Plan-funding reference · NDIS QSR + AIHW data
NDIS plan budgets: what people actually get funded
The NDIA does not publish fixed plan tiers. Every plan is the participant’s reasonable + necessary supports, decided individually under section 34 of the NDIS Act 2013. That said, plans cluster in observable bands. The four bands below describe how NDIS funding sits in practice – anchor your expectations against them, but never assume a band predicts your specific plan.
★Key takeaways
- ✓NDIS does not publish fixed plan tiers. Every plan is the participant’s reasonable + necessary supports, decided individually under s34 of the NDIS Act 2013.
- ✓Observational ranges: lower support ~$10,000–$30,000/yr, moderate ~$30,000–$80,000/yr, complex ~$80,000–$200,000/yr, very high (SIL/SDA) ~$200,000–$500,000+/yr.
- ✓Average annualised plan ~$71,000; median ~$48,000 (NDIS QSR Q4 2024–25). The mean is pulled up by the SIL cohort.
- ✓Diagnosis does not drive plan size – assessed functional capacity, informal support + documented goals do. Two people with the same condition can have very different plans.
- ✓Plans can grow. If needs change, request a plan reassessment with fresh evidence (functional capacity assessments, therapy reports, support coordinator letters).
- ✓Free independent advocacy is available if a plan decision feels wrong – NDAP via disabilityadvocacyfinder.dss.gov.au.
Scheme scale
NDIS at a glance
NDIS participants (Q4 2024–25)
~661,000
NDIS Quarterly Report Q4 2024–25
Average annualised plan value
~$71,000
NDIS QSR Q4 2024–25
Median annualised plan value
~$48,000
NDIS QSR Q4 2024–25
Participants with SIL funding
~8%
NDIS QSR Q4 2024–25
Participants with SDA funding
~6%
NDIS QSR Q4 2024–25
Plans reviewed annually
~70%
NDIA + AIHW
Cross-check current figures at ndis.gov.au/about-us/publications/quarterly-reports before any financial planning decision.
Band 1 of 4
Lower support needs
~$10,000–$30,000/yr
Adults + children with moderate functional impact across one or two domains – often capacity-building heavy plans with limited Core funding.
Typical participant profile
Person with diagnosed disability (mild-to-moderate autism, dyslexia, ADHD with functional impact, hearing loss, vision impairment) who lives at home with informal support. Maintains most ADLs independently. Education, employment + community participation are the goals.
The largest cohort of NDIS participants sit in this band. ECEI children typically start here. Plans are reviewed annually; funding scales with documented need.
Typical supports in this band
- Therapy: speech, OT or psychology (10–30 hours/year)
- Support coordination (Level 1 or 2, ~$2,000–$4,000)
- Capacity-building social + community participation
- Small assistive-technology allocation (communication aids, sensory tools)
- Limited Core funding (~$0–$10,000) for occasional community access
Band 2 of 4
Moderate support needs
~$30,000–$80,000/yr
People with substantial functional impact across multiple domains needing regular paid support, but not 24/7 staffing or specialist accommodation.
Typical participant profile
Adult with autism + intellectual disability, post-stroke recovery, cerebral palsy with moderate physical impact, or a child with complex developmental disability. Living with family or independently with paid support. Needs help with several ADLs, transport + community participation.
The NDIS scheme median sits around $72,000/year per participant (NDIS QSR). Most adult plans land in this band.
Typical supports in this band
- Core: 8–20 hours/week support-worker time ($30,000–$70,000/year)
- Capacity Building: therapy (OT, physio, speech, psychology, behaviour support)
- Support Coordination (Level 2, ~$3,000–$5,000)
- Plan Management ($1,500–$2,500 separately funded)
- Transport allocation ($1,800–$3,500/year)
- Assistive technology ($1,000–$15,000 capital allocation)
Band 3 of 4
High + complex support needs
~$80,000–$200,000/yr
Participants needing substantial daily paid support, complex therapy regimes + often a behaviour-support plan. Daily living is partly or wholly dependent on paid workers.
Typical participant profile
Adult with significant intellectual disability + behaviour-support needs, advanced cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, complex multiple disability or a child with severe developmental disability + 1:1 school support needs. May live with family, in shared supported accommodation, or independently with structured support.
Plans in this band require strong documentation: functional capacity assessments, therapy reports, behaviour assessments + support coordinator letters. Annual reviews tend to be more involved.
Typical supports in this band
- Core: 30–60 hours/week support-worker time ($90,000–$180,000/year)
- Specialist behaviour-support practitioner ($10,000–$25,000)
- Therapy bundle: OT, physio, speech, psychology ($15,000–$30,000)
- Specialist Support Coordination ($6,000–$12,000)
- Plan Management
- STA / respite ($5,000–$15,000)
- Substantial assistive technology + home modifications
Band 4 of 4
Very high needs (SIL + SDA)
~$200,000–$500,000/yr
Participants requiring Supported Independent Living (24/7 staffing), often with Specialist Disability Accommodation, complex behaviour-support plans + intensive clinical input.
Typical participant profile
Adult with profound intellectual + physical disability, complex behaviours requiring 1:1 or 2:1 staffing, very high physical care needs (full assistance with all ADLs, often with feeding + breathing supports), or a person leaving long-term institutional care into community living.
Fewer than 10% of NDIS participants sit in this band. Plans are negotiated with detailed evidence packages + are typically reviewed with a NDIA planner + specialist input. SIL + SDA funding decisions are separate processes with their own evidence requirements.
