Home cleaning and the NDIS.

Does your disability make it difficult to complete essential chores around the house such as cleaning, vacuuming and dusting?

One of the questions we are often asked here at Leap in! HQ is whether the NDIS will cover the costs for someone to assist with cleaning your home.

Home cleaning can include daily or regular essential household tasks such as:

• Vacuuming and mopping floors
• Dusting and wiping surfaces
• Kitchen cleaning including sinks, taps, benches, microwaves
• Bathrooms including toilets, showers and baths.

Does the NDIS cover home cleaning?

Whether the NDIS will cover the cost of cleaning depends on your individual circumstances.

If you are unable to carry out cleaning tasks because of your disability, and your needs are considered “reasonable and necessary”, you may be able to pay for household cleaning from your NDIS funding.

A reminder that a support is considered reasonable and necessary if it is related to your disability and support needs, and will help you live an ordinary life. More on that What is “reasonable and necessary”?

Note that the NDIS does not cover the costs of professional trade services such as electrical services and plumbing.

Assistance with household tasks.

Home cleaning is a household task under the “Assistance with Daily Life” category within the NDIS Core supports budget.

If you have Core supports funding in your NDIS budget, there is flexibility for choosing supports that meet your individual needs, including assistance with household tasks.

Getting help with home cleaning.

Once you have confirmed eligibility and have your budget sorted, the next step is to find a cleaner!

Some cleaning companies are registered NDIS providers while others are not. When you have a plan manager (like Leap in!) to manage your NDIS funding, you can use any cleaner you like.

It is important to have a clear idea of your needs before engaging a cleaning company.

Some of the questions you might like to ask yourself are:

• What things can you do for yourself, and what do you need someone else to do? (Under the NDIS, you can only get a cleaner to do the things you cannot do for yourself).
• How often do want a cleaner to come to your home?
• How can you spread your budget over a year?
• Should your package include a seasonal or quarterly “spring clean”?

Tips for working with a cleaning company.

Many cleaning companies offer different packages or allow you to customise a package that suits you.

Follow these tips for working with a cleaning company and you’re sure to have a house that is sparkling clean.

1. Be clear on the tasks you want the cleaner to complete.
2. Check if they supply their own equipment.
3. Confirm they can visit on a day and time that suits you.
4. Check they are trustworthy by asking for evidence of a police check or using a provider recommended by someone you trust.
5. Negotiate a Service Agreement to ensure you know what you are getting.

Doing your own cleaning.

If one of your NDIS goals is to be more independent and learn how to clean your own house, the NDIS may be able to assist.

In this case, funding would come from the Capacity Building budget which supports you to build skills to live as independently as possible.

An example is getting an occupational therapist to help you develop skills to do chores, or to suggest adaptive equipment so you can clean yourself.

If you want to learn to do some things yourself and get a cleaner for the jobs you can’t do, that’s fine. Just be sure to start by setting these up as goals in your NDIS Plan to ensure you get the funding you need in the right NDIS budget categories.

How Leap in! can help.

If you need assistance with cleaning, Leap in! can connect you with a provider that will have your home looking fresh and clean in no time.

Call us on 1300 05 78 78 to book your free NDIS pre-planning session, email crew@leapin.com.au or sign up to Leap in! plan management today.