Supports In and Supports Out: What You Need to Know About the New NDIS Guidelines

Hand in Hand Support Coordination • February 12, 2025

In October 2024, new NDIS guidelines were enacted, clarifying what participants can and cannot spend their funding on. These updates, a key part of ongoing reforms, aim to ensure the NDIS continues to provide meaningful and necessary support for Australians with disabilities while maintaining financial sustainability.



The Basics of NDIS Support Guidelines

Previously, participants could use their NDIS plans to pay for anything deemed “reasonable and necessary.” However, the revised guidelines now divide supports into two lists: Supports In and Supports Out. These lists help participants better understand which goods and services align with NDIS funding rules and which do not. The new funding rules override "choice and control" and "reasonable and necessary" considerations. Participants and providers must follow these rules—non-compliance will result in funding denials, plan changes, or further consequences.


🚨 What This Means for You

  • The new exclusions are legally binding — you cannot justify purchases by linking them to your disability.
  • Strict eligibility enforcement — funding will only cover supports directly related to specific impairments.
  • Plan reviews and compliance checks will be more frequent, and failure to provide required information may result in loss of funding.



❌ What the NDIS Will No Longer Fund

From October 3, 2024, the following cannot be funded under any circumstances:

Everyday Living Costs

  • Rent, mortgage payments, strata fees, and home deposits.
  • Utility bills (water, gas, electricity), council rates, and home maintenance.
  • Household appliances (fridges, washing machines), standard furniture, and garden tools.


Financial & Legal Expenses

  • Insurance (health, car, home), superannuation, and legal fees.
  • Fines, court-ordered payments, child support, and business expenses.
  • Education fees (school, university, vocational training).


Food & Groceries

  • General groceries, takeaway food, and meal delivery services.


Lifestyle & Recreation

  • Cigarettes, alcohol, gambling, and entertainment subscriptions.
  • Phones, computers, gaming consoles, internet, and data plans.
  • Gym memberships, sports club fees, and equipment.
  • Wedding, funeral, and event-related expenses.


Clothing & Beauty

  • Standard clothing, footwear, jewellery, makeup, cosmetic treatments, and tattoos.


Travel & Transport

  • Holiday packages, airfares, vehicle purchases, fuel, and registration.
  • Taxis and rideshares unless directly related to disability support.


Pets & Animal Care

  • Pet food, vet care, grooming, and insurance (except for assistance animals).


Alternative & Wellness Therapies

  • Hypnotherapy, reiki, energy healing, aromatherapy, gaming therapy.
  • Life coaching, wellness programs, massage (unless by an allied health professional).


Medical & Health-Related Costs

  • Prescription/non-prescription medicines, hospital fees, surgeries, and ambulance costs.
  • Dental care, health screenings, mental health treatments, and palliative care.


Housing & Community

  • Social housing, rental bonds, mortgage relief, crisis housing.
  • Public transport fares and infrastructure.


Legal & Justice System Costs

  • Supervision, secure accommodation, and mental health facility care.


These exclusions are now law and override choice and control principles. Make sure your support aligns with the new guidelines.

✅ What the NDIS Will Fund

The NDIS will fund reasonable and necessary support for a person’s disability to help them live independently, participate in the community, and achieve their goals.


Accommodation & Housing Support

  • Assistance with tenancy applications and rental obligations.
  • Medium-term accommodation if long-term housing is unavailable.
  • Home modifications for accessibility and safety.


Personal & Daily Living Supports

Assistance with eating, dressing, hygiene, and personal care.

Support for daily tasks in shared living arrangements.

Help with household tasks such as cleaning, meal preparation, and laundry.


Mobility & Assistive Equipment

  • Wheelchairs, motorised mobility devices, and transfer hoists.
  • Assistive products for personal care, such as incontinence aids and adaptive clothing.
  • Hearing aids, vision aids, and communication devices.


Community Participation & Social Engagement

  • Support to engage in social, community, and recreational activities.
  • Group-based activities to encourage participation and inclusion.
  • Specialist support to build social skills and independent living capacity.


Education & Employment Support

  • Assistance to transition to employment, further education, or vocational training.
  • Supported employment programs and workplace modifications.
  • Training to improve work readiness and career development.


Transport & Travel Assistance

  • Transport for school, work, and community activities.
  • Taxi and private transport costs where public transport is not viable.
  • Driver training for modified vehicles.


Healthcare & Therapy Services

  • Disability-related nursing care, medication management, and wound care.
  • Therapeutic supports such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy.
  • Supports for early childhood intervention and developmental delays.


Behavioural & Mental Health Supports

  • Positive behaviour support for individuals with complex needs.
  • Training for families and carers in behaviour management strategies.
  • Psychosocial recovery support for mental health conditions.


Specialist Disability Accommodation & Support Coordination

  • Specialist disability housing for those with extreme functional impairment.
  • Support coordination to help manage NDIS plans and connect with services.


Vehicle & Home Modifications

  • Modifications to vehicles for accessibility (hoists, modified controls, restraints).
  • Structural changes to homes to improve mobility and independence.


These supports are assessed based on individual needs and must be directly related to the participant’s disability.

🔄 Replacement Supports: What You Might Be Allowed to Buy with NDIS Funding

The NDIS may approve replacement supports in certain cases if they:

  • Replace an existing support in your plan.
  • Cost the same or less than the original support.
  • Provide equal or better benefits than the original support.


Possible Replacement Supports


Household Items

  • Everyday items that help with disability needs and support independence.


Assistive Technology

  • Devices that assist people with disabilities, such as smart devices and apps.


Smart Watches

  • If they are the best way for you to communicate.


Tablets & Smart Phones

  • If they help with communication and are the most effective option for you.


Accessibility & Communication Apps

  • If they improve communication and meet your disability needs.


These supports are only funded if approved by the NDIS and must meet specific criteria.


If you are still unsure, you should reach out to your support coordinator to assess whether support would likely meet the reasonable and necessary criteria.



Why the Changes Were Made

The introduction of these guidelines follows a comprehensive review of the NDIS, which highlighted unsustainable cost growth. Without reforms, the scheme was projected to reach $92 billion annually by 2032–33. These changes aim to return the NDIS to its original purpose: delivering high-quality, necessary support while avoiding funding for items that could be covered by other systems, such as mainstream healthcare or education.


As NDIS Minister Bill Shorten explained, these updates provide "more clarity and more certainty for all participants in how they can use their budgets," ensuring the scheme is fair and financially sustainable.



Transition Period and Compliance

Participants with existing plans may still access supports that are no longer covered if these were explicitly approved in their current plan. For others, a 12-month transition period allows for adjustments, during which minor non-compliant purchases may not result in immediate penalties. However, repeated or significant misuse of funds will require repayment.


Why These Changes Matter

These updates reflect the NDIS’s commitment to returning to its core purpose: providing essential, life-changing support for Australians with disabilities. By clearly defining "Supports In" and "Supports Out," participants can better plan and maximise the value of their funding.


For more details, explore the complete lists of Supports In and Supports Out.

If you have questions about how these changes affect your plan, Hand in Hand is here to guide you through the transition.

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We hope this blog was useful.

Hand in Hand Support Coordination specialises in personalised NDIS Support Coordination for participants with complex mental health and physical disabilities across Melbourne and Victoria, focusing on Level 2 and 3 support to create tailored support that aligns with goals and budget.