Transport funding

Funding to help with transport costs where disability affects your ability to travel independently.

What it means

Transport funding is NDIS support that helps with the cost of getting around when a person's disability affects their ability to travel independently. It can help someone reach the places that matter to them, such as activities, work, study or appointments, when their disability makes it hard to use everyday transport on their own.

It is important to know what transport funding is not. It is different from provider travel, which is about a support worker's travel time or costs when they come to you or take you somewhere. Transport funding is about the person's own transport needs. It also does not usually cover the everyday travel costs that anyone would have regardless of disability, because the NDIS funds supports that are related to a person's disability, not general living costs that everybody shares.

In practice

There are rules about how transport funding works, and the way it is provided can vary from plan to plan. For some people it is set up as a regular amount to help with the extra transport costs their disability creates. How it is managed, and what it can be spent on, should be explained in the plan itself.

Because the details matter, it is worth checking your plan and talking with your planner or support coordinator about how your transport funding works, what it is meant to cover and how to claim it. If you are unsure whether a particular trip or cost is covered, ask before you spend, so you can be confident you are using the funding the way it is intended.

A real example

For example, Marcus cannot drive and finds public transport very difficult because of his disability. His plan includes transport funding to help with the cost of taxis to get to his weekly activities and appointments. This is separate from the travel his support workers claim when they come to help him at home.

Transport funding — FAQs

What is the difference between transport funding and provider travel?
Transport funding helps with your own cost of getting around when your disability affects your ability to travel independently. Provider travel is about a support worker's travel, such as their time or costs coming to you or taking you somewhere. They cover different things, so it helps to check which one applies to a particular cost before you claim it.
Does transport funding cover all my travel costs?
No. Transport funding relates to the extra travel needs created by your disability, not the everyday transport costs that anyone would have. It also is not meant to cover general living costs that everybody shares. If you are unsure whether a certain trip is covered, check your plan or ask your support coordinator before you spend.
What can I use transport funding for?
It can help you get to the places that matter, such as activities, work, study or appointments, when your disability makes travelling independently hard. Exactly what your funding covers and how to claim it should be set out in your plan. If anything is unclear, your planner or support coordinator can explain what your transport funding is meant to be used for.
How is transport funding managed in my plan?
This can vary from plan to plan. For some people it is set up as a regular amount to help with disability-related transport costs. The way it is managed and what it can be spent on should be explained in your plan. Reading your plan and asking your support coordinator will help you understand how yours works.
Why does the NDIS treat transport this way?
The NDIS funds supports that relate to a person's disability, not general costs that everyone has. Transport funding is aimed at the extra travel needs your disability creates, which is why it does not usually cover everyday costs anyone would face. Understanding this helps explain what the funding is for and how it fits with the rest of your plan.

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