Search this site

Let’s be honest… overspending can happen on occasion. However, when it comes to your NDIS plan, it’s important to keep your plan funding on the right track. Check out some tools and supports you can access and get to know how the NDIA respond to overspending below. Tools to keep your spending on the right track When it comes to keeping your plan funding on the right track, there are tools that you can use to help avoid overspending. Tool #1: Breakdown your budget When you receive a new NDIS plan (or even if you are part way through a plan), it’s always helpful to breakdown your budgets in the Core, Capital, and Capacity Building Support categories. That way you can know how much funding you have available each week, fortnight, or month (which ever your preference is). Once you know how much funding you have available, it’s important to know what supports you plan to access, how much they cost, and how often you need to access those supports. This can help to ensure you are using your plan as intended and that you are maximising funding without overspending. For example: If your Core Supports funding is $18,000 for a 12-month (52 weeks) plan and you want to know how much you can spend each week then you need to divide the cost by the number of weeks. 18,000 ÷ 52 = $346.15 per week If your supports cost $57.10 per hr you can access 6 hrs of support per week. Core Support funding is flexible so it means you can breakdown your overall funding. If you want to breakdown your Capacity Building Supports (which are not as flexible as the core budgets), rather than taking the overall funding and dividing it, you should look at a specific category within your Capacity Building Supports like Improved Living Arrangements or Increased Social and Community Participation and divide that individual category instead. If you are unsure about how to breakdown your plan funding, you can always speak with your First2Care Client Manager, and they will be able to help you. Tool #2: Monthly budget statements Whether you are plan managed or agency managed, you should receive a monthly statement that details your overall NDIS funding, an overview of where your funding is currently at, any pending amounts, how much funding you have left, and any invoices that have been processed during the month. At First2Care, we send monthly statements via email (or another nominated method) to our plan managed participants on the first of each month. Your monthly statements, also sometimes called ‘monthly budget report’, will include: Total spending to date Breakdown of your Core, Capital, and Capacity Building supports Graphs that show your pattern of spending List of your monthly invoices detailing the service date, invoice number, provider, category, and the total cost Your monthly budget statements are easy to read and understand and will show your budget, how much you have spent, how much is pending, and how much is remaining. Tool #3: In-real-time budgets Participants plan managed by First2Care who would like day-to-day insight into their NDIS plan funding and how it is tracking, can request access or login into the First2Care Client portal. Your client portal is personal to you and provides you with easy access to your plan details, invoices, and real-time actual to budget tracking updates rather than having to wait to receive your monthly report. To access the portal, you can click here or go to ‘Your Hub’ and click on ‘Portal Access’ on the First2Care website. All you need to do is fill in the online form and you will be provided with your own personal login details. The online request form can be filled in by Participants, Nominees, or Support Coordinators. For a Support Coordinator to be granted access, they must have the consent from the Participant or Nominee. If you already have access to the Client portal, you can login easily by clicking here or on the First2Care website by clicking ‘Client Portal’ on the First2Care website home page. You can discuss the Client portal or request access at any time by contacting our support team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au or you can speak directly to your assigned First2Care Client Manager. Remember, you don’t need to pick just one tool listed above, in fact, it’s a good idea to combine them all. Tool #4: Share your Service Agreements When you access supports from a service provider, it’s a good idea to request a service agreement. Having a service agreement can ensure that both you and your service provider are on the right page when it comes to your support needs, and it can be a great way to help avoid any overspending. In relation to managing your NDIS plan funding, your service agreements should include: What support is provided How frequently the support is provided What the cost is per hour and the total cost agreement You can use this information to keep track your commitments and how much funding is allocated in each support category. Sharing service agreements with your plan manager, allows us to assist in managing your funding and ensures that you have enough available funds in your NDIS plan to cover the cost of the supports that are detailed in the service agreement without overspending. If there is not enough funding available to cover the costs listed in a service agreement, your First2Care Client Manager can work with you to find a solution, whether that is using some of your Core Funding (if available) or reducing the support hours to sit within your NDIS plan funding capacity. How do the NDIA respond to overspending? The NDIA response to overspending is changing. In the past, receiving additional funding from the NDIA when overspending occurred was more flexible. However, currently, if overspending occurs (and you are plan managed), the First2Care accounts team will submit a 'payment enquiry'. This payment enquiry is only put into place when all available funding has been exhausted but there are outstanding invoices. It is then manually submitted to the NDIA, and they will decide if the payment can be processed. The NDIA have advised that unless there is documented evidence that the additional supports are reasonable and necessary, they are unlikely to approve the payment. In that case, the cost would be an out-of-pocket. It’s important to know that the NDIA currently only review claims like this when a plan expires and before a new plan begins. This means that if you have spent all your plan funding in six months and you have a 12-month plan, it would mean that any claims for additional funding won’t be reviewed until then end of the 12-month planning period. Sometimes circumstances change and the funding you were allocated may no longer suitable for your needs. If this is something you are experiencing, then you can request an unscheduled review of your plan. However, don't wait for your