The Capacity Building Budget Explained
The NDIS capacity building budget funds therapy, skills and independence. A plain guide to its goal-linked categories and why it's less flexible than Core.
Your NDIS plan usually holds three types of funding, and the one that grows your skills and independence is the Capacity Building budget. Unlike your Core budget, it's split into fixed categories tied to your goals, and the money generally can't be moved between them. This guide explains what the Capacity Building budget pays for, how its categories work, and how to make the most of it before your…
What the Capacity Building budget is for
The categories inside Capacity Building
Why it's less flexible than your Core budget
How you claim against it
Making the most of it before your plan ends
How Capacity Building fits with your other budgets
When to ask for more
Frequently asked questions
What does the NDIS capacity building budget pay for?
It funds supports that build your skills, independence and connections toward your plan goals: therapy and allied health, support coordination, employment supports, behaviour support, health and wellbeing coaching, and plan management. It's an investment in what you can do yourself, separate from…
Can I move money between capacity building categories?
Generally no. Each capacity building category is stated to its own outcome, so you usually can't shift funding from one category to another, or into your Core budget. There's some flexibility within a category. If the split doesn't fit your needs, ask for a plan reassessment.
Is capacity building funding flexible like Core?
No. Core is broadly flexible across its categories, but capacity building is locked to categories tied to your goals. This is the key difference between stated and flexible funding. You choose which providers to use within a category, but not to move the money between categories.
What happens to unused capacity building funds?
Unused capacity building funding doesn't carry over to your next plan, and underspending can prompt questions about whether a category is still needed. It's not a reason to spend for the sake of it, but it's worth using therapy and supports steadily and gathering reports that evidence your ongoing…