NDIS Money Basics: Budgets, claims & receipts

What counts as NDIS spending (and what doesn’t)

In general, NDIS spending must be for supports that relate to your NDIS goals and are provided under your plan. If your plan is managed by you or your nominees, you may need to pay first and then request reimbursement. If your plan is managed by the NDIS Plan Manager, you may be able to use invoices and pay less out-of-pocket. For plan management questions, MyMoney NDIS (www.planmanager.net.au) can help you understand what you can claim and how invoices should be set up.

What usually counts: supports in your plan categories that are delivered by approved/registered providers where required, such as allied health sessions, therapy, assistive technology, home modifications (where approved), and consumables when they’re part of your approved budget or service agreement. Costs that are directly linked to the support—like travel costs charged by your provider for face-to-face sessions—may also count if they are itemised correctly and align with what’s in your plan. If you’re unsure, use receipts/invoices and your funding category to check before you pay.

What usually doesn’t count: things not linked to your plan goals or not included in your funding, everyday living costs that aren’t considered disability-related, and services provided before the support start date (unless your plan allows it). You generally can’t claim for family’s time, rent, utilities, or general household items unless they are specifically approved as part of an NDIS support and delivered by the right type of provider. Also be careful with “bundled” invoices—NDIS often needs clear itemisation so the Plan Manager can match charges to your plan.

Key takeaway: If it’s not clearly connected to your plan, your goals, and an approved support type (with itemised evidence), it may not be claimable.

If you’re comparing providers, My Care Finders can help you understand what supports are typically included in pricing and what evidence you should ask for (like tax invoices, service statements, and receipts). Before you buy anything, check whether your plan management arrangement requires you to submit claims to someone like MyMoney NDIS, and ask your provider to include the right details so the claim process is smoother.