Experienced Leap in! plan manager, Minell, shares advice for using your NDIS Plan when travelling with a person with disability.
Planning a holiday can be exciting and a little overwhelming too. If you or your child has NDIS supports, you might be wondering what can be included while you’re away. Here are some of the questions we’re asked most often and how the NDIS may be able to help.
1. Will the NDIS pay for our family holiday?
Not the holiday itself. The NDIS does not fund general travel expenses like flights, hotels, meals or entry to attractions. These are considered everyday living costs.
What it may fund is the disability-related support you or your child usually receives at home. If you have funded support through Core Supports, it may be possible to continue these supports while travelling.
Short term respite is not for holidays.
Short Term Respite (STR) provides a safe place to stay when your usual supports are unavailable or need a break. It’s not for holidays or recreational travel and can’t be used to pay for supports while you’re on holidays. STR is funded from your Core supports budget under Assistance with Daily Life as a specific line item or stated support in your plan.
2. What can be funded while we are away?
Support worker hours are the most common funded item. This might include help with:
- Personal care, mobility or communication
- Accessing the community in an unfamiliar place
- Maintaining regular routines.
Some people also continue therapies such as speech or physio using telehealth, or arrange short-term equipment hire at their destination, such as a hoist, shower chair or bed.
Important to know
The NDIS is unlikely to fund additional support hours just because you’re travelling.
Supports must already be included in your plan and considered reasonable and necessary in a holiday setting.
If you’re a parent or carer of a child, funding for support workers is assessed based on the level of support typically required for their age. High levels of funded support are usually only provided for children with complex needs.
Top tips before you travel!
- Staying somewhere new? Call ahead to confirm you’ve booked an accessible room and check it includes the features you need.
Flying? Contact the airline early to arrange boarding assistance, accessible seating or mobility aids. Most have dedicated support teams.
Plan your schedule. Create a daily plan so you know what you’re doing and when. Check out photos of where you’re going, how you’ll get there and who you’ll see. For children, a simple picture schedule can make the trip feel more familiar.
3. Can a support worker travel with us?
Yes, if it’s necessary for you or your child to have a support worker to travel safely or participate in the holiday. Alternatively, you may be able to engage a support worker at your destination.
The NDIS may cover the worker’s:
- Support hours
- Travel time and kilometres when delivering support.
But you will need to cover their personal travel costs, including:
- Flights or transport
- Accommodation
- Meals.
Before booking, agree on expectations. Discuss how many hours the worker will deliver each day, what they’ll help with, and who is paying for what. A written agreement can help make things clearer.
4. What is not covered?
The NDIS will not pay for:
- Flights, accommodation or meals for family members
- Entry to tourist attractions or holiday activities
- General transport like taxis or car hire
- Anything not directly related to disability support needs.
5. How to know if a support is reasonable and necessary?
Supports must meet the NDIS funding criteria and be linked to goals in your NDIS Plan.
Ask yourself:
- Do you already receive this support at home?
- Would you need this support whether you’re travelling or not?
If the answer is yes, it may be considered reasonable and necessary. For example, a support worker helping with morning routines while on holiday may be justified by a goal around building independence or accessing the community.
Have questions?
We’re here to help!
Call us on 1300 05 78 78, email us at [email protected] or chat with us online at www.leapin.com.au.
