Informal Supports and the NDIS
What informal supports are, how the NDIA weighs family help in reasonable and necessary decisions, and why sustainable care matters for your own wellbeing.
Every day, families and friends provide care that never appears on an invoice — a lift to an appointment, help with cooking, a reassuring routine. The NDIS calls this 'informal support', and it plays a real part in how plans are built. This guide explains what informal supports are, how the agency weighs them, and why keeping your own care sustainable is something the system is meant to consider…
What informal supports are
How the agency weighs them
Sustainability of family care
You're not penalised for having family help
Bringing it to a planning meeting
Frequently asked questions
Will the NDIS reduce funding because I help out a lot?
The system is not designed to penalise families for providing care. It does consider what support is reasonably available informally, but it is also meant to weigh whether that care is sustainable. Describe your situation honestly so the plan reflects what is realistic.
What's the difference between informal and funded supports?
Informal supports are the unpaid help from family and friends. Funded supports are the disability-related services paid for in an NDIS plan. The agency funds reasonable and necessary supports on top of the informal, mainstream and community help already available.
Does the NDIS consider a carer's own health?
It is meant to. Sustainability of informal care is a relevant factor, so a carer's age, health, work and other responsibilities matter. If your caring role is becoming unsustainable, raise it clearly at planning, as it can affect what funded supports are reasonable and necessary.
Are community services counted the same as family help?
They are related but distinct. Mainstream services like health and education, and community supports open to everyone, are considered alongside informal family support. The NDIS complements all of these and funds the disability-specific supports they do not cover.
What if I think informal support was over-counted in a plan?
You can ask the planner to explain the decision, provide more detail about what is realistic, and seek a reassessment or a review of the decision if needed. An independent advocate can help you prepare and present your case for free.