Knowing each part of your NDIS plan will help you make the most of it. The Core support available to you through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can be tricky to navigate. NDIS base their funding approach on specific goals according to the individual, meaning that the services available will vary depending on what you have to achieve. Here, we are going to show you the main types of NDIS Core supports, a very key component to guarantee you or your loved one gets the support they deserve.
What Are NDIS Core Supports?
Core supports are the main NDIS support categories that will help you in your everyday life. Forming a part of the Core supports budget, it is the most flexible part of your main support category. The idea of the Core support is to help you with everyday activities, so you can access everything you need and participate within your community according to your standards and expectations. The NDIS Core supports are flexible, so you can use funding across any of the support services within your budget. Core supports fit into four distinct categories.
Assistance With Daily Life
Assistance with daily life is, as the name suggests, designed to help you with your everyday life. The idea is to help you live your life as independently as possible.
The Assistance With Daily Life category can cover numerous costs, for example, the cost of hiring somebody to support you with domestic tasks like cleaning and cooking, or home care.
Core supports are designed to help you or your loved one in numerous circumstances and are not just restricted to support at home. If you need support in a community setting, or to work, or participate in education or even on holiday, this category of Core support can provide invaluable resources when you need them and support typically fall into the following areas:
- Assistance with daily activities such as sharing and hygiene.
- Assistance with household tasks including cleaning and maintenance.
- Preparation of meals, as they cover costs for a specific service provider to prepare and deliver food weekly.
- Assistance into shared living arrangements and supported independent living, providing support in this shared living environment. Every person living in the shared environment is provided with support for their individual needs.
If it is deemed “reasonable and necessary” for you or your loved one to receive support, a quote is demanded from a registered NDIS provider to guarantee the services can support everyone in that housing environment.
Consumables
Consumables are classed as everyday items that you rely on. If you fall under the Consumables category, you will likely rely on various equipment to improve your everyday independence, for example, continence products, low-cost assistive technology, interpreting and translation services, assistance animals, or specialised clothing.
Assistance With Social and Community Participation
This allows you to engage in social or recreational activities. If you choose to engage in community participation through activities such as sports, art classes, or camps, you can receive support in these settings. As there are so many benefits to getting involved in your community, including a better social life and a feeling of belonging, this will have a positive impact on your overall health. This package can also include a support worker to help you participate in these activities.
Transport
Transport is a key component that we all need, whether it is to travel to work, take part in activities, or go to places to help us achieve our goals. If you are unable to access transport, this funding gives you access to disability support outside of your home. People can only get transport funding under the NDIS if they are not able to use public transport due to a disability. The funding pays for transport like a community bus or a taxi, and the funding is paid in advance every fortnight. However, the funding does not pay for a person to drive you or your loved one around, such as a carer or a family member. Transport funding falls into three different Levels:
Level 1, which provides up to $1,606 every year. You are entitled to Level 1 support if you do not work, are studying, or are attending a day program. You can get Level 1 support if you want to get involved in the community, for example, volunteering or taking part in social activities.
Level 2 provides between $1606 to $2,472 every year. You are entitled to Level 2 support if you study or work less than 15 hours per week. In addition, you are entitled to Level 2 funding if you go to a day program or take part in social activities such as sport.
Level 3 provides between $2,472 to $3,456 every year. Entitlement to Level 3 support is based on if the individual is either looking for work or currently works or studies over 15 hours per week. The funding of transport in the NDIS plan replaces the Centrelink Mobility Allowance.
What Core Support Can I Get?
Your Core supports will depend on your current needs. As your Core support helps with everyday activities and takes into account your current disability needs, the idea is to work towards reaching the individual’s goals. For example, if one of your goals is to take part in community activities, you may require a support worker to help you. Therefore, the Core supports section Assistance With Social and Community Participation would help.
How Can I Spend My Core Funding?
Core funding is provided as a lump sum, which can be used across each of the four Core support categories. Core support funding is flexible, which allows you to set it aside as you wish. For example, if you had a total Core budget of $10,000, you could spend it equally across all four categories, meaning $2,000 towards Consumables, Daily Activities, Transport, and Social Activities.
You could allocate it as per your needs. For example, if if you needed more assistance with daily living, you could allocate $4,000 to this category, while spending the remaining $6,000 equally between the other three areas. You can also choose to set aside funds for a specific purpose, for example, self-managing some of your funding to support extra needs.
How Can I Make the Most of My Core Supports Funding?
The importance of looking after your Core support budget cannot be underestimated. Making the most of your budget is about setting clear goals while also making sure you get extra help. Depending on your available funding, you should make the appropriate preparations. For example, if you or your loved one has a goal to learn a new skill, such as learning a new language, this could go under your Social and Community Participation budget. Most of your funding can go into this area. However, if you were to go into a classroom to learn a new language, you may require need transport support. But you would need to budget it accordingly.
The most important thing to do is to look at your short-term and long-term goals. It’s important to remember that your funding is assessed on a case-by-case basis. It has to be deemed “reasonable and necessary,” which is why it’s important, prior to attending your NDIS plan meeting, that you think about your goals, and how each aspect of these four Core supports can assist you.
Living with a disability is not always straightforward, especially when it comes to relying on others to help you through daily tasks. So for example, if you recognise that you need support with your everyday life, and you also want to learn a new skill, which demands you participate in a social setting like a classroom, you have a very good case to ask for funding in three out of the four areas, Assistance With Daily Life, Assistance With Social and Community Participation, and Transport. But also, you may also require additional support in a classroom environment. This could then stretch your needs towards Consumables as well because you may require assistive technology or equipment to improve your independence, such as a tablet to make notes.
Core Support Is There for Your Needs
It is important to recognise how Core support can help you with your day-to-day life. Core support funding is there to help you work towards your goals in life. It is crucial to remember that the funding is very flexible. Because your Core support categories are not necessarily rigid but are broken down into four key categories, this makes it easier for people to realise how the funding can benefit their lives.
If you or a loved one is looking to make changes to their lives by learning new skills or becoming independent, Core support can be a fantastic way to help make more of the circumstances. Everybody has the right to be supported in the best possible way. Core support is broken down into four categories for people to recognise exactly what they need.
Ultimately, if you want to be more independent, more social, or require additional support in a specialised environment, Core support is there are to help you every step of the way, and it is crucial to realise that this Core support, provided as a single lump sum, can assist you to develop meaningful skills and increase your quality of life.
