Understanding Your NDIS Budget Like a Spreadsheet: Track, Forecast & Prevent Shortfalls

Your NDIS plan lists support categories and their funding amounts, but understanding what these numbers represent is the first step to managing them well. Think of each category as a separate column in a spreadsheet.

Core supports (like daily activities, social participation, and transport) and Capacity Building supports (like therapy or employment) are your main 'sheets'. Within these, you have line items. For example, 'Improved Daily Living' is a line item under Capacity Building. This money is allocated for specific supports, like physiotherapy or occupational therapy sessions.

It's crucial to understand if funds are consumable or ongoing. Consumable funds are for one-off purchases or services with a clear end date, like a piece of assistive technology. Ongoing funds are for regular services that continue throughout your plan, like weekly support worker shifts. Different providers may bill these line items differently—some charge per hour, some per session, and some per km for transport—so always check their service agreements.

Finally, note the 'stated supports' section. These are recommendations for how funds should be used but are not locked-in. You have flexibility within the broader category rules set by the NDIS.