What You Can and Cannot Claim
The principle behind what the NDIS will and won't fund: disability-related, reasonable and necessary, not an everyday cost, not another system's job.
One of the most common questions in the scheme is simple to ask and surprisingly deep to answer: can I claim this? Rather than memorising endless lists, it helps to understand the principle behind every decision. This guide explains the test the NDIS applies, walks through what it means, and gives everyday examples of yes, no, and it depends, so you can judge for yourself.
The claiming principle
Disability-related and reasonable & necessary
Not an everyday living cost
Not another system's responsibility
Everyday examples: yes, no, and it depends
When you're not sure
Frequently asked questions
What can I claim on the NDIS?
Broadly, supports that are related to your disability, reasonable and necessary, not an everyday living cost everyone has, and not the responsibility of another system like health or education. If a support clearly connects to your disability and your goals and meets that test, it's on firm ground.…
What does 'reasonable and necessary' mean?
It's the test behind NDIS funding. A support generally needs to relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals, represent value for money, be likely to be effective, and be the kind of thing the NDIS should fund rather than another system. A support that clearly connects to your disability…
Why won't the NDIS pay for everyday costs?
Because the scheme doesn't fund the ordinary costs of daily life that everyone has, like groceries, rent and general bills, which the whole community meets for itself. Where a disability creates an extra cost above what a person would ordinarily face, though, that additional disability-related…
Can I claim things another system should provide?
Generally no. Some supports are the responsibility of other systems, such as health, education, housing or justice, and the NDIS is designed to work alongside them rather than replace them. If a support belongs elsewhere, the answer is to approach the right system, not to go without. Our guide When…
What if I'm not sure whether I can claim something?
Check before you spend, not after. Claiming for something that turns out not to be allowed can cause real problems, especially if you self-manage. Your plan manager, LAC or support coordinator can help you work it out, and Getting Help to Manage Your Plan sets out who to ask.
Are there things that are only partly claimable?
Yes. Many supports sit in the middle, where only the disability-related portion counts, or where evidence and your specific plan decide it. A meal isn't funded, for example, but disability-related support to prepare or eat it might be. When something is borderline, that's the moment to check before…