Typical supports in this band
- SIL: 24/7 staffing in shared or individual living arrangement ($150,000–$400,000+/year)
- SDA payment (if applicable): physical-support, high-physical-support or robust SDA category
- Specialist behaviour-support practitioner + ongoing review
- Allied health bundle (OT, physio, speech, dietetics, psychology)
- Assistive technology – ceiling hoists, complex wheelchairs, communication systems
- Specialist Support Coordination + plan management
- Complex medical equipment + consumables
What actually drives the number
Why two people with the same diagnosis get very different plans
Diagnosis alone does not drive plan size. The NDIA decides funding against the reasonable + necessary supports test in s34 of the NDIS Act 2013, with weight on six factors:
1. Assessed functional capacity
Measured with the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) + condition-specific tools (Vineland, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, etc.). The single biggest driver.
2. Informal support available
A participant living alone receives more paid support than one with a full-time family carer. The NDIA assesses sustainability of informal support – not just whether it exists today.
3. Age + life stage
Children under 7 receive Early Childhood support. School-leavers transitioning to work or further study often have lifted capacity-building funding. Ageing participants may transition to aged-care programs at 65.
4. Goals stated in the plan
Goals frame what supports the plan can fund. A goal of independent living attracts different supports to a goal of paid employment. Specific, measurable, evidence-backed goals attract better outcomes than vague aspirations.
5. Prior usage + unmet need
Documented unmet need from the current plan period (with provider letters, hospital admissions, missed therapy goals, carer crisis indicators) materially strengthens the case for more funding.
6. Quality of evidence
Functional capacity assessment, therapy reports, behaviour support assessments + support coordinator letters carry more weight than self-report. Evidence prepared specifically for the NDIS context lands better than generic clinical letters.
When a plan feels wrong
If your plan is too small
Step 1 – Internal review
Request an internal review within 3 months of the plan decision. The NDIA reassesses the decision without the matter leaving the agency. Free. Submit fresh evidence with the request – functional capacity assessment, therapy reports, support coordinator letter.
Step 2 – AAT review
If the internal review confirms the original decision, you can apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). External, independent. Free for NDIS matters. Can be self-represented or with free legal aid + advocacy.
Step 3 – Plan reassessment
If circumstances have changed (new diagnosis, lost informal support, functional deterioration, new evidence), request a plan reassessment rather than a review. The NDIA assesses against the new facts, not the old plan.
Free independent advocacy: National Disability Advocacy Program providers in every region. Find one at disabilityadvocacyfinder.dss.gov.au. Advocates do not provide legal advice but can help you prepare evidence, draft a review request + attend planning meetings as a support person.
Common questions
NDIS plan budgets – common questions
Are these tiers official NDIS categories?
No. The NDIA does not publish official "plan tiers" or fixed funding bands. Every plan reflects the participant's individual reasonable + necessary supports as defined under section 34 of the NDIS Act 2013. The tiers above are observational ranges drawn from NDIS Quarterly Reports + AIHW data – they describe how plans cluster in practice. Use them to anchor expectations, never to predict your specific funding.
What drives the size of an NDIS plan?
Six factors: (1) assessed functional capacity (typically measured with the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule + condition-specific tools), (2) age – children and people leaving school often have higher capacity-building funding, (3) availability of informal support (family, partner, community), (4) goals in the plan, (5) prior service usage + documented unmet need, (6) the planner's interpretation of "reasonable + necessary". Plans are not formulaic – strong evidence + a clear goal statement materially shift the outcome.
Can my plan grow if my needs grow?
Yes. Plans are reviewed annually + can be reassessed at any time if circumstances change (a change of accommodation, loss of an informal carer, deterioration in functional capacity, new diagnosis, ageing into adulthood). To trigger a plan reassessment, contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 or work with your support coordinator. Bring evidence: functional capacity assessments, therapy reports, hospital discharge summaries, a support coordinator letter detailing unmet need.
Why is my plan smaller than someone else's with the same diagnosis?
Diagnosis is not what drives funding – functional capacity + informal support are. Two people with the same diagnosis may need very different paid support depending on home environment, family network, employment status, age + secondary conditions. If you believe your funding is inadequate, the lever is documented evidence of unmet need, not diagnosis comparison.
Can I appeal if my plan is too small?
Yes. Three options: (1) request an internal review within 3 months – the NDIA reassesses without going outside. (2) Request an Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) external review if internal review fails. (3) Request a plan reassessment if circumstances have changed. Independent advocacy is available free through the National Disability Advocacy Program – contact <a href="https://disabilityadvocacyfinder.dss.gov.au/" class="text-[var(--vbrand)] underline">disabilityadvocacyfinder.dss.gov.au</a>.
Does my plan ever cover everyday living expenses?
No. The NDIS does not fund daily living costs that the broader Australian population is expected to pay – rent, mortgage, food, utilities, clothing, transport for non-disability-related purposes, school fees, mainstream healthcare. The scheme funds the supports that are reasonable + necessary because of your disability. Crossover items (a specialised diet, accessible transport beyond mainstream public transport, an environmental control system for your home) can be funded if linked to your disability needs.
How much of my plan can I move between categories?
Core supports (daily living, transport, consumables, community participation) are flexible – funding can move freely between line items inside Core. Capacity Building funding is fixed to its sub-category (you can't move OT funding into support coordination). Capital funding (assistive technology + home modifications) is fixed to the specific item or quote it was approved against. Plan management or self-management is required to move funds inside Core; NDIA-managed plans are line-item locked.