Choosing the Right NDIS Consumables: What Are the Key Factors to Consider?
- S Patel - Founder ELS
- Mar 24
- 5 min read
March 2025
A Short Guide to NDIS Consumables
Your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) consumables budget in your ndis plan might appear simple. However, distinguishing between everyday items that qualify as consumables and those that do not can sometimes be a bit complex. This article will help you understand the difference.
What are NDIS consumables?
Consumables are low-cost, low-risk items that help you manage your disability-related needs in daily life. Consumables are funded through your Core Supports budget.
For an item to be considered Consumable, its price must be lower than $1,500. You might buy these items from a supermarket, hardware store, pharmacy, or even online. Any more specialised support items over $1,500 will likely fall under another category called Assistive Technology (Capital Supports).
As with all the things under NDIS, there are rules around what does and does not count as consumable. For example:
General groceries would not count as consumables because this is a cost everyone must pay rather than a specific item for a person’s disability support.
Nutritional supplements may be funded if PEG feeding is included in your plan and the supplements are related to managing the impact of your disability on your daily living.
NDIS Consumables categories
Consumables funding, as outlined in the Assistive Technology, Home Modifications and Consumables Code Guide, is separated into three categories:
Continence related equipment.
Equipment for eating and drinking.
Disability-related health equipment and consumables.
The above broad categories suggest what consumables might include rather than providing a detailed item-by-item list of what is permitted. Your consumables budget is adaptable, and the support items available are diverse, allowing you to select options that suit you.
What consumables can I claim under NDIS?
What you can purchase as consumables will depend on your NDIS Support Goals and the funding statement in your plan's core category under consumables.
Moreover, if your plan includes consumables as part of Core Supports funding, any purchases in this category must be directly related to your disability support needs.
Most plans we have seen would have general statements written about consumables as -
This category includes support for purchasing everyday-use items, such as Continence and Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN) products.
To understand further in terms of what consumables may included depending upon the type of your plan goals and disability, below is a list of commonly purchased consumables:
Catheters
Continence products, such as pads, pants, and mattress protectors
Food preparation products and aids
Bottle openers, knob turners, grab bars and other low-cost dexterity or mobility aids
Home enteral nutrition (HEN) equipment
Interpreting and translating services (Auslan or signed English training; telephone or video interpreting)
Modified eating aids
Nutritional supplements
Personal care and safety products
Specialised footwear or orthotics
Specialised mattresses and pillows
Broadly speaking, as long as your purchases comply with guidelines for your NDIS plan goals, NDIS price arrangements and what is ‘reasonable and necessary’ under the NDIS, you can enjoy much flexibility and choice with consumables.
This means that once you have been allocated an NDIS consumables budget, you have the control to spend it as you see fit, provided the above conditions are met.
Can I buy nappies with NDIS consumables funding?
The NDIS will not fund day-to-day expenses and items as with all consumables. In most cases, this excludes nappies as they are an item any Australian family with young children would typically pay for. However, depending on age, disability, or delay in development, there are some exceptions if your child has higher needs than children of a similar age and incontinence is part of the child's or person's disability.
Note: Children under nine are supported under the NDIS Early Childhood Approach. Contact an early childhood partner or your local area coordinator to access services, support, and advice specific to the ECA.
What can I not claim as consumables?
As it seems evident from the above paragraphs, you cannot claim any items unrelated to supporting your disability as NDIS consumables.
These Items may include toiletries, general food and groceries, prescription medications, gym memberships and entertainment subscriptions… general life items that everyone must pay for will not be funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). NDIA has recently published a list of approved and non-approved NDIS supports. We encourage you to refer to and read more at this link HERE.
Depending on the item’s risk and value, you may need to provide a quote or further documentation to have it funded by the NDIA.
Items are categorised into three tiers based on their price value.
Items under $1,500 are considered low-cost AT, between $1,500 and $15,000 is mid-cost AT, and anything over $15,000 is considered high-cost AT. This article from ndis explains it all. Link HERE
However, even if an item is low-cost AT, if it is higher-risk, low-cost AT, you’ll need written advice from an assistive technology assessor, even if it is under $1,500.
How do I buy consumables using NDIS funding?
You have the option to buy consumables from both registered and non-registered sources. However, if your plan is NDIA-managed (also known as agency-managed), you are restricted to purchasing items only from registered NDIS providers.
If you are self-managed or plan-managed, you can buy your consumables from unregistered providers, including general retail stores such as supermarkets or chemists, if they have the item in stock. Typically, you will pay the retailer directly for these small items.
If you are self-managing your funds, you must keep thorough records of everything you purchase in case NDIA has to check for any records later on as part of their payment integrity audits. Keeping careful track will also help ensure that your consumables funding continuity.
If you are unsure whether something counts as a consumable, you can check with your plan manager first. A plan manager is responsible for managing your plan and ensuring all your supports are compliant with your NDIS plan guidelines before submitting any invoicing.
It’s easy and quick to ask ELS for advice on NDIS funding – that’s what we’re here for!
Your plan, your way with ELS Plan Managers and Support Coordinators
ELS is a registered NDIS provider, and we have been supporting NDIS participants since 2018. We are an experienced team with a passion for supporting our community.
We’re here to support you on your NDIS journey by managing the financial aspects of your plan so you can focus on doing what you enjoy and achieving your goals.
Our online portal phone app makes it even easier. It helps you keep track of your plan, covers all the important parts of plan management, and puts it at your fingertips.
Plan Management is a great middle ground between the total control of self-management and the hands-off ease of agency management. You still have control over how your funds are spent, but you don’t have to do all the admin – we’ve got you covered for invoice management, budget tracking, record keeping, and general financial administration of your NDIS plan.
To learn more or to get started, contact ELS today and find out how we can best support you.
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