NDIS Budget Tracker: A Free Template to Track Your Plan
A free NDIS budget tracker template to record spending, watch your running balance across Core, Capacity Building and Capital, and act early if funds run low.
What this tracker is for
The budget tracker template (copy and use)
Tracking Core vs Capacity Building vs Capital
What to do if a category is running low
Worked example: catching a problem early
Common mistakes and edge cases
Use the free Novida budget tools
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to track my budget if I am plan-managed?
It is not compulsory, because your plan manager keeps the official records and pays invoices. But keeping your own tracker is strongly worth it. It lets you spot double-charges, price errors, or supports you did not authorise, and it means you always know your balance without waiting for a statement. Compare your numbers to your plan manager's statement and the myplace portal regularly.
Can I move money between Core, Capacity Building and Capital?
Usually not freely. Core is generally the most flexible, so you can often move funding between different Core supports. Capacity Building is typically tied to specific goals or sub-categories, and Capital is usually locked to a specific quoted item like a piece of equipment. Because the rules differ, track each category separately. Check your own plan or ask the NDIA, as flexibility can vary.
How do I know if I am spending too fast?
Compare your balance to how far you are through your plan. As a rough guide, if you are halfway through the plan period you would expect a steadily-used category to be around half spent. If a category is dropping much faster, act early rather than waiting until it hits zero. A support coordinator can help you re-plan.
What should I do if I run out of funding in a category?
First confirm the numbers against the portal and any plan-manager statement, as errors happen. Then look at whether you can rebalance within a flexible category like Core. Talk to a support coordinator, plan manager, or advocate about your options. Only the NDIA can change your plan funding, which may involve a plan review. No provider can promise you extra money.
Is this tracker affected by the NDIS reforms?
The tool itself is not. You will always benefit from a clear record of your spending. Critical daily-living and personal-care supports are not part of the announced participation budget reset. Some changes are proposed to phase in from 1 October 2026 and later, but dates have shifted before, so confirm current details with the NDIA.