funding to run out before discussing your change in circumstances, it's best to notify the NDIS know as soon as possible. For more advise, you can discuss this with your Support Coordinator or First2Care Client Manager. Supports that can help Having a dedicated team to help you track and manage your plan funding can help to ensure that your plan funding stays on the right track. When you have your planning meeting or plan review meeting with the NDIA, you can request supports to help you manage your NDIS plan, which can include financial management. If you are not already plan managed, you can request to have a plan manager (like us!) included as part of your support team. You have choice and control over which plan manager is right for you. Your plan manager will ensure that all your invoices are paid on time and keep you updated on your spending. At First2Care, our plan managed participants can work with their own personal Client Manager who can help them to breakdown their budget and provide support and tools to keep budgets on track. Another person that can provide support is a Support Coordinator. Again, this is something that you can request in your planning meeting or plan review meeting. However, unlike with plan management which will be added to your NDIS plan if you request it, your support coordination needs will be assessed by the NDIA and may be included if you meet the reasonable and necessary criteria. If you have funding for a support coordinator, they can help you to find and make arrangements with the best service provider for your needs. Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.

Assistive technology (AT) items can help you do certain things that you may struggle to do or cannot do more easily and safely, and it may also reduce your need for other supports over time. However, when it comes to the NDIS and obtaining the AT that you need it can sometimes be a little confusing to know what the NDIS will fund, what you need to do before purchasing AT, and most importantly, when to provide reports for AT. What is Assistive Technology? Assistive technology (AT) can range from small things like non-slip mats, or special knives and forks to big things like wheelchairs and powered adjustable beds. It can also cover technology like an app that could help you to communicate with others. It’s important to note, that not all equipment or technology you use is assistive technology. Many people use some equipment as part of their lives, for example, a radio to listen to music, or a standard microwave oven to cook food. AT is only the equipment you need because it helps you do things that you normally can’t do because of your disability. How does the NDIS fund AT? The NDIS have certain reasonable and necessary criteria that need to be met to provide funding. Some of the questions the NDIA consider when you request funding for AT are: Does the assistive technology relate to your disability? Is the assistive technology right for you? Is the assistive technology you need value for money? Is your assistive technology funded or provided by someone else? Funding won’t be provided for everyday items or items that don’t relate to your disability. What to do before you buy AT Before purchasing AT, it’s important to get advice or an assessment to ensure the item is right for you. Buying the wrong AT without getting advice, can run the risk that the NDIA won’t provide funding for another item. To avoid this, you can seek out a range of qualified and skilled professionals who can provide this information to you. Assistive technology advisors can be: Allied health practitioners (e.g., audiologists, occupational therapists, orthoptists, orthotists/prosthetists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists) Assistive technology mentors with a recognised qualification in assistive technology advice Orientation and mobility specialists for the vision sector Continence nurses Rehabilitation engineers What to do before buying low-cost AT When the NDIA fund low-cost, low risk AT, they suggest seeking professional advice before you buy the item to help ensure that you purchase the right item for your needs. Discussing your AT needs with a professional can help you to find AT that is cheaper or works better for you or to discover AT that you hadn’t heard of or considered before. With low-cost, high-risk AT, the NDIA suggest getting written advice from an assistive technology advisor before you purchase your AT item. This helps to ensure you get the right item for you and that it is safe to use. What to do before buying mid-cost AT For mid-cost AT to be approved the NDIA request that you get written advice from an AT assessor before you buy the item. If the item is mid-cost and high-risk, it’s important to also request advice on how to set up and adjust the item safely. What to do before buying high-cost AT All high-cost items require a written assessment to receive NDIS funding so that you can purchase the item. This ensures that high cost or complex items are the right choice for you, safe to use and have long-term benefits. The assessment should indicate any extra support that may be needed for the AT item set up process, any training needed to use the item and how to use the item safely. What should you do with the advice or assessment? If you have advice for a low-cost or mid-cost assistive technology item, you can choose whether you share the advice by providing a copy to your plan manager or uploading it to your NDIS myplace portal. If you choose not to share the advice, it’s important to keep a copy somewhere safe, just in case. However, if you have an assessment and/or a quote for a high-cost assistive technology item, it is important to share this with the NDIA. The NDIA typically need to view and accept a quote for a high-cost item before they provide funding. You can take your assessment and quote to your planning meeting or plan review meeting to be discussed with your LAC or NDIA planner, or you can email it to the NDIA at enquiries@ndis.gov.au. Your NDIS Plan Funding Although there are no guarantees that the NDIA will provide funding for AT items in your NDIS plan, the best way to help ensure you receive the funding you need is to have evidence that supports your funding requests (like written advice and/or assessments). It's also important to ensure that the funding support you request adheres to the NDIS reasonable and necessary criteria. If you feel the NDIA have made an error with the funding allocated to your NDIS plan, you can request that your plan be reviewed. This process can sometimes be lengthy, so if this is something you would like to do, be sure to discuss this with your Support Coordinator, your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or a disability advocate. Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.

