Can the NDIS Pay for Meal Preparation?

Yes, the NDIS may fund disability-related support with preparing meals if you need that assistance because of your disability and have appropriate funding in your plan. That could mean having a support worker help you prepare or cook meals. 

The important distinction is between the support required to prepare your meal and the ordinary cost of the food itself. 

Source: [NDIS: What are Core Supports?] 

What meal preparation support can the NDIS fund? 

Assistance with Daily Life can include support with cooking. 

For example, if your disability makes preparing a meal independently difficult, a support worker might help you: 

• prepare ingredients 
• cook meals 
• build skills around meal preparation 
• complete related everyday tasks. 

Exactly what support is appropriate depends on your individual disability-related needs, goals and plan. 

Does the NDIS pay for my groceries? 

Generally, no. 

Food and groceries are ordinary day-to-day living costs that people usually pay themselves. Think of it as the difference between: 

• the meal 

and 

• the disability-related help you need to prepare the meal. 

The NDIS may fund eligible disability-related support. That doesn't mean it picks up your weekly supermarket bill. 

Source: [NDIS: Guide to your NDIS home and living options] 

What about prepared meal delivery? 

This can be more complicated than having a support worker help you cook. 

Current NDIS guidance includes nutrition and meal preparation within disability-related health supports in some circumstances, and the way preparation and delivery costs are treated can depend on the participant's needs and funding. 

So if you're considering using NDIS funding for prepared meal delivery, check the current rules and your individual plan before signing up. 

Source: [NDIS: Disability-related health supports] 

Is meal preparation part of Core Supports? 

Cooking is specifically listed by the NDIS as an everyday task that Assistance with Daily Life funding may help with. Assistance with Daily Life sits within Core Supports. 

Source: [NDIS: What are Core Supports?]