Explained: Your Capital Supports budget and how it works

Capital Supports is one of the four types of supports budgets that you could get in your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan. We explain what it covers and how it works.

This budget covers higher-cost assistive technology items and equipment, home or vehicle modifications, and other one-off purchases. The other three types types of supports budgets are Core Supports, Capacity Building Supports, and Recurring Supports and they cover expenses related to your day-to-day support and building skills and capability. Together, these supports budgets help you work toward the goals in your NDIS plan.

Capital Supports has two budget categories: assistive technology and home modifications. Some assistive technology and equipment - low-cost and low-risk items - are claimed out of the consumables category in the core budget, which is flexible. The capital supports budget is not flexible and usually will only fund specific pieces of equipment or modifications which were discussed in your planning meeting and have been approved in your plan by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

05: Assistive Technology

This category covers specialised technology or equipment to assist to live more independently, like:

• Smart devices
• Wheelchairs and other mobility equipment
• Apps
• Vehicle modifications
• Electric beds
• Bathing and toileting equipment
• Vision assistive technology
• Repairs and maintenance for equipment
• Assistive technology rental costs
• Assistive products for personal care and safety (bed/mattress, personal alarms, and so on)
• Communication devices
• Hearing assistive technology
• Assistance dog (including guide dog)
• Prosthetics and orthotics
• Custom shoes
• Transfer equipment.

06: Home Modifications and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

This category covers funding for structural modifications to be made to your home to make it easier for to you live your everyday life, where your disability creates barriers. This may include modifications to your kitchen, entrance or bathroom equipment.

This budget will include funding to pay for the assessment, delivery and set up, adjustment and maintenance costs associated with your home modification project.

This budget will also cover specialist accommodation for participants with very high needs who need specialist housing for their delivery of services.

Spending your Capital Supports budget

The NDIA is usually very specific in how to spend your funding for assistive technology or home modification. In your planning meeting your planner or LAC will discuss with you how you can purchase items out of the budget and where you could purchase these from. If capital supports are needed, the LAC or planner will usually add the capital supports category to the plan pending a quote. This means you need to get a quote from provider (such as the store where you will buy your assistive technology, or the builder who will do your home modification). You then need to send the quote to the NDIA for approval before the funding can be made available to purchase the equipment, or start the project. Funding for repairs and maintenance may also be included.

Update: Capital Supports in the future

The NDIA has recently announced that the three support budgets (core, capital and capacity building) will eventually be replaced with only two types: fixed and flexible. These changes will be phased in from the later half of 2021, as current plans end and new plans start. So if you are due for a new plan, expect it to be in the new format of fixed and flexible. R

To find out more about the other types of funding or other NDIS lingo check out NDIS Category Confusion or NDIS Dictionary: Breaking down the jargon. 

If you have any queries about how to use your funding please contact us via phone or email and we will be more than happy to assist.