Ask a Plan Manager: Assistance with Social & Community Participation
Getting out in the community and making friends is an important part of life for every child. And, the NDIS Assistance with Social and Community Participation budget is designed to help.
But what activities and supports are covered and how does it all work? Experienced Leap in! plan manager, Tabitha answers some of your most frequently asked questions.
What is Assistance with Social and Community Participation?
Assistance with Social and Community Participation (officially called Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation) is one of the Core supports budgets. You can use this funding to improve your child’s ability to participate in community, social and recreational activities.
Can you provide some examples of activities covered?
Sure! There is a range of activities the NDIS may cover:
• Support to participate in recreational and sporting activities
• Group-based activities such as music lessons or coding classes
• Visiting the local library or attending an event
• Building skills to participate in social and community activities.
How do I know if I can use my child’s funds from this budget to pay for a support worker?
The NDIS looks at whether your child needs extra help compared to other children their age because of their disability.
As parents are generally expected to help their children get to and from activities, it’s unlikely transport will be funded. The NDIS also won’t usually fund support for activities where a parent or carer would typically stay and help.
What types of assistance can a support worker provide?
Assistance with Social and Community Participation can fund a support worker to provide communication support (including Auslan and interpreting) or assistance with completing activities.
It can also cover personal supports such as helping your child use the bathroom or eat if more assistance is needed for such tasks due to a child’s disability.
Help! My child has run out of Assistance with Social and Community Participation funds but needs a support worker over the next few months.
The good news is that Assistance with Social and Community Participation is a Core support, so it’s flexible! That means you can also pay for a support worker with Assistance with Daily Life or Consumables funding.
What are some things you can’t pay for?
Generally, you can’t use NDIS funds to buy things everyone has to pay for including:
- Concert tickets
- Entry fees
- Class fees
- Uniforms
- Memberships
- Meals
- Coaching
- Class fees
- General equipment costs.
Leap in! is Australia’s leading NDIS plan manager. Want to know more about your child’s plan and how their budgets can be spent? Register here for a free session. You can also call us on 1300 05 78 78 or email [email protected] to learn more.
