NDIS Stated vs Flexible Supports Explained

Flexible funding gives you more choice about which eligible NDIS supports you buy. You may be able to use it across different support categories within the same funding component.

For example, flexible Core Supports can include:

• Assistance with Daily Life.
• Consumables.
• Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation.
• Transport for eligible provider-delivered transport supports.

This Transport category is different from the regular transport payments some participants receive through Recurring Supports.

Not every Core support is flexible. Always check your plan.

Read the NDIS guide to flexible support categories.

Imagine your plan has:

• $8,000 for Assistance with Daily Life.
• $4,000 for Social and Community Participation.

If both categories are flexible, belong to the same funding component and have the same management arrangement, you may be able to use the combined $12,000 across eligible supports in those categories.

This doesn't increase your total funding. It simply gives you more choice about how to use it.

You still need to follow your plan's rules and any funding periods.

Stated funding must be used for the support or purpose described in your plan.

For example, your plan might include stated funding for:

• A particular type of therapy.
• Specialist disability accommodation.
• Certain assistive technology.
• A specific support delivered in a particular way.

You cannot simply use stated funding for a different support category.

Read the NDIS guide to how supports are described in your plan.

Not always. Stated funding must be used for the support or purpose described in your plan.

But you may still be able to choose:

• Which eligible provider you use.
• How often you receive the support.
• Which eligible services you buy within that category.

Your choices depend on how specifically the support is described in your plan.

For example, if your plan states that funding is for speech pathology, you cannot simply spend it on an unrelated support.

But you may still be able to choose your speech pathologist, unless your plan places specific limits on the provider or how the support is delivered.

Yes.

Your funding may be self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed.

Flexible Core funding can generally be used across eligible flexible categories when they have the same management arrangement and are part of the same funding component.

For example, two flexible Core categories that are both plan-managed may share an available budget.

But you shouldn't assume funding can move between categories with different management arrangements.

Check your NDIS plan.

Look for wording such as:

• This is a flexible support.
• This is a stated support.

Some newer plans show funding as separate funding components rather than the older budget layout.

Even if two funding components are described as flexible, you cannot automatically move funding between them.

The important thing is to check how your own plan describes the funding.

If you're unsure, ask your NDIS contact or plan manager.

Read the NDIS guide to support budgets and categories.