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Do you have questions about your child’s NDIS Plan or what the NDIS may fund? Our friends at Leap in! plan management support thousands of families across Australia to get the most value from their child’s NDIS Plan.
Q What exactly does “reasonable and necessary” mean?
Reasonable and necessary is the funding criteria used by the NDIS. Simply put, reasonable is something that is fair, and necessary is something your child, or young adult, needs because of disability.
The NDIS funds reasonable and necessary supports to help your child live an ordinary life and achieve their goals. Supports purchased with NDIS funding must:
- Relate to your child’s disability and support needs.
- Help your child pursue their goals.
- Be good value for money.
- Be likely to be effective and beneficial.
- Complement (not replace) other informal supports, including those provided by family and the community; and formal supports like health and education.
- Be the responsibility of the NDIS to fund (not another organisation or government service).
Everyday living expenses that people without disability have to pay, like food, train travel or movie tickets are not covered.
Q How does respite care work under the NDIS?
You may have heard the term “short term accommodation (STA) and assistance” used in relation to the NDIS. This is a broad description covering various types of short-term accommodation supports, which also include respite care. Respite care provides an opportunity for a child, or young adult, to get support from someone else while parents or regular carers take a break. It is the alternative care that is put in place while a usual care giver is unavailable.
The NDIS may fund respite in your home or at a respite centre for up to 14 days at a time and includes accommodation, assistance with self-care, overnight support, food and additional negotiated activities.
Q Do I need a quote to purchase consumables?
The Core – Consumables budget covers the purchase of items required to manage your child’s personal disability-related needs. Examples include pull-ups and nappies, absorbent products, food preparation products and modified eating aids. Items under $1500 generally don’t need a quote.
Q Does the NDIS fund prescription medication?
The NDIS does not fund prescription or over the counter pharmaceutical products. Prescription medicines are the responsibility of the health system, while over the counter medicines such as cough medicines or supplements are day-to- day living costs which the NDIS does not fund.
Q There seem to be two community participation budgets with similar names. What’s the difference?
Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation funding from the Core budget can be used for a support worker to help your child participate in social, employment and community activities.
Increased Social and Community Participation funding from the Capacity Building budget is used for development and training to build independence and help your child access the community. Examples include peer support, public transport training and funds to try out new activities connected with the goals in their NDIS Plan.
Q Can a provider charge my child’s NDIS Plan for transport costs?
Core funding can be used flexibly for support worker costs associated with transport to and from NDIS-funded community-based activities.
There are clear rules regarding providers claiming travel costs from your child’s NDIS Plan. All the following conditions must be met:
• Providers can only claim costs for travel if agreed in advance.
• NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits indicate that providers are eligible to claim travel costs for the support item and the proposed claim must comply with the price limits guide.
• The activity must be related to delivering a specific disability support.
• The support must be delivered in person, not online.
• The provider must explain why paying for travel is a good use of NDIS funds.
Travel time can only be claimed if the provider has to pay the worker for their travel time or if the worker is a sole trader.
Leap in! can help you navigate the NIDS and get the most from your child’s plan. We also take care of all the NDIS bookkeeping for you! Call us on 1300 05 78 78 to find out if plan management is right for you.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE US TO ANSWER IN THE NEXT EDITION OF SOURCE KIDS? WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. SEND YOUR QUESTION TO [email protected]
