Physiotherapy once a week

• Speech therapy fortnightly

• Mobility scooter funding

• Cleaning twice a week

• Support coordination

• Travel training sessions

That’s a mix of core, capital, and capacity-building supports—all tailored to his needs. No two plans are the same.

FAQ: Common NDIS Funding Questions

Does the NDIS pay for my phone or internet?
Not usually, unless it’s required for assistive technology or communication needs.

Will they fund Uber or taxis?
Yes, if transport funding is included in your plan and public transport isn’t suitable.

Can I buy my own equipment?
Yes, if it’s under a certain dollar amount and listed in your plan. For higher-value items, you’ll need quotes and NDIA approval.

Final Thoughts

The NDIS is a powerful support system—but it’s not a blank cheque. What you get depends on what you need to live a more independent, connected, and safe life. And that’s different for every participant.

So what does the NDIS pay for? A lot—but only if it ties directly to your disability, and the goals outlined in your plan. If you need help getting dressed, learning new skills, or even keeping your home clean, the system can work for you—with the right evidence and a bit of advocacy.

For a deeper dive into housing and domestic support, here’s a great explainer on ndis in home support.

And for the official guidelines on what the NDIS will (and won’t) fund, check out this NDIS Support Catalogue.