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NDIS Guide

What are the NDIS funding categories?

Last reviewed 1 July 2026 · 7 min read · By Sarah M., Support Coordinator
In short

NDIS funding is grouped into three budgets: Core, Capacity Building, and Capital. Core covers everyday assistance and consumables, Capacity Building funds skill development and independence, and Capital pays for assistive technology and home modifications. Within each budget, support categories define what your funds can be spent on.

Core supports: your everyday budget

Core is usually the largest and most flexible part of a plan. It funds the supports you use day to day, and in most cases you can move funding between its categories to suit your routine.

Core breaks down into Assistance with Daily Life, Assistance with Social and Community Participation, Consumables, and Transport. Together these cover help at home, getting out and about, everyday items, and travel related to your disability.

Assistance with Daily Life: personal care and help with household tasks.
Social and Community Participation: support to join activities and outings.
Consumables: everyday items such as continence products.
Transport: funding to help you travel when public options are not suitable.

Capacity Building: investing in your independence

Capacity Building funds are tied to specific categories and aim to build skills that reduce your need for support over time. Unlike Core, you generally cannot move money between these categories.

Common categories include Support Coordination, Improved Daily Living (therapies and assessments), Finding and Keeping a Job, and Improved Living Arrangements. Each links directly to a goal in your plan, such as gaining employment or living more independently.

Capital: higher-cost equipment and modifications

Capital covers one-off, higher-value supports. This includes Assistive Technology such as wheelchairs, communication devices, or vehicle modifications, plus Home Modifications and Specialist Disability Accommodation for those with very high support needs.

Capital funding is the least flexible budget. Each item is usually quoted and approved individually, and funds cannot be redirected to other types of support.

How much does each support cost?

The NDIS sets maximum prices for many supports, and these are reviewed and updated each year on 1 July. Providers cannot charge above the listed maximum for a regulated support, though they may charge less.

Because amounts change annually and vary by support type and location, always check the current figures rather than relying on older numbers. The NDIS price guide is the authoritative source for what each support item can cost.

Check current support pricing

Maximum prices update every 1 July. Use our price guide tool to see what supports cost under the latest arrangements.

Explore the price guide →
SM
Sarah M., Support CoordinatorReviewed by TQN.Care's NDIS support team · 8+ years in disability support coordination.
Common questions

Questions, answered.

Can I move funding between the three budgets? +
No. Funding cannot be transferred between Core, Capacity Building, and Capital. Core is flexible within its own categories, but the other budgets are tied to approved supports.
Which budget pays for therapy? +
Therapy is usually funded under Capacity Building, specifically the Improved Daily Living category, because it builds skills and independence over time.
Where does support coordination sit? +
Support coordination is a Capacity Building support that helps you understand and use your plan and connect with providers.
How often do support prices change? +
The NDIS updates its price arrangements annually, with new maximum prices taking effect on 1 July each year.
Does Capital funding cover home modifications? +
Yes. Home modifications such as ramps or bathroom changes are funded under the Capital budget, usually after assessment and individual quotes.
Is Core funding always the biggest budget? +
Often, but not always. The size of each budget depends on your goals and the reasonable and necessary supports approved in your plan.
Keep reading

Related guides.

TYPE D · Resource/Guide · /resources/funding-categories/