NDIS Support Categories: A Complete Guide
A plain-English guide to NDIS support categories: what Core, Capital and Capacity Building fund, how budgets work, and what is changing.
What are NDIS support categories?
The three budget types at a glance
Core Supports: your everyday funding
Capital Supports: equipment and modifications
Capacity Building: skills, therapy and coordination
How flexible is my funding, really?
A quick tour of where common supports sit
What is changing under the NDIS reforms
What the reset does and does not touch
Reading your plan: a practical step-by-step
Common pitfalls to avoid
Where to get help and what to do next
Frequently asked questions
How many NDIS support categories are there?
There are three broad budget types — Core, Capital and Capacity Building — and within them sit around 15 smaller categories, such as Assistance with Daily Life, Assistive Technology and Improved Daily Living. The exact categories in your plan depend on your assessed needs, so not everyone has all of them. A new planning framework rolling out from 2027 is designed to replace this three-budget structure with more flexible budgets over time.
Can I move money between NDIS support categories?
It depends on the category. Most Core funding can be spent flexibly across Core categories, but Capital funding is tied to the specific item quoted and approved, and Capacity Building is spent category by category with no moving between them. Your own plan and how it is managed can change these rules, so check your plan or confirm with your plan manager or the NDIA before you spend.
Which category covers therapy like OT, physio or speech?
Therapy supports such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology and psychology usually sit under Improved Daily Living, which is a Capacity Building category. Because Capacity Building is not flexible between categories, therapy funding generally cannot be redirected to other supports. Our NDIS Therapy Supports guide explains each profession in more detail.
Are my support categories being cut in the reforms?
Critical daily-living and personal-care supports are not part of the participation changes. The main cut targets social, civic and community participation allocations, reducing them by roughly half progressively from 1 October 2026 as plans reassess or renew, with capacity-building daily-activity allocations cut by around 10%. The real impact depends on how much of these supports you currently use, and dates have already shifted once, so confirm the current position with the NDIA.
What if my plan does not have enough in a category?
You can request a plan reassessment if your needs have changed, though reassessment rules are tightening and stronger evidence is now expected. If a decision does not reflect your needs, you can seek a review and, if needed, go to the Administrative Review Tribunal, with extra appeals-advocacy funding available in 2026-27. An independent advocate or your support coordinator can help you prepare.