NDIS Core Supports Explained: What Can You Use Your Funding For?

Core Supports are one of the four main support budgets you can have in your NDIS plan. They're designed to help with everyday activities, disability-related needs and getting involved in your community. 

Depending on your plan, Core funding might help pay for things like support with personal care, cleaning, preparing meals, some everyday disability-related items or support to participate in your community. 

Think of Core as the everyday toolkit in your NDIS plan. You won't need every tool, but the ones included in your plan are there to help with your day-to-day support needs. 

What are the Core Support categories? 

Your Core Supports budget can contain funding across three main support categories. 

1. Assistance with Daily Life 

This is funding for support with everyday tasks and activities. 

Depending on your individual needs and plan, this might include support workers helping with: 

personal care 

cooking 

cleaning 

yard maintenance 

other everyday tasks. 

The idea is to provide disability-related support with daily life and help you live as independently as possible. 
 
Important: If you've heard about the NDIS funding changes beginning from 1 October 2026, it's worth knowing that essential day-to-day supports such as personal care, help with daily tasks and disability accommodation are protected from this funding reset. 

Source: [what-October-budget-reset-means] 

Source: [NDIS: What are Core Supports?] 

2. Consumables 

Consumables are everyday items you may need because of your disability. 

This can include things such as continence products and some low-cost assistive technology. 

For example, the NDIS gives examples including non-slip bathmats and small devices that assist with dressing, eating, drinking or cleaning. 

There are rules around what NDIS funding can pay for, so having money in your Consumables budget doesn't mean every everyday purchase is covered. 

We'll unpack this properly in our dedicated NDIS Consumables guide. 

Source: [NDIS: What are Core Supports?] 

3. Assistance with Social and Community Participation 

This funding can provide support to help you participate in your community and pursue personal interests. 

For example, you might use eligible funding for a support worker who helps you participate more independently in community, group or social activities. 

An important distinction here is that funding for support to participate doesn't automatically mean the NDIS pays for every cost associated with the activity itself. 

We'll cover this separately because it's an area where it's easy to get your wires crossed. 
 
Important: There's also a similarly named Capacity Building area called “Increased Social and Community Participation”. A simple way to think about the difference is that Core can provide support to help you participate now, while Capacity Building supports are designed to help build your skills and independence over time. The October 2026 funding changes can affect supports across these areas, so check which category your funding actually sits within. 

Source: [NDIS: What are Core Supports?] 
 
What's changing from 1 October 2026? 

From 1 October 2026, the Australian Government is beginning a reset of funding allocations for two areas of NDIS support: 

• Social, Economic and Community Participation support allocations will be reduced by 50%. 
• Improved Daily Living Skills support allocations will be reduced by 10%. 

This doesn't mean everyone's funding changes on 1 October. The changes will be introduced gradually as plans are created, reassessed or renewed, phasing in over about 12 months. You can continue using your current plan until it is updated. 

It's also important that these percentages refer to budget allocations, not necessarily the amount of support a participant actually uses. Because some participants don't currently spend their full allocation, the real impact may be smaller and will differ from person to person. 

Essential supports including personal care, help with daily tasks and disability accommodation are protected. For the latest details, see the Australian Government's official Funding Changes for NDIS Supports guidance. 
Source: [about-the-changes-to-the-NDIS] 

Is Core funding flexible? 

One of the important features of Core Supports is flexibility. 

The NDIA says Core funding can be used across and within its support categories to purchase eligible NDIS supports that help you work towards your goals. 

Think of your Core budget like having three pockets in the same backpack. 

Your plan might initially allocate different amounts to different pockets, but where the funding is flexible, you can have some ability to use the overall Core budget across those categories. 

That doesn't mean Core funding is a free-for-all. 

Whatever you purchase still needs to be an NDIS support the rules allow your funding to pay for, be in line with your plan, and fit within the funding available to you. 

Your plan will tell you whether a support is flexible or stated. 
 
Important: With new funding arrangements beginning from 1 October 2026, don't assume flexibility means you can automatically move funding to cover a reduction elsewhere. Check your updated plan and the current NDIS guidance before changing how you use your funding. 

Source: [NDIS: Guide to NDIS support budgets] 

Does everyone have Core Supports? 

Not necessarily. 

Every NDIS plan is individual, and you only receive funding for support budgets and categories relevant to your disability support needs. 

Two participants can therefore have very different Core budgets. 

That's why it's important to look at your own plan rather than assuming that because another participant can use NDIS funding for something, you can too. 

How do I know how much Core funding I have left? 

You can check your available NDIS funding through the participant portals or the my NDIS app. 

If your Core Supports are plan-managed, your plan manager can also help you keep track of your funding and spending and if you use Kismet Healthcare as your plan manager, you can track all of your funding through the easy to use mobile app.

Knowing the original budget is useful, but keeping an eye on what's actually being spent throughout your plan is just as important.