Last updated: May 2026
NDIS plans aren't one-size-fits-all. Two participants with the same diagnosis can receive vastly different funding packages, because the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) builds each plan around what is "reasonable and necessary" for that individual to pursue their goals. Understanding how costs are structured — and where the money can and cannot be spent — is the first step to getting the most from your plan.
This guide breaks down every major component of NDIS plan costs for 2026: the three budget categories (Core Supports, Capacity Building, and Capital Supports), 2025–26 Price Guide hourly rates, plan management options, indicative plan sizes by scenario, and how to prepare for your planning meeting. Whether you are a new participant, a family member, or a disability support worker helping a client navigate the system, this resource will give you the numbers and context you need.
At Leadkit, our free NDIS Plan Cost Calculator draws on thousands of real support queries to produce personalised funding estimates in minutes — a useful starting point before your planning meeting.
The Three NDIS Budget Categories at a Glance
Every NDIS plan is divided into up to three distinct budget "buckets." Funding in one bucket generally cannot be moved to another, so knowing which bucket covers which supports is critical.
| Budget Category | What It Covers | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|
| Core Supports | Day-to-day living assistance, transport, consumables, social/community participation | High — funds can move between most sub-categories |
| Capacity Building | Therapy, support coordination, employment, skills development | Moderate — funds stay within each sub-category |
| Capital Supports | Assistive technology, home modifications | Low — stated items, cannot be reallocated |
Not all participants receive funding across all three categories. Your plan reflects only the supports the NDIA has assessed as reasonable and necessary for your goals.
Core Supports: Costs and Rates
Core Supports is typically the largest and most flexible portion of an NDIS plan. It covers four sub-categories:
1. Daily Activities (Assistance with Daily Life)
This sub-category funds personal care, help with household tasks, and support in the home environment. Support workers are engaged here, and their rates are set by the NDIS Price Guide 2025–26 and the SCHADS Award.
Key 2025–26 Price Guide rates (metropolitan, weekday):
| Support Type | Hourly Rate (max) |
|---|---|
| Disability Support Worker (DSW) — standard weekday | $67.56/hr |
| Disability Support Worker — evening (weekday) | ~$74.30/hr |
| Disability Support Worker — Saturday | ~$95.60/hr |
| Disability Support Worker — Sunday | ~$118.00/hr |
| Disability Support Worker — public holiday | ~$145.00/hr |
| High-Intensity Daily Personal Activities | ~$77.00/hr |
Note: Rates above are indicative based on the NDIS Price Guide 2025–26. Remote and very remote participants attract higher loadings. Always confirm current rates at ndis.gov.au.
A participant requiring two hours of personal care daily, five days per week, would use approximately $35,000–$38,000 per year from their Core Supports budget at weekday rates alone — before adding any weekend or community access hours.
2. Transport
Transport funding helps participants get to work, appointments, or community activities. It can be used for taxis, rideshare, or a participant's own vehicle costs where assessed as reasonable. Amounts vary widely: a participant attending five therapy sessions per week will typically receive more transport funding than someone who only needs occasional community access transport.
3. Consumables
Consumables cover lower-cost disability-related products — continence aids, low-cost assistive equipment under $1,500, and wound care materials. Participants with higher clinical needs may have substantial consumables budgets (several thousand dollars annually), while others may have little or none.
4. Social, Community and Civic Participation
This sub-category funds support workers accompanying participants to community activities, social groups, sport, arts programmes, or day programmes. Rates mirror the Daily Activities rates but are applied in community settings. Weekend and public holiday loadings apply and can significantly increase costs for participants who require community access outside standard weekday hours.
Capacity Building Supports: What Plans Typically Allocate
Capacity Building supports are designed to build your independence and skills over time. There are 12 sub-categories; the most commonly funded are:
Support Coordination
A Support Coordinator is a professional who helps participants implement their plan — finding providers, setting up service agreements, and resolving issues. There are two levels:
- Support Connection (Level 1): ~$80.06/hr — for participants needing lighter assistance connecting to services
- Specialist Support Coordination (Level 2): ~$190/hr — for participants with complex needs or high-risk circumstances
Typical plan allocations: $3,000–$12,000 per year depending on complexity.
