NDIS Funding Calculator
Calculate how much funding you could get from NDIS to support your goals.
NDIS Support Calculator
How this calculator works
You’ve probably seen calculators that spit out a number with no explanation, and it’s fair to wonder where the figures come from. We’d rather show you our working. Our calculator compares your answers with the NDIA’s published data on what participants actually receive, broken down by age and disability type, and shows you the typical range.
That’s why you’ll get a range and not a single figure. Two people with the same diagnosis can have very different plans, because the NDIS funds your goals and your life, not a label.
We think you deserve honesty about that, even when a big confident number would be easier to sell.
What affects how much funding you get
If the NDIS feels like a system built on rules nobody explains, you’re not imagining it. But once you know what the NDIA is actually looking at, the whole thing gets less overwhelming. Your funding comes down to a handful of things.
How your disability affects your daily life matters far more than your diagnosis. Clear, current reports from your treating professionals do a lot of the talking here. Your goals matter too, because the NDIS funds supports that help you work towards them, whether that’s living more independently, building skills, or getting back out into your community. The NDIA also looks at the support your family and friends already give, and your living situation, especially where supported housing or home modifications come into it.
Your funding comes in three budgets
Whatever your total ends up being, your plan splits it into three budgets, and knowing the difference helps you get the most out of your NDIS funding. Everyday support with personal care, household tasks and getting out into your community sits in the most flexible budget (Core Supports). Therapies and skill building, like occupational therapy or help coordinating your supports, sit in the second (Capacity Building). One-off items like equipment and home modifications sit in the third (Capital Supports).
How your total divides across these matters as much as the total itself, because money generally can’t move between them. It’s one of the first things we look at when we help someone understand their plan.
Daily personal activities
The NDIS can provide funding to assist participants with activities of daily living. These activities can include:
- Personal care such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting to maintain dignity and personal hygiene.
- Support workers can help with meal planning, preparation, and cooking to ensure participants receive proper nutrition.
- They can also help with medication management to organise and administer medication effectively.
Transport
Assistance with transportation to enable participation in the community and help with daily life activities. This can include:
- Funding for accessible vehicles or modification of existing vehicles for those who require specialised vehicles to accommodate their mobility needs.
- Travel training to help participants learn how to use public transportation independently and safely.
- Assistance while using public transport such as boarding and disembarking from vehicles, managing mobility aids and providing guidance throughout the journey.
- Transport for medical appointments.
- Funding to enable community participation and social interaction.
- Funding for assistive technology related to transportation such as communication devices or apps that allow individuals to request rides or communicate with drivers.
Workplace assistance
The NDIS can provide support for people with disabilities to help them to participate in the workforce and achieve their employment goals. This can include:
- Helping individuals prepare for job seeking such as resume building, interview coaching and job search assistance.
- Workplace assessments to identify accommodations and support needed for a person with disabilities to perform specific jobs.
- Employment service providers to help participants find suitable employment opportunities based on their skills, interests and goals.
- Workplace accommodations such as ergonomic furniture, assistive technology or modifications to make the workplace more accessible.
- Transportation to and from work.
- Job coaching and mentoring services to provide ongoing support and guidance within the workplace.
Therapeutic supports
Therapeutic supports funded by the NDIS can address the physical, emotional and developmental needs of participants. This can include:
- Assessments by qualified therapists such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, or physiotherapists to identify a participant’s needs and set specific therapeutic goals.
- Various therapy services such as speech therapy for individuals with communication and speech difficulties;
- Occupational therapy to assist with daily living, fine motor skills, sensory integration and assistive technology;
- Physiotherapy to improve mobility, strength and physical functioning;
- Psychological therapy for mental health support and counselling;
- Behavioural support to address challenging behaviours and develop behaviour management strategies;
- Art therapy, Music therapy, or Play therapy to support emotional expression and well-being, especially for children.
- Developing behaviour support plans designed to understand and manage challenging behaviours effectively.
Household tasks
NDIS can fund assistance with household tasks to help maintain a clean, organised and safe home environment for participants. This can include:
- Funding towards a support worker to assist with various household tasks such as cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, garden maintenance and other household activities.
- Pre-prepared meal delivery or support workers who can help with nutritional planning and meal preparation.
- Errand management with a support worker or organising transportation options to help participants complete shopping and other essential errands.
- Household management planning with support workers or therapists to develop strategies for effectively managing the household tasks and routines.
- Funding for home cleaning services for participants if this is proven to be the most reasonable solution to provide a safe and clean environment.
Skill development
The NDIS aims to empower participants to build and develop their skills in various aspects of life. Funding can be allocated to acquiring new skills, enhancing existing abilities and achieving personal goals. This can include:
- A comprehensive assessment of the participants needs, abilities and goals. Through this, skill development opportunities can be identified and specific goals can be set.
- Education and training programs to acquire new skills and qualifications, such as vocational courses and further education.
- Essential life skills training such as cooking, budgeting, time management, and personal hygiene.
- Skill building programs and activities tailored to your interests and goals such as sports, arts, or recreational activities.
