The short answer
- Everyday help is usually Core; building skills or independence is usually Capacity Building; equipment and home changes are usually Capital.
- Your plan decides which categories have money — check it before agreeing to a support.
- Stated supports must be used exactly as written; flexible funding can move within the same budget.
- The support must also be on the official list of NDIS supports and related to your disability.
- The most common mix-up: teaching a skill (Capacity Building) billed as everyday help (Core), or the reverse.
Step by step
- 1
Describe the support in one sentence
Write down what is done, who does it and why — for example “a worker helps me shower each morning” or “an OT teaches me to cook safely”. This makes the category much easier to see.
- 2
Ask: doing it for me, or teaching me?
If someone is doing a task with or for you, it is usually Core. If the aim is to build your skills or independence so you need less help later, it is usually Capacity Building. Equipment and home changes are usually Capital.
- 3
Check your plan
Look at which budgets and categories have funding, and whether any supports are stated. A support in a category with no funds left cannot be paid from that category.
- 4
Confirm the item before the support starts
Ask the provider which support item they will claim and check it with your plan manager or support coordinator. Put the agreed item and price in the service agreement so there are no surprises on the invoice.
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Common follow-up questions
Is a support worker helping me in the community Core or Capacity Building?
If the worker is supporting you to take part in an activity, it usually comes from Core (Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation). If the main aim is to build your skills and confidence so you can do it more independently, it may come from Capacity Building (Increased Social and Community Participation). The activity cost itself, like a ticket, is normally not funded.
Who decides which category a support is claimed under?
The provider chooses the support item when they invoice, but it must match what was delivered and what is funded in your plan. Your plan manager checks it before paying. The NDIS Support Catalogue is the official list of items, and you can always ask for an item to be explained before you agree to it.
What if my provider uses the wrong category?
Ask the provider to explain the item they used and how it matches the service you received. If it does not match, ask for a corrected invoice. Your plan manager or support coordinator can help, and you can raise a complaint if it is not fixed.