Can the NDIS fund cleaning?
Often yes, but not automatically. The NDIS can fund house cleaning as domestic assistance when your disability means you can't do it and no one else can.
It depends, and often the answer is yes. The NDIS can fund house cleaning as "domestic assistance" when your disability genuinely stops you doing it yourself and there's no family member or housemate who could reasonably help. It isn't funded just because cleaning is a chore you'd rather skip — it has to be reasonable and necessary because of your disability.
The short answer
How the NDIS decides
What's usually covered — and what isn't
How to ask, and what evidence helps
A realistic picture
Frequently asked questions
Will the NDIS pay for cleaning if I just don't have time?
No. Being busy or working long hours is something everyone manages, so it's treated as an ordinary living cost. Cleaning is funded only when your disability genuinely prevents you from doing it and no one else can reasonably help.
What budget does cleaning come from?
It sits in your Core budget under Assistance with Daily Life, as "domestic assistance". Core funding is flexible, so you can usually direct it to the cleaning support you need without a separate approval for each visit.
Do I need an OT report to get cleaning funded?
It's not strictly required, but it helps a great deal. An OT can spell out which tasks you can't safely do and why, which gives the planner clear evidence that the support is reasonable and necessary because of your disability.
Can the NDIS fund cleaning if I live with family?
It can, but the NDIA will consider whether your family could reasonably help. If they're already your carers or can't take it on, cleaning support may still be funded — explain your household honestly at your planning meeting.