NDIS plans are organised into four support budgets: Core Supports, Capacity Building Supports, Capital Supports and Recurring Supports.
Each budget has a different purpose and different rules. The category name gives you a useful starting point, but it does not tell you everything you need to know before spending.
In Short
Core is generally for everyday support. Capacity Building helps develop skills and independence. Capital covers higher-cost equipment and modifications. Recurring Supports currently includes recurring transport funding.
Support budgets and support categories are different
A support budget is one of the four main funding sections in your plan.
Inside each support budget are more specific support categories. These describe the kinds of NDIS supports included in that part of the plan.
For example, your Core Supports budget may contain categories for daily-life assistance, community participation or consumables.
You may not have funding in every support budget or category. Your plan should show only the areas relevant to the supports approved for you.
The current NDIA guide to NDIS support budgets explains the four budgets and the categories within them.
Core Supports
Core Supports are generally used for practical assistance with everyday life, disability-related items and participation.
This may include support with:
- Personal care and daily routines
- Tasks around the home
- Getting out into the community
- Disability-related consumables
Core is often described as the most flexible support budget. In some plans, funding can be used across flexible Core categories where the support still fits the plan and NDIS rules.
That does not mean Core can be used for anything that feels helpful.
The support must still be an NDIS support, relate to your disability needs and follow any wording or conditions in your plan.
A participant may have room to adjust how much support-worker assistance is used at home compared with in the community. That is different from using Core funding for an ordinary living expense or an unrelated purchase.
Capacity Building Supports
Capacity Building Supports are generally more purpose-specific than Core, and the wording in your plan matters.
Some Capacity Building funding may let you choose between supports within the same funded purpose. For example, therapy funding may be used for the therapy supports that best meet your needs.
That does not mean funding can automatically move into a different Capacity Building category, such as from support coordination to therapy. Check what the category is for and whether it is described as flexible or stated.
This budget may include funding for areas such as:
- Therapy and allied health
- Support coordination
- Plan management
- Employment-related support
- Building social or daily-living skills
Capacity Building funding is often more purpose-specific than Core, but the wording in your plan matters.
Some Capacity Building categories may be flexible, while others are stated for a particular support or purpose. If the category is flexible, there may be room to use funding across other flexible categories within the same support budget. If it is stated, the funding must be used for the support described.
For example, funding specifically stated for support coordination is not automatically available for occupational therapy. Both supports may sit under Capacity Building, but the wording and flexibility attached to the categories decide whether funding can move.
For example, funding set aside for support coordination is not automatically available for occupational therapy. Both may sit under Capacity Building, but they have different purposes.
This is one of the places people can get caught. They see one total under Capacity Building and assume every category works as a single flexible pool. The safer step is to check whether each category is flexible or stated.
Read the category name and the wording attached to it before making that assumption.
Capital Supports
Capital Supports generally cover higher-cost or more specialised supports.
This may include:
- Assistive technology
- Mobility or communication equipment
- Home modifications
- Vehicle modifications
- Specialist Disability Accommodation, where included
Capital funding is usually stated for a particular item, service or purpose.
This means funding approved for one piece of equipment or modification cannot usually be redirected to something else simply because both options appear useful.
Capital Supports may also require a quote, assessment, trial, recommendation or other evidence before funding becomes available or the support can proceed.
From an OT perspective, this tighter process makes sense. Higher-cost equipment and modifications are harder to undo if the fit, environment or support needs have not been properly checked.
The current NDIA guidance on Capital Supports explains that plans specify what the funding is for and whether a quote is required.
Recurring Supports
Recurring Supports are a separate budget for certain regular payments.
Currently, recurring transport is the only support category within this budget. If you are eligible, the funding will be shown separately in your plan.
Recurring transport funding is flexible within its own budget, but it cannot simply be combined with Core, Capacity Building or Capital funding.
The current NDIA guidance on Recurring Supports explains how recurring transport appears in a plan.
Some older plans may display transport or other budget information differently. Check the wording in your own current plan rather than relying only on an older plan or someone else’s layout.
The category name is only the starting point
Knowing the budget helps you work out where to look, but the final answer may also depend on:
- The support category
- Whether the funding is flexible or stated
- Conditions such as quote or evidence requirements
- How that budget is managed
- Whether the support is an NDIS support
- How much funding is currently available
Stated funding must be used for the support described in the plan. Flexible funding may provide more choice, but only within the rules that apply to that budget and category.
Current NDIA guidance on flexible and stated funding explains how these rules can change what you are able to purchase.
If you are deciding whether a particular item or service fits, What Can NDIS Funding Be Used For? explains the practical checks to make before spending.
What to check in your own plan
For each funded area, try to identify:
- Which support budget is it in?
- What is the support category?
- Is the funding flexible or stated?
- Are there any conditions or extra steps?
- How is that budget managed?
- How much is available now?
You do not need to memorise every NDIS category.
The aim is to recognise the broad purpose of the budget, then read the specific wording that applies to you.
The Free NDIS Plan Summary gives you one place to record your Core, Capacity Building, Capital and Recurring Supports, along with management type, funding periods and important plan conditions.
Start with the headings you can see. Leave anything unclear blank, then confirm it from your plan, portal or in writing.
