Improved daily living

A Capacity Building category that funds therapy, assessments and training to build skills for everyday life.

What it means

Improved Daily Living is a Capacity Building support category in an NDIS plan. It funds supports that help a person build the skills and independence they need for everyday life. Rather than paying for someone to do things for you, it focuses on helping you develop your own abilities over time.

Supports funded under this category can include therapy, assessments, training and some allied health supports. The common thread is that they are aimed at building capacity, helping you learn, practise and improve skills that make daily living easier and more independent.

In practice

Because Improved Daily Living sits in the Capacity Building part of a plan, funding in this category is generally used within the category rather than moved freely to other categories. This is different from the Core budget, where funds can often be used more flexibly across the supports within it.

In everyday terms, this means the funding is set aside for the capacity building supports it is meant for, such as working with a therapist or taking part in skill development. It is worth checking how your particular supports are described and quoted so the work you want to do fits within what this category funds. If you are unsure, your support coordinator or plan manager can help you understand how to use it.

A real example

For example, Daniel used his Improved Daily Living funding to work with an occupational therapist who helped him build the skills and confidence to prepare his own meals safely. Over several sessions he practised cooking tasks and worked out strategies that suited him. The focus was on building his independence for the long term, rather than having someone cook for him each day.

Improved daily living — FAQs

What does Improved Daily Living fund?
It funds Capacity Building supports that help you build skills and independence for everyday life. This can include therapy, assessments, training and some allied health supports. The focus is on developing your own abilities over time rather than having tasks done for you. The exact supports depend on your goals and what has been assessed as reasonable and necessary for you.
How is this different from the Core budget?
Improved Daily Living sits in the Capacity Building part of your plan and is about building your skills and independence. The Core budget is more about supports for everyday activities and assistance. Capacity Building funding like this is generally used within its own category, while Core funding can often be used more flexibly across the supports within it.
Can I move this funding to another category?
Generally no. Because Improved Daily Living is Capacity Building funding, it is usually used within that category rather than moved freely to other categories. This is different from Core, which tends to be more flexible. If you are unsure how your funding can be used, your support coordinator or plan manager can explain how your particular plan works.
Is allied health covered under this category?
Some allied health supports can be funded under Improved Daily Living, along with therapy, assessments and training. Whether a particular support fits depends on how it is described and whether it is aimed at building your capacity and independence. It helps to check how your supports are quoted so they match what this category is intended to fund.
Who can help me use this funding?
If you have a support coordinator, they can help you find and connect with the right supports and understand how the category works. A plan manager can help with paying providers and keeping track of the budget. It is worth asking them how your Improved Daily Living funding is meant to be used so you can make the most of it toward your goals.

Explore more NDIS resources

Official NDIS sources

Novida is an independent directory, not the NDIA. We explain each form in plain English and link you to the official copy — always download and submit the current version from the official website, as forms are updated from time to time.