NDIS funding examples: what to check before treating them as covered

Surprising Things the NDIS Can Cover (That You Might Not Know!)

By Just Plan Managers · Originally published 1 September 2025

How participants can use the examples without relying on a label

Pick the exact item or service, rather than the broad heading. Ask what part is a disability-related support and what part is an ordinary expense. For meal delivery, for example, you need to distinguish the service from the food you buy.

Keep a record of any required approval and the provider’s cost breakdown. If the answer remains unclear, resolve it before buying rather than relying on a YES in a general article.

Original article and dated context

This article was prepared by Just Plan Managers and represents their views. It is shared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute official advice or guidance from the NDIS. We have updated this article with additional information on the 10th September 2025.
Navigating the NDIS can feel confusing. What’s covered? What’s not? To make things easier, we’ve broken it down into simple categories with YES (funded) and NO (not funded) lists.
Important Note (Read First!)
This blog is general information only. From 3 October 2024, the NDIA introduced the Supports Lists, which decide what can and can’t be funded. From 1 July 2025, the new Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (2025–26) also apply.  What’s listed as “YES” in this blog still needs to meet the reasonable & necessary test, and must fall within current price limits. Your individual plan and goals will always determine final approval.

[Clickability update, September 2026: The YES label means only that a type of support may qualify, not that every example is approved for you. Ordinary products and personal costs remain distinct from disability-related support. Check current support rules.]

[Clickability update, September 2026: The pricing reference is historical. Check the current effective documents and the rules applying to your funding arrangement.]

Transport

YES:
  • Transport support if you can’t use public transport independently
  • Provider travel costs (where allowed in your plan)
  • Taxi or private transport to work, school, or community activities
  • Travel training to build skills using public transport
NO:
  • Cruises, holidays, interstate/overseas flights
  • Buying vehicles (cars, motorbikes, scooters, boats, etc.)
  • Fuel (petrol, diesel, gas)
  • Vehicle registration and standard repairs
  • Public transport fares and concessions

Meals

YES:
  • Support workers to help with meal preparation
  • Meal delivery services — but only the preparation and delivery component
  • Training to increase independence in cooking and shopping
NO:
  • The cost of food/groceries themselves
  • Takeaway or fast food delivery platforms (where costs can’t be separated)
Household Support
YES:
  • Cleaning, laundry, and gardening if you can’t do them due to your disability
  • Assistive products for food prep, cleaning, or laundry (e.g., modified utensils, adaptive laundry baskets)
NO:
  • Rent, mortgage repayments, utilities, rates
  • Standard appliances (dishwasher, washing machine, fridge)
  • Standard furniture (beds, couches)

Equipment & Modifications

YES:
  • Personal mobility equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, hoists)
  • Assistive recreation equipment (modified sporting gear)
  • Vehicle modifications (hand controls, wheelchair hoists, adaptive seating, extra insurance due to modifications)
  • Home modifications (ramps, accessible bathrooms)
NO:
  • Buying standard vehicles or bikes
  • Pools, spas, saunas, or standard home renovations
  • Non-adaptive recreational equipment (regular sports gear, toys, consoles)

[Clickability update, September 2026: Ordinary menstrual products are not automatically an NDIS entitlement because they appear below. Check the specific product against the funded and excluded lists and your plan; disability-related continence supports are a different question. Read the funded list and the exclusions.]

Personal Care & Safety

YES:
  • Adaptive clothing
  • Incontinence products
  • Period products (incl. period underwear)
  • Furniture or equipment for safety and positioning
  • Visual/tactile alert systems
NO:
  • Standard clothing, footwear, or beauty services
  • Haircuts, hair dye, wigs, or cosmetic treatments
  • Makeup, manicures, tattoos, piercings

Animals

YES:
  • Accredited assistance animals, including training, food, and vet care
NO:
  • Pets or companion animals
  • Pet food, grooming, vet care for non-assistance animals

Lifestyle & Leisure

YES:
  • Participation in community, social, and civic activities (where linked to goals)
  • Group/centre-based activities
  • Innovative community participation supports
NO:
  • Cigarettes, vapes, alcohol, gambling
  • Streaming services, phones, internet plans
  • Musical instruments, music production equipment
  • Tickets to concerts, cinema, or sporting events
  • Gym memberships and standard sports equipment

Health

YES:
  • Disability-related health supports (continence, wound care, podiatry, seizures, nutrition support)
  • Allied health therapies (speech, OT, physio, psychology, behaviour support)
NO:
  • Standard medical care, hospital services, or pharmaceuticals
  • Vitamins, supplements, non-prescription medicines
  • Alternative therapies (reiki, crystal therapy, aromatherapy, psychics)

[Clickability update, September 2026: Some items in the NO examples, such as certain household appliances or communication devices, may be considered only through a replacement-support decision. This is not permission to purchase them first. Written prior approval is required.]

Important Reminder
Every participant’s plan is unique. Even if something is listed under YES, it still needs to meet the reasonable & necessary criteria for your goals and supports. Always check with your plan manager or support coordinator before purchasing.
How Just Plan Managers Can Help
At Just Plan Managers, we take the guesswork out of invoicing and NDIS compliance. We:
  • Review invoices against the latest NDIS rules
  • Claim and process invoices quickly so providers are paid on time
  • Communicate with both participants and providers to resolve issues early
  • Help you understand what’s fundable under your plan
If you’d like support managing your NDIS plan, get in touch with us today — we’re here to help you make the most of your funding.
From 1 July 2025, the NDIS introduced new Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. These set the maximum amount providers can charge for different supports, and include updated rules on provider travel and therapy rates.

Even if something is on the “YES” list, it can only be claimed within these price limits.

Always check the latest Pricing Arrangements on the NDIS website
References
- NDIS Supports that are funded:\

Clickability editorial update: September 2026

What families can check before helping with a purchase

Help identify the practical need and collect a quote, with the participant’s agreement. Do not assume a familiar item is funded because it appears in a provider’s examples.

Check which costs the person will pay privately and whether the purchase affects money needed for existing support. Keep the decision and supporting information together.

Questions readers ask

Is every item marked YES approved for every participant?

No. The exact support must fit the rules, any required approval and the individual plan. Official guidance

Can I buy a listed appliance and request replacement approval later?

Do not use NDIS funding for it as a replacement support before written NDIA approval. Official guidance

Find help keeping purchase and payment details clear

Use Clickability to find a plan manager and compare how providers explain budgets, invoices and queries. Read reviews before making your choice.

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