Today, more than ever before, people are seeking to become self-employed by starting their own business. Although the NDIS can help to support participants transition to self-employment, it’s important to understand the ways in which the NDIS can help, what funding categories are available, where to start and any limitations to ensure that you can forge your own self-employed path. What can the NDIS Fund? If you are a NDIS participant, there are currently two types of NDIS funding that may be relevant to you – Employment Supports & Supports in Employment (Specialised Supported Employment). These two NDIS funding supports can give you more opportunities to get the support you need, develop a career that you love, and help with some of the disability-related challenges that might come up when increasing your autonomy. Remember, to access this type of funding, it must align with the reasonable and necessary criteria set by the NDIS. What is Employment Support Employment Support can help you to build your capacity and provide you with short-term assistance. It can help you to better understand the types of work that you are interested in, develop your skills, manage complex barriers, or develop a career plan. What is Supports in Employment (Specialised Supported Employment)? This type of funding provides tailored support for NDIS participants who are less independent, need help to manage behaviour, or need ongoing support in the workplace. This means there is ongoing core budget funding that can be used in any place of work including self-employment, a micro-business, or a family run business. It may include: On the job training Intermittent support with daily work tasks Personal care Assistance with managing behaviour or complex needs Which option is right for you? When deciding what type of funding is right for you, it’s a good idea to consider any challenges that you may come up against when starting your business due to the impact of your disability, and how NDIS funding can help to solve those challenges. It can be helpful to write down the challenges and potential solutions. Some things to consider when starting your own business are whether you need: Help to understand legal issues Assistance in developing a business or marketing plan Lessons or training to create your product or develop your skill set Where to start The first place to start is with your goals. If starting your own business is one of your goals, it’s vital that you discuss this with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIA planner during your planning meeting or plan review meeting that way the NDIA can take your goals into consideration when determining the funding supports you may need as part of you NDIS plan. When you have your plan funding allocated, you can search for and hire people to support you in achieving your goals. Being plan managed can give you more flexibility to build a team to support you within your business by having access to both NDIS registered and unregistered service providers. Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.