Improved Daily Living (Therapy)
This sub-category funds allied health therapy. The NDIS Price Guide 2025–26 sets maximum hourly rates for therapists:
| Therapist Type | Max Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| Occupational Therapist (OT) | $214.41/hr |
| Speech Pathologist | $214.41/hr |
| Physiotherapist | $214.41/hr |
| Psychologist | ~$230.00/hr |
| Therapy Assistant | $88.41/hr |
A participant receiving weekly OT and speech pathology sessions (one hour each) would spend approximately $22,300 per year on therapy alone at these rates — highlighting why participants with communication and functional needs can have substantial Capacity Building budgets.
Improved Living Arrangements
Funds support to help participants explore and secure appropriate housing, including Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) assessments.
Finding and Keeping a Job (Employment Supports)
Covers Disability Employment Services (DES) not funded through the general employment system, and school-leaver employment supports (SLES) for young participants transitioning to work.
Improved Learning
Supports participants transitioning from school to further education or life skills programmes.
Capital Supports: Assistive Technology and Home Modifications
Capital Supports are the least flexible NDIS budget category. Funds are allocated for specific, approved items and cannot be redirected elsewhere in the plan.
Assistive Technology (AT)
AT is split into tiers by cost and complexity:
| AT Tier | Examples | Indicative Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Low-cost AT (< $1,500) | Shower chairs, toilet frames, communication apps | $200 – $1,500 |
| Mid-range AT | Manual wheelchairs, standing frames, AAC devices | $1,500 – $15,000 |
| Complex/high-cost AT | Power wheelchairs, ventilators, custom seating systems | $15,000 – $80,000+ |
AT items above $1,500 generally require an assessment by a qualified AT assessor (usually an OT) before the NDIA will fund them.
Home Modifications
Home modifications (also called Specialist Disability Accommodation modifications) range from minor bathroom grab rails to major structural changes:
| Modification Type | Indicative Cost |
|---|---|
| Grab rails, ramps, minor bathroom modifications | $1,000 – $8,000 |
| Wet-area bathroom conversion | $10,000 – $25,000 |
| Ceiling hoist installation | $8,000 – $20,000 |
| Major structural home modifications | $30,000 – $100,000+ |
An OT assessment and quotes from qualified builders are required before home modification funding is approved. The NDIA must also approve all Capital Supports expenditure before works begin.
Plan Management Options: NDIA-Managed, Plan-Managed, Self-Managed
How your NDIS funds are managed affects which providers you can use, how much administration is involved, and the flexibility you have over provider choice.
| Management Type | Who Pays Providers | Provider Choice | Admin Burden | Extra Cost to Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDIA-managed (Agency-managed) | NDIA pays registered providers directly | Registered NDIS providers only | Low — NDIA handles claims | No additional cost |
| Plan-managed | Plan manager pays on your behalf | Registered AND unregistered providers | Low to moderate | ~$104.45/month (plan management fee funded by NDIA) |
| Self-managed | Participant pays and claims reimbursement | Any provider including unregistered | High — participant handles all invoicing and records | No additional cost (but requires strong financial admin skills) |
Plan management is the most popular middle-ground option. The NDIA funds the plan manager's monthly fee (~$104.45/month in metropolitan areas) on top of your other supports — it does not come out of your Core or Capacity Building budgets. If you choose plan management, your plan will include a separate line item for this expense.
A Local Area Coordinator (LAC) is an NDIA partner (usually from a community organisation) who helps participants who do not have a Support Coordinator to prepare plans and connect with services. LACs are not funded directly from your plan — they are funded separately by the NDIA.
Indicative NDIS Plan Sizes by Scenario
The following scenarios are illustrative. Real plans are determined by individual needs assessments, functional capacity assessments, and evidence provided at planning meetings.
| Scenario | Typical Annual Funding |
|---|---|
| Light support needs — participant with mild intellectual disability, lives with family, needs 5–7 hours/week DSW support + some therapy | ~$15,000 – $25,000/yr |
| Moderate support needs — participant with autism or acquired brain injury, needs daily living support + regular OT/speech therapy + support coordination | ~$35,000 – $55,000/yr |
| Higher support needs — participant requiring multiple hours of personal care daily, wheelchair AT, home modifications, specialist support coordination | ~$80,000 – $150,000/yr |
| High-complexity/24-hour care — participant with high physical support needs, complex behaviour support, SDA | $150,000 – $500,000+/yr |
These are indicative funding figures only. Your actual NDIS plan will be determined by your individual needs assessment and planning meeting.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the average committed support for active NDIS participants nationally is approximately $58,000 per year, though this varies significantly by primary disability group and age.
