How your funding is organised
Your NDIS funding is organised into funding components. Each funding component has its own dollar amount and covers a specific area of support. Your plan will show you how much funding you have in each component and the period that funding applies to.
Funding component amounts
Each funding component in your plan has a specific dollar amount. This is the total available for that component for the funding period. The amounts are determined by the NDIS based on your assessed needs.
Funding periods
Each funding component has a start and end date — this is your funding period. Funding periods can vary in length. Your overall plan may have components with different funding period lengths within the same plan.
Rollover within the same plan period
If you do not use all of your funding within a funding period, unspent funds may roll over to the next funding period within the same plan — provided the same funding component exists in the new period. This allows flexibility if your needs vary throughout the year.
Unspent funds do not roll into your next plan
When your plan ends and a new plan begins, any unspent funding does not carry over. Each new plan starts with its own funding amounts based on your current needs. This is why planning how you will use your funding before your plan ends is important.
How supports are described in your plan
Your NDIS plan describes your supports using support categories. In many existing plans, your funding is shown as budgets across these main support categories.
Core Supports
Covers everyday supports that help you with daily activities, community participation, and transport. Core is the most flexible category — funding can generally move between most Core subcategories.
- Personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming)
- Domestic assistance (cooking, cleaning, laundry)
- Community participation with a support worker
- Transport to and from your supports
- Consumables (everyday items related to your disability)
Capacity Building Supports
Funds therapies and goal-directed services that help you build skills and independence over time. Capacity Building funding is tied to specific subcategories — you cannot move funds between subcategories.
- Occupational Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Speech Pathology
- Psychology
- Exercise Physiology
- Behaviour Support
- Early Childhood Supports
Capital Supports
Funds higher-cost items such as assistive technology, equipment, home modifications, and supported disability accommodation. Capital funding is specific to the approved item or modification.
- Assistive technology (wheelchairs, communication devices)
- Home modifications
- Supported Disability Accommodation (SDA)
- Vehicle modifications
Recurring supports (Support Coordination)
Some plans include a separate recurring supports category for Support Coordination. This funds someone to help you understand and use your NDIS plan. Not every participant receives Support Coordination funding — it depends on your individual circumstances and assessed needs.
- Support Connection — help linking with providers
- Coordination of Supports — ongoing plan implementation
- Specialist Support Coordination — for complex needs
- Psychosocial Recovery Coaching
Future plans may show funding differently
Under the NDIS's evolving approach, future plans may not show funding as the same budget categories you are used to. Instead of a single Core budget, your plan may list individual funding components for specific support types. The way funding is structured and labelled can change between plan periods.
Flexible and stated supports
Within your plan, some supports are flexible and some are stated. Understanding the difference helps you know what you can and cannot adjust.
Stated supports
A stated support is a specific support that has been listed in your plan for a particular purpose. Stated supports can only be used for the exact purpose they were funded. You cannot redirect stated support funding to a different support item or provider — it is fixed to the item or purpose listed in your plan.
Flexible supports
Flexible funding can be used across different support items within the same funding component. For example, within your Core funding component, you may be able to choose between different types of daily support depending on your needs at the time — as long as the support falls within the same funding component.
Moving funding between components is not permitted
Flexible funding can only move within the same funding component. You cannot move funding across different funding components — for example, you cannot move unused Core funding into your Capacity Building component, or vice versa. Each funding component must be used for its intended purpose.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move money between support categories?
Within a flexible funding component (such as Core Supports), yes — you can generally move between support items within that component. Between different funding components (for example, Core and Capacity Building), no — each component must be used for its intended purpose.
What if I don't use all my funding?
Unused funding within a period may roll over to the next funding period within the same plan if the funding component continues. However, unspent funding does not carry into your next plan when your plan ends. Planning how you will use your funding before the plan period ends helps ensure you don't miss out.
Are all providers the same price?
No. The NDIS Pricing Arrangements sets the maximum price that registered providers can charge. Providers can charge less than the price limit. If you are plan-managed or self-managed, you may be able to negotiate a lower rate. NDIS Support Planner uses the official price limits as its default, which gives you a conservative projection.
Where can I find more information?
The NDIS website at ndis.gov.au has detailed information about how plans work, funding components, and the current Pricing Arrangements. Your Support Coordinator or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) can also help you understand your specific plan.
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