Understand Your NDIS Budget: Core, Capacity Building & Capital

What the three budget categories mean

Your NDIS budget is divided into categories so you can fund different types of supports in the right way. Understanding these categories helps you choose providers, ask the right questions, and use funding more confidently across your plan period. While your plan is personalised, the structure is consistent.

Core funding is generally for supports that help you with your day-to-day living. This often includes personal care and assistance with things like meal preparation, household tasks, and getting around where needed for everyday life.

Capacity Building funding is for supports that help you build skills and independence to achieve your goals. This can include therapies and training that improve your ability to participate in education, work, community life, or to manage your disability-related needs more effectively over time.

Capital funding is for one-off, larger items or home-like improvements that relate to your disability needs, such as assistive technology or specific home modifications (depending on eligibility and how your plan is written).

Key takeaway: Core supports day-to-day needs, Capacity Building helps you improve long-term ability, and Capital funds specific larger items or improvements.

Next, we’ll look at what each category can and can’t usually cover, plus how to plan spending so your supports line up with your goals.