NDIS Update: Standard Household Items – What You Need to Know!

Did you know? Standard household items are no longer automatically funded by NDIS! But don’t worry, there’s a way around it 😉 you can apply through the NDIA for a replacement support

Applying for a replacement support is not about getting extra funding but using your funds more flexibly.

So what is a standard household item?

In the new Transitional Rules it prohibits the funding such as:

• Ordinary items 
• Appliances (unless approved as a replacement)
• Products found in homes that aren’t modified or adapted for participants disability needs

Example of House hold items you can use your NDIS Funding for include:

✅ Dysphagia cup (modified for swallowing)

      Not just a normal cup from Ikea 

How to apply for a Replacement support?

Replacement Support is a process where a person can apply to use their funding on “commercially available household items”, smart watches, tablets, smart phones, and accessibility/ communication apps. But this requires the NDIA’s approval.

To be approved for a commercially available household item, a person needs to convince the NDIA that the item does all of the following:

• replaces another NDIS-funded support in the plan;
• Cost same/less & deliver same/better outcomes
• increases whole of task independence;
• reduces or eliminates the need for a support worker or disability-specific assistive technology;
• addresses the needs of the participant arising from an impairment that meets the access criteria.

The NDIA decision is not reviewable so make sure you have the relevant documentation and evidence to support your claim.