For some, your disability may have an impact on you performing certain tasks in and around your home. This can include things like gardening or yard maintenance, cleaning, and home maintenance. The NDIS can provide funding for supports to assist with these tasks, but it can be a little tricky to know exactly what the NDIS will and will not cover. Can the NDIS provide funding for home maintenance, cleaning & gardening? The simple answer is yes. The NDIS can provide funding for home maintenance, cleaning, and gardening if it fits the NDIA’s reasonable and necessary criteria and/or the support is related to your NDIS goals. However, as we know all too well, “simple answers” aren’t really the NDIS’ style. For example, if you live alone and need assistance cleaning your home, then NDIS may provide funding for supports to assist in cleaning your entire home. If you don’t live alone (i.e., you live in a share house or with your parents), then that funding would only be considered reasonable and necessary as it relates to you. This means that a service provider could help you with your personal space or bedroom but not for any common spaces. Specialist tasks like electrical or plumbing work are not funded by the NDIS. Generally, if you are unable to do home maintenance, cleaning, or gardening tasks because of your disability, it’s likely to be considered reasonable and necessary and you can use your NDIS funding for this purpose. How is this funded? Funding for activities like home maintenance, cleaning and gardening typically fall into your Core Support category “Assistance with daily life”. This support category is designed to help people with daily tasks. Your Core Support funding is flexible, which means if the support you need meets NDIS reasonable and necessary guidelines then you can use the funding in this category as you choose. If one of your goals is to do these tasks by yourself in time, then you may be able to access funding under your Capacity Building Supports as well. The best course of action is to discuss this with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIA planner during your planning meeting or plan review meeting to ensure you can access the funding you need in the appropriate categories. Finding the right supports Before contacting a service provider, you should make note of: What tasks you want completed How often you want these tasks complete (remember to check your plan budget to ensure you don’t end up overspending) Your available days When you are seeking out a service provider, here are some questions you could ask: What type of experience do you have? Will you bring your own equipment? Are you okay with pets? Do I need to be home when you work? Will you remove any waste when you have finished? Do you offer a discount for regular service? Do you have a valid Australian Business number (ABN) Can we have a service agreement* to ensure we are on the same page when it comes to services provided and cost? It’s a good idea to ask for quotes from a few different providers so you can compare the services they provide and the cost for those services. *If you need help with negotiating a service agreement, you can discuss this with your Support Coordinator or a disability advocate. How being Plan Managed can help Many companies or individuals that can help with tasks like home maintenance, cleaning and gardening may not have gone through the lengthy and costly process of becoming NDIS registered, one of the many benefits of being plan managed is that you have access to NDIS registered and unregistered supports and services. Essentially, you have more choice and control over who you employ as part of your support team. Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.

Monthly statements can be a great tool to help you understand your NDIS plan funding better, how your funding is being spent, and if you are over or underspending. Get to know your monthly statements better with our top FIVE tips. What are monthly statements? Before we dive into the tips, it’s a good idea to understand what monthly statements are and why they are important. Each month, you will receive a monthly statement that gives you an up-to-date overview of your NDIS plan funding. Your monthly statements, also sometimes called ‘monthly budget report’, will include: Total spending to date Breakdown of your Core, Capital, and Capacity Building supports Graphs that show your pattern of spending List of your monthly invoices detailing the service date, invoice number, provider, category, and the total cost Your monthly statements, which are released via email on the first day of each month, can be a great tool to help you keep your budgets on track and avoid any overspending or underspending. How do I read them? Your monthly statements show your overall funding summary, as well as a summary of your Core, Capital, and Capacity Building Supports. The summary will show your budget, how much you have spent, how much is pending, and how much is remaining. For example: In the example of Core Funding below, you can see the spending of Assistance with daily life (01) and Assistance with social and community participation (04) are a little under budget, and Transport (02), and Consumables (03) are a little over budget. However, the total spending in Core Funding seen in 'Core Combined' remains under budget. Most of your budgets should remain consistent throughout the year, with three exceptions - Consumables (03), Assistive Technology (05), and Home Modifications (06) – which are often used to make one or two key purchases during the plan. Top FIVE Tips on Monthly Statements Tip #1: Access your personal Client Portal for in-real-time Each month you will receive a monthly statement via email, however, if you want to have in-real-time access to your budgets, you can login to your personal Client Portal. Your Client Portal will provide up-to-date information on your budgets, as well as past and pending invoices. You can login to your Client Portal through the First2Care website by clicking on the Client Portal button on the homepage. If you don’t currently have access to your Client Portal, you can request access by visiting the First2Care website, selecting ‘Your Hub’, then selecting ‘Portal Access’. To access the portal, you just need to fill in your details and one of our friendly support team will contact you. Tip #2: Your Core Funding is flexible When you login to your Client Portal, you have two ways that you can view your Core funding – either as a combined total OR broken down into the Core Support categories. This is because your Core Funding is flexible. Which means that you can move funding between each of the four Core Supports funding categories – Assistance with daily life, Transport, Consumables, and Assistance with social and community participation. To view your Core Supports budget as a combined total, click the button ‘Core Combined’. You can revert this back to the breakdown of your Core Supports by clicking the button again. If you do want to move funding around, contact your First2Care Client Manager or our support team. Tip #3: We do the math for you On your monthly statement, sometimes you will notice that there are some funds pending. This means the funds are currently being processed. Even though the funding is processing, the amount has already been factored into the remaining total. Which means you won’t need to do any math to figure out how much funding you have left. In the example below, the total budget ($60,460.40) minus what has been spent ($31,880.70) and what is pending ($6,897.72) equals $21,681.98, which is the remaining amount. Tip #4: Bar graphs aren’t as scary as they may seem Your monthly statement includes a bar graph of your monthly spend. On this bar graph, there are two lines – one green and one purple – that indicate your average spending rate and your average monthly budget. The green and purple lines allow you to compare how much you’re spending with how much you could spend. In the example below, the participant is underspending based on how much funding they have in their Core budget and have room to increase by at least $500/month. The graph helps to show you the average that you can spend each month based on how much funding is in your plan and how long your plan is expected to last. Tip #5: Keep an eye on the timeline Ideally your spending should sit as close to the timeline (the black line) as possible. The indicates that your budgets are on track, and you’re not over or underspending. If over or underspending does occur, your Client Manager can give you tools and strategies to get your spending back on track. If you have any questions around your monthly statements, you can contact your Client Manager or our support team via 1300 322 273 or email support@first2care.com.au. Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.