- Skills training identified for a job role so it can be performed more effectively.
- Regular reviews and assessments are conducted to track progress towards your skill development goals and adjustments can be made to the NDIS plan to ensure the participant is on the right track.
Home modifications
NDIS funding can be allocated to home modifications with the help of an occupational therapist to make participants’ living environments more accessible, safe and suitable for their needs. NDIS can fund a wide range of home modifications such as:
- Ramps for wheelchair access;
- Bathroom modifications such as grab rails;
- Kitchen modifications such as adjustment of counter height;
- Widening doorways to accommodate mobility aids;
- Stair lifts and elevators;
- Accessible flooring;
- Door automation;
- Lighting and sensory modifications for those with specific sensory needs;
- Communication systems for those with speech or hearing impairments.
Home modifications typically begin with an assessment by an occupational therapist or another qualified professional to identify the specific home modifications required to meet the participants needs. A home assessment and approval will be needed before the modifications are carried out to determine if the proposed changes meet safety standards.
NDIS funding can also cover ongoing maintenance and repair of modified areas to ensure their continuous functionality and safety.
Assistive technology
NDIS funding can be allocated to assistive technology. This could come in the form of devices, equipment and/or software.
The need for assistive technology is determined through an assessment by an occupational therapist, speech therapist or another qualified professional. This assessment can identify the specific assistive technological needs of a participant. NDIS can fund a wide range of assistive technology such as:
- Communication aids in the form of devices or software;
- Mobility aids such as wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walking aids and other devices that can improve mobility and independence;
- Hearing aids or related devices;
- Visual aids such as magnifiers, screen readers;
- Home automation with smart technology that allows participants to control various aspects of their home environment;
- Computer and tablet accessibility such as adaptive software, screen readers and input devices.
NDIS can also fund training and support to help participants and their caregivers to effectively use and maintain assistive technology.
Respite care
NDIS funding can provide support and funding for respite care services to participants and their carers. Various types of respite care can be funded by NDIS:
- In-home respite care where a trained support worker takes over the role of your regular carer.
- Out-of-home respite care overnight in a respite care facility or the ability to attend day programs.
- Emergency respite for unexpected or critical circumstances.
- Recreational and social respite where participants can engage in group activities, outings, or social events.
NDIS can also provide funding for training in individual circumstances so that support workers are equipped to meet the unique needs of each participant.
Community participation
NDIS funding can help participants engage in various community activities and pursue their interests and goals. It can do this by:
- Funding support workers to assist participants in accessing community facilities such as libraries, sports centres, swimming pools and community centres.
- Funding participation in community based programs and activities such as art classes, sports teams, social clubs, music groups, or recreational events.
- Funding for social and recreational activities that align with the participant’s interests and goals. This could include attending local events, going to the cinema, or joining community groups.
- Providing peer support that connects participants with others who share similar interests or experiences.
- Helping participants explore and engage in volunteering opportunities that align with their interests.
Although each individual’s NDIS plan and funding allocation will be distinct to their own unique needs and include different supports based on their personal goals, there are certain items and services that are not covered by NDIS funding. These items include:
- Ordinary living expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, groceries, or clothing.
- Medical and healthcare expenses such as hospital stays, prescription medication, or other healthcare related expenses. These costs are typically covered by the healthcare system or private health insurance.
- Education expenses such as regular school fees or education related costs that would fall under the responsibility of the education system.
- Transportation for social or recreational purposes.
- Activities that don’t align with the participants goals.
- Luxury or non-essential items or services such as holidays or high-end electronics.
- Costs covered by other government departments, organisations or other funding sources, as it is designed to complement and not replace them.
- Supports or services provided outside of Australia.
How much NDIS funding will I get?
There’s no fixed amount and no formula per disability. The NDIA decides your funding individually, based on what’s reasonable and necessary for your goals and support needs. Published NDIA data shows average funding of around $26,000 per participant per year, but plans range from a few thousand dollars to well over $100,000 for complex needs. Your situation is what counts, not the average.
How is NDIS funding calculated?
The NDIA looks at how your disability affects your daily life, your goals, the support your family and friends already provide, and reports from your treating professionals. It then funds the supports it assesses as reasonable and necessary. Your diagnosis alone doesn’t decide your funding, which is good news, because it means strong preparation genuinely helps.
Does my income affect my NDIS funding?
No. The NDIS isn’t means tested, so your income and assets don’t affect your eligibility or how much funding you receive.
How accurate is an NDIS funding calculator?
Any estimator is a guide, including ours. We show you the typical range for people in similar situations, based on the NDIA’s published data, but your plan is decided individually and could sit outside that range. If the estimate doesn’t match your reality, that’s worth a conversation, not a worry. Call us and we’ll talk it through.
What if my funding is lower than I expected?
You have options, and you have rights. You can ask the NDIA to review a decision, request a reassessment if your circumstances change, or build stronger evidence for your next plan. A Support Coordinator or an experienced provider can share that load with you. This is a system you can work with, especially with the right people beside you.