NDIS funded holiday: Can I use my plan to fund my travels?
While the NDIS can't fund your holiday itself and there's no funding category for travel and leisure, you may be able to claim some of the costs to support you on your holiday.
Planning a holiday is a very exciting time. Whether a short weekend break away from the hustle and bustle, an adventure within Australia or a dream escape overseas, holidays are a great way to experience the world. And if you’re an NDIS participant, you might wonder whether you can use your NDIS plan to cover the cost of your trip.
Can you bring a support worker on a trip?
During your travels, you may need a support worker by your side for assistance. The salary of support workers is usually covered in your NDIS plan, however, while travelling they will be working outside of their regular hours,so it’s important to plan your trip with your support worker and set out all expectations to determine the best outcome for your holiday.
If you’d prefer to hire a support worker in the location you’re visiting, Hireup can help you find a support worker in Australia who meets your support needs and is available during your travel dates. By using location filters and setting your preferences, you can meet workers who not only fit your needs but also share your interests.
Specific accommodation expenses
One of the key considerations while planning your holiday is the accommodation you choose. Ensuring that it meets your needs will make a big difference to your comfort levels during your stay. A hotel room with accessible features and amenities can potentially cost more, however, as this expense is directly related to your everyday needs, you may be able to use funds from your NDIS plan to pay for this.
Additional transport and baggage expenses
If you require accessible transport whilst travelling, you may be able to claim the difference in the price of hiring an accessible vehicle over a standard vehicle. For example, if the standard vehicle rental would cost you $400, and the wheelchair accessible vehicle would cost you $600, you may be able to claim the additional $200 you were charged because of your specific needs using your NDIS plan.
The same applies to extra baggage costs while travelling. Because your equipment is an essential part of your life, you may use your NDIS funds to cover the additional costs associated with transporting your equipment.
Can I use NDIS funding for a holiday overseas?
This will depend on your personal circumstances. If you are planning on travelling abroad for more than a month, the NDIS may be able to assist you with the costs of that trip but only with the expenses listed above and within the first six weeks of travel. You’ll likely need to pay using your own savings beyond that point as well as for any other expenses incurred during the trip.
It is best to contact the NDIS and inform them of your plans and circumstances as you may be able to receive an extension of the six weeks grace period. The NDIS suggests providing them with the below details before leaving the country:
- Duration of the trip
- Reason/s for travel
- Supports you require while travelling to inform reasons for NDIS funding
Will the difference in currency affect the billing?
The invoice provided abroad will likely be in foreign currency. The NDIS portal or your plan provider requires billing in Australian Dollars (AUD), so, it is highly encouraged to pay using a credit card whilst abroad. That way, the payment will be reflected in AUD on your credit card statement and claiming it after your holiday will be much easier.
Planning the holiday with your support worker
Hiring a support worker for the entirety of your holiday can quickly eat up your core supports budget or personal savings. That is why it is essential to plan ahead and involve your support worker very early in the process.
It is crucial to define whether they would like to travel with you and what level of care they would be able to provide while away. Discuss the daily hours you are both happy with and the costs covered for your support worker. It is best to have these details in writing to avoid any issues during your travels and after your return.
Hireup support worker Sarah went on a country music cruise trip with her client, Dan a few years ago.
“The highlight [of the cruise trip] was certainly all of the people that we met," Sarah says. "Even now, he will go to country music gigs and people will be like ‘Hey Dan’. It was incredibly rewarding to share that experience with Dan. As a support worker and as a client just appreciating that you can actually use your funding to do something like that. There’s opportunity there for people to understand a little bit more about how best to use their funding in creative ways."
Travelling with a group
An option that could see you save some money is travelling with a group that also needs support. Travelling together would mean you get to split the costs of the support workers with the people you’re away with. You could either organise your trip with people you know or get in touch with businesses that specialise in holidays for NDIS participants.