Participating in sporting activities can be a fantastic way to be fit, healthy, and socially active within your community. If you’re wanting to focus on being more active and social, it’s a good idea to include this in your NDIS goals. The NDIS can provide funding towards supporting your goals if they meet reasonable and necessary criteria. How funding for sport works The NDIS recognises that regular physical activity can be beneficial. Some of the benefits include: Stronger bones and muscles Lower blood pressure Improved cholesterol Reduced the risk of heart problems Reduced stress and anxiety Improved mental health As an NDIS participant it is possible to receive funding for sporting activities and sporting equipment so long as it is related to your goals and considered reasonable and necessary. Sporting Activities Sporting activities can be funded under two support categories – Capacity Building Support: Increased Social & Community Participation, Improved Health and Wellbeing, and Core Support: Assistance with Social & Community Participation. Capacity Building Support: Increased Social & Community Participation – this support category can help you to build your skills and independence through fitness classes, coaching and other recreational activities in a one-on-one capacity or group classes. Capacity Building Support: Improved Health and Wellbeing – this support category can help to cover exercise physiology and personal training. Core Support: Assistance with Social & Community Participation – this support category can help you to participate in sporting activities through supports, such as a support person. Sporting Equipment As well as being able to fund supports for participation in supporting activities, the NDIS can fund specialised sporting equipment. There are two categories that funding can fall under – Consumables (Core Supports) and Assistive Technology (Capital Supports). Core Supports: Consumables – this support category covers the cost of adapting basic equipment to suit specialised needs. The NDIS won’t typically cover the cost of the basic (or “off-the-shelf”) item, but they can cover the additional cost of any modifications needed for the basic equipment. There are some cases where an off-the-shelf, low-cost item may be covered by the NDIS if it meets reasonable and necessary criteria. Capital Supports: Assistive Technology – this support category covers specialised equipment provided by a specialist disability supplier. For this type of equipment to be funded, you will either need a recommendation from your service provider or an OT assessment depending on the AT costing. Gym memberships… will the NDIS fund them? This is a tricky one to answer especially following the NDIS Would We Fund It? resource, where they gave two examples of gym membership requests both of which were denied. The reasons they provided in the examples for denying the requests were: Gym memberships being considered a day-to-day living expense The membership was not directly related to their disability Of course, things are not always that simple. If you can prove it is reasonable and necessary and provide enough supporting evidence, it may be possible to have a gym membership funded through the NDIS. If the NDIS still deny the request, and you feel it is reasonable and necessary, there are avenues you can take to have the decision reviewed. For more information on this topic, click here. Funding limitations There are some limitations when it comes to funding sporting activities, equipment and supports. Funding in this area is typically for people participating at an entry-level rather than at a professional level or for competitions. This means that the NDIS will not fund competitions with significant prize money or performance contracts, and they won’t fund competing at State or National Championships. Setting your goals When setting your goal, it’s important to think about what you want to achieve in your life. If you want to engage more within your community, build stronger relationships, better your health and wellbeing, or learn new a skill, then participating in sports may help you to work towards and achieve this goal. It’s important to remember that to have clear goals outlined prior to your NDIS planning meeting or plan review meeting with any supporting evidence you may have, so the NDIA can assess what funding you may need to put your goals in to action. How being Plan Managed can help Many sporting groups and organisations are not registered with the NDIS. This is typically because registering with the NDIS can be an expensive and time-consuming process. Having a plan manager – like us! – gives you greater choice and control over who you engage. With plan management (or self-management) you can choose from registered and unregistered providers and organisations to ensure that you find the right fit for you. Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.

