In-kind supports

Supports in your plan already paid for by a government arrangement, so you use a set provider rather than choosing your own.

What it means

In-kind supports are supports included in your plan that have already been paid for through an arrangement between governments and a particular provider. Because the funding has been committed in advance, you use that set provider for those supports rather than choosing your own. The support still appears in your plan, but the provider is effectively already decided.

These arrangements date from the way certain services were funded as the NDIS was established. Rather than the money flowing through your plan for you to spend, it was allocated ahead of time to a specific provider. For the participant, this means a particular support comes tied to a particular organisation.

In practice

If you have an in-kind support in your plan, it usually means that for that specific service you receive it from the nominated provider rather than shopping around. This can feel different from the rest of your plan, where you may have more freedom to choose. It is worth understanding which supports, if any, are in-kind so you know where your choices are more limited.

Over time the NDIS has been moving away from in-kind arrangements, so they have become less common than they once were. As this shift continues, more supports are funded in the usual way, giving participants greater choice over who provides them. If you are unsure whether a support in your plan is in-kind, you can ask your planner or support coordinator to explain how that particular support works.

A real example

For example, Eliska noticed that one of the supports in her plan was listed as in-kind, which meant it was delivered by a specific provider that had already been funded to provide it. Unlike her other supports, she could not choose a different organisation for that service. When her plan was next updated, that support was funded in the usual way, giving her the freedom to choose her own provider.

In-kind supports — FAQs

What are in-kind supports?
In-kind supports are supports in your plan that have already been paid for through an arrangement between governments and a particular provider. Because the funding was committed in advance, you receive that support from the set provider rather than choosing your own. The support still appears in your plan, but the organisation delivering it has effectively already been decided.
Why can't I choose my own provider for an in-kind support?
Because the funding for that support has already been committed to a specific provider in advance, rather than flowing through your plan for you to spend. This means the provider is set for that particular service. It differs from other supports in your plan, where you often have more freedom to choose who delivers them and how.
Are in-kind supports still common?
They have become less common over time. The NDIS has been moving away from in-kind arrangements, so more supports are now funded in the usual way, giving participants greater choice over who provides them. You may still come across in-kind supports in some plans, but the general direction has been to reduce how often they are used.
How do I know if a support is in-kind?
Your plan should indicate how each support is provided, and in-kind supports are tied to a particular provider rather than left to your choice. If you are not sure, you can ask your planner or support coordinator to explain how a specific support works, including whether it is in-kind and what that means for who delivers it.
What happens to an in-kind support when my plan is reviewed?
As the NDIS moves away from in-kind arrangements, supports that were once in-kind may be funded in the usual way when plans are updated. This can give you more choice over who provides that support in future. If you want to understand what might change for a particular support, it is worth asking your planner or support coordinator.

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