How to Prepare for Your Planning Meeting
A well-prepared planning meeting is the single biggest lever you have over your plan outcome. Here is what to bring:
- Evidence of your disability and functional impact — reports from your GP, OT, specialists, or treating therapists that describe how your disability affects your daily life, not just your diagnosis.
- A completed Participant Statement — write down your goals (short-term and long-term) before the meeting. The NDIA funds supports that help you achieve goals, so vague goals produce vague plans.
- Support needs list — document exactly what support you need, how many hours per week, and who currently provides it (family, community services, paid workers).
- Quotes for AT or home modifications — if you need capital supports, having AT assessments and builder quotes ready significantly speeds up approval.
- Your preferred management type — decide in advance whether you want NDIA-managed, plan-managed, or self-managed, and be ready to state this clearly.
- Support person — bring a family member, carer, advocate, or your Support Coordinator to the meeting if possible.
Use our NDIS Plan Cost Calculator to generate a funding estimate before your meeting — it gives you a realistic starting point and helps you articulate your support needs in dollar terms to your LAC or planner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average NDIS plan cost in Australia? The average committed support per active NDIS participant is approximately $58,000 per year nationally, according to AIHW data. However, averages are misleading — plans range from under $10,000 per year for participants with mild needs to over $300,000 per year for participants requiring complex or round-the-clock support.
Can I move money between NDIS budget categories? Core Supports funding is flexible — you can generally move funds between the four Core sub-categories (daily activities, transport, consumables, social participation) in response to changing needs. You cannot move money from Core into Capacity Building or Capital Supports, or vice versa. Capacity Building funds stay within each individual sub-category, and Capital Supports are stated items that cannot be reallocated.
How are NDIS support worker hourly rates set? Rates are set by the NDIA in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits document (commonly called the NDIS Price Guide), which is updated annually. The 2025–26 update increased support worker rates by approximately 4.36% to reflect Fair Work Commission wage decisions. The current maximum weekday rate for a standard Disability Support Worker (DSW) in a metropolitan area is $67.56/hr.
Does plan management cost me anything extra? No. If you choose plan management, the NDIA funds your plan manager's fee (approximately $104.45/month in metropolitan areas) as a separate line item in your plan. It does not reduce your Core Supports or Capacity Building budgets.
What is the difference between a Support Coordinator and a Local Area Coordinator (LAC)? A Local Area Coordinator (LAC) is an NDIA-funded partner (not paid from your plan) who helps participants prepare plans and connect with mainstream services. A Support Coordinator is a paid professional whose fees come from your Capacity Building budget — they help you implement a more complex plan, find and manage providers, and resolve issues. Not all participants receive funded Support Coordination; it depends on your assessed needs and plan complexity.
What happens if I run out of NDIS funds before my plan ends? If you are at risk of running out of Core Supports funds before your plan review, contact your LAC or Support Coordinator immediately. The NDIA can conduct an unscheduled plan review and, in some circumstances, provide additional funding. Keeping accurate records and reviewing your budget monthly (most plan managers provide a portal for this) is the best way to avoid mid-plan shortfalls.
Conclusion
NDIS plan costs in Australia 2026 are shaped by three funding categories, a detailed price guide, and an individual needs assessment that is unique to every participant. Core Supports covers your daily living and community access at rates anchored to the NDIS Price Guide 2025–26. Capacity Building invests in your therapy, skill development, and coordination. Capital Supports funds the assistive technology and home modifications that change what is physically possible in your home.
Understanding these structures — before you walk into your planning meeting — puts you in a far stronger position to advocate for a plan that genuinely reflects your needs.
Ready to estimate your NDIS plan funding? Use our free NDIS Plan Cost Calculator to generate personalised indicative figures based on your support needs and disability type. For those also navigating aged care decisions alongside NDIS, our Aged Care Cost Calculator can help you model both streams side by side.
Methodology note: Hourly rate figures in this article are drawn from the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (Price Guide) 2025–26, published by the NDIA. Indicative plan sizes are modelled on published AIHW participant data and Leadkit's internal query data. These are indicative funding figures only. Your actual NDIS plan will be determined by your individual needs assessment and planning meeting. For official guidance, visit ndis.gov.au.