If there’s one thing that’s spoken about alongside the NDIS regularly, it is transport. Whether it’s NDIS transport allowance, NDIS travel allowance, or NDIS mobility allowance, it can be very confusing to know what it all means when it comes to your own funding.
This basic guide to NDIS transport will help you understand how your NDIS transport funding is decided and how you can best use Hireup for transport support.
Our guide covers:
- What is NDIS transport funding?
- Who is eligible?
- How do I make sure I get my transport allowance?
- How is my transport funded in my NDIS plan?
- Does transport cover funding for my support worker?
- What if I only need support with public transport?
- Does transport funding include modifying my car?
Firstly, what is transport funding?
Although we’re doing a lot less travelling at the moment, we still need to get from A to B. Whether it’s going to get groceries, getting to and from medical appointments or making it to work on time, one thing that is essential is having access to the right transport.
If you are an NDIS participant with an NDIS plan, transport funding is the amount of money allocated by the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) to help you get where you need to go. We all have different needs, for example you may use a taxi every day or you might use a different NDIS transport service only once a week. The amount of transport you need and the kind of transport you use is taken into account when your transport funding is allocated.
How is my NDIS transport funding determined?
If public transport is hard for you to access, the NDIS can provide funding for using taxis, rideshares and community transport. To get transport funding included in your plan, you have to meet the reasonable and necessary criteria.
Your transport support needs will have to meet the following criteria for funding:
- Is it directly related to your disability?
- Is it something other than a day-to-day living expense?
- Is it good value for money?
- Does it help you achieve your NDIS goals or become more active in the community?
- Is it unreasonable for your informal support network to provide the support?
- Is the NDIS the only way you can fund the support?
How do I make sure I have the right transport allowance?
When applying for your funding or in your next plan review, it’s important to highlight any reasons why it’s unrealistic for you to use public transport such as buses, trains and trams. This will make sure your transport is well considered in your NDIS plan.
For new participants with an NDIS package, transport support is divided into three levels of support needs:
- Level 1 - if you’re not working, studying or attending any day programs, but still need transport to get out and about in the community, the NDIS will provide up to $1,606 per year.
- Level 2 - if you’re working or studying part-time, going to day programs and have other social, recreational and leisure commitments, the NDIS will provide up to $2,472 per year.
- Level 3 - If you’re working, looking for work, or studying for 15 hours or more a week and are unable to use public transport, the NDIS will provide up to $3,456 per year
Everyone is different and so are our support needs, that’s why in certain circumstances, the NDIS can choose to allocate more funding than has been set out in the levels above.
Travelling with a support worker
As well as funding to use transport services, the NDIS can also provide you with funding to pay a support worker to provide transport or be with you when you’re out and about.
For Hireup client Janelle, this is a big part of her support. Katie, one of her support workers, not only provides support with hydrotherapy, she also provides transport to and from the pool.
You can use transport support for things like: shopping trips, social events or transport to medical appointments.
Usually, this funding is included in your plan under Support Category 4 (Assistance with Social and Community Participation), which is also a Core support. No matter how you manage your funding, Hireup has a way for you to pay for your vehicle allowance.
We’ve put together a specific transport guide if you want your Hireup support to include transport support.
How do I claim transport?
If you’re not using support workers to access the community, your personal NDIS transport allowance is included in your NDIS plan under Support Category 2 (Transport Allowance), which is also a Core support.
Right now, the NDIS is allowing a little more flexibility with how you can use transport budgets. Now you can use either Category 2 and Category 4 budgets interchangeably.
What if I only need support with public transport?
Accessing transport, in particular public transport, is often a big part of building your independence. If your NDIS goals are to build your independence by using transport to travel on your own, you may also be able to get funding that is specific to your goals.
If this type of funding has been included in your plan, it will be under Support Category 15 (Improved Daily Living), which isn’t a core support. This type of support is what’s called Capacity Building support, which is support that helps you with your own skills, confidence or independence.
Does transport funding include modifying my car?
This is another category of funding altogether. If you do need to modify or use a specialised vehicle, you may be given some funding under Category 5 (Assistive Technology). The NDIS won’t pay for the entire vehicle but may cover some modifications you need to make.
Like your transport allowance, this funding will have to be considered as reasonable and necessary. For example, it has to offer value for money, so you may not be eligible for funding if there is an alternative, more cost effective solution for you. This decision will be different for everyone and will be allocated in your NDIS support plan.
