Can the NDIS fund a lift or recliner chair?
It depends. A specialised lift or pressure-care chair with an OT assessment can be funded. A standard comfort recliner isn't. Here's the difference.
It depends. The NDIS can fund a specialised lift, pressure-care or tilt-in-space chair as assistive technology when an occupational therapist assessment shows it meets a disability-related need. A standard comfort recliner you'd buy anyway is not funded — the deciding factor is whether the chair does something an ordinary chair can't.
The short answer
How the NDIS decides
What's covered and what isn't
How to ask and what evidence helps
The realistic wrap-up
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a funded chair and a normal recliner?
A funded chair provides specialised function an ordinary chair can't — powered lift-to-stand, pressure relief, tilt-in-space or custom postural support tied to a disability need. A standard comfort recliner is treated as everyday furniture and isn't funded, even if it reclines.
Do I need an OT assessment for a lift chair?
Yes. A lift or pressure-care chair is mid-to-higher-cost assistive technology, so the NDIS expects an OT assessment identifying the disability-related need and the specific features required, plus a supplier quote for the recommended model.
Will the NDIS pay the difference if I want a fancier chair?
The NDIS funds the chair that meets your assessed need and is value for money. If you want extra features beyond that, you may be able to pay the difference yourself, but check with your plan manager or the supplier first about how that works.