Navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to understanding what reasonable and necessary supports are available to help you live your best life. If you’re unsure what reasonable and necessary supports are or how to ensure your NDIS plan covers what you need, you’re not alone. Many participants of national disability insurance scheme feel the same way!
In this guide, we’ll break down what these reasonable and necessary supports under the NDIS actually mean, how they are funded, and what kind of services and supports you may be able to access — all in a way that’s easy to understand and cost effective.
What Are ‘Reasonable and Necessary Supports’ in the NDIS?
The term reasonable and necessary is at the heart of how the NDIS funds supports for people with disabilities. But what does reasonable and necessary that really mean?
According to the NDIS Act 2013, necessary supports for disability are those that provide those that help an individual pursue their goals, increase independence, take part in the community, and improve daily living. These supports are funded if they meet certain criteria, including being value for money and directly related to a person’s disability.
So, if you’ve ever wondered whether the NDIS will fund a particular service or support need, understanding this concept is essential.
How Does the NDIS Decide Which Supports to Fund?
When deciding what NDIS supports to provide to fund, the NDIS takes into account a few key points:
1. Is It Directly Related to Your Disability?
To be funded, a disability support amount must be clearly linked to your individual disability support needs — not just a general life expense like groceries or rent.
2. Is It Likely to Be Effective?
The support must help you pursue your goals, become more independent, or improve your participation in everyday life.
3. Is It Value for Money?
Supports must be cost effective, meaning the NDIS will fund options that give the best range of results for the least range of cost.
4. Does It Take Into Account Informal Supports?
Family, friends, home,, and community supports are considered — the NDIS looks at what you already have before deciding to fund additional services.
5. Is It Something the NDIS Is Responsible for?
Some disability supports are provided by other government services, like health or education. The NDIS only funds supports that are not already covered elsewhere.
Examples of Necessary Supports the NDIS May Fund
Now that you know the criteria, let’s look at some examples of what the NDIS often funds:
✅ Funded Supports:
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Daily personal activities (e.g., showering, dressing).
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Therapies (e.g., physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy).
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Assistive technology (wheelchairs, communication devices).
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Home modifications (e.g., ramps, rails).
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Transport assistance (getting to work or social activities).
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Skills building (like budgeting, cooking, catching public transport).
These supports are considered reasonable and necessary to help you live independently and pursue goals under your NDIS plan.
❌ Not Funded Supports:
Some things the NDIS will not fund include:
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Everyday costs like groceries and rent (unless specifically tied to your disability).
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Medical treatments already covered by the healthcare system.
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Anything illegal or unsafe.
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Supports that don’t directly relate to disability needs.
Understanding these exclusions can help prevent issues when requesting funding for new supports.
What Makes a Support Reasonable?
The word “reasonable” in reasonable and necessary means that the support makes sense for your individual unique situation. If a support will make your life better, help you access the community, or give you more independence — and it’s not something typically provided by family or other services — for example, then it may be considered reasonable.
For example, if you want people to join a community group but need a support worker to assist, that’s likely a reasonable support. But if you want people on the NDIS to pay for a holiday overseas, that would generally not be considered reasonable unless it directly addresses a critical disability need.
How Re.Connect Support Services Can Help You Access Necessary Supports
At Re.Connect Support Services, we know that figuring out which supports you can access can be confusing. That’s why our Support Coordinators are here to help you:
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Understand your NDIS plan and what necessary supports look like.
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Connect you to trusted service providers who fit your support needs.
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Advocate on your behalf to make sure your plan includes the right range of supports.
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Explain what’s covered and what isn’t — so you don’t waste time or energy.
We’re here to make the NDIS process easier, so you can focus on living life — not paperwork.
Final Thoughts: You Deserve the Right Supports
Finding and securing the reasonable and necessary supports for under the NDIS doesn’t have to be a struggle. With the right guidance and support, you can get many supports to help you achieve your goals and live more independently. If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about what you can access through the NDIS, Re.Connect Support Services is ready to help you navigate your options.
Contact and join us today to start getting the right support and support needs in place for your life.