If you’re gearing up to leave school and start working, you may be eligible for School Leaver Employment Supports which can help you build your job skills, confidence and independence as you transition from school into work. What is School Leaver Employment Support? School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) is part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme to help support participants as they transition from school to work. SLES is available in the final years of school and directly after school. SLES can support you to: Build your motivation and confidence joining the workforce Develop key capacity building skills for the workforce and within the community Help you to determine your career aspirations and goals Gain a nationally recognised qualification SLES providers offer meaningful, tailored capacity building activities to young people so they can work towards and achieve their employment goals. How does it work? SLES annual funding is available for NDIS participants who are Year 12 school leavers who are ineligible for NDIS Disability Employment Services (DES)* support. *DES eligibility requires a person to be able to undertake – now or with two years – eight hours or more of work per week in open employment, with approved DES supports. Everyone’s employment journey is different depending on the path they take. Which is why each participant using their SLES funding will develop different skills. However, some of the core skills that may be learnt through a SLES program are: Money handling and management Time management Communication skills Discovery activities Work experience Job ready skills Travel skills Personal development skills Resume and cover letter writing Teamwork skills Mental health and wellbeing Preparing for an interview The NDIS can fund school leaver employment supports for up to two years, depending on the participant’s circumstances. How to choose a SLES provider and what to expect from them? There are plenty of SLES providers available to choose from, but the key is choosing the right one for you. To help decide which SLES provider you want to engage, it’s a good idea to ask them some questions first. Some questions you can ask SLES providers: How many young people have you supported to find employment? What opportunities for work experience will be available? Do you offer one-on-one or group support? What kinds of services and supports do you offer? Do you offer flexible hours? What will do to help me achieve goals my goals? What supports would you recommend to help me reach my goals? Is there an opportunity to visit and meet the people who I would be working with? What sort of qualifications do your staff have? The purpose of engaging a SLES provider is to get you ‘work ready’ by offering core skills alongside tailored services to suit your individual employment goals. They should be able to demonstrate how the supports and services they provide have been successful in helping young people with disabilities to meet their goals, gain skills and find sustainable employment. How can I plan for SLES? It’s important for school leavers who are wanting to transition into working life to make sure that SLES is listed in their NDIS plan. If you’re new to the NDIS and are due to graduate between your initial planning meeting and your next plan review, it’s a good idea to discuss SLES with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIA Planner. If this is not your first NDIS plan, then you can discuss SLES with your LAC or NDIA Planner at your plan review meeting. It’s a good idea to come prepared with a list of your employment goals to your planning meeting or plan review so you can discuss this with your LAC or NDIA Planner what goals you would like to achieve and what supports can be included in your NDIS plan to help you achieve those goals. You can also check out our YouTube Vlog interview for more information about School Leaver Employment Supports by clicking here. Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.

There are plenty of reasons why you may have leftover NDIS funding, whether it’s because you were unsure how to spend it, had trouble accessing supports, or planned to save your funding for a bigger purchase towards the end of your plan. Get to know the ins and outs of underspending, what happens to leftover funds, and how you can prevent underspending from happening. What is underspending? When it comes to the NDIS, underspending means that you are not using the full funding that has been allocated in your NDIS plan. There are plenty of reasons this may have happened. Some of those reasons may include: Not knowing what that funding is for or how to use it Having trouble accessing supports Worried about spending on the wrong thing Saving your funding Unable to access supports due to health or other reasons (i.e., hospitalisation) Not knowing your maximum weekly spend Whatever the reason, if you know your overall budget, how much funding you have remaining and how long before your NDIS plan is due to expire then you can make changes before the end of your plan to use your funding effectively. How can I find out if I’ve underspent? If you are Plan Managed by First2Care and you think that you may have underspent on your NDIS funding, you can check this by logging into your personal Plan Magic online portal at any time where you can view your budgets in-real-time as well as your latest monthly budget statement. Your monthly budget statement will give you a clear view of how your overall NDIS budget is tracking as well as a breakdown of your Core, Capital and Capacity Building Supports. It is important to know that if one of our First2Care Client Managers notices that you are significantly underspending (or overspending) on your budget, they may contact you to discuss tools and strategies to help you to use your funding as it was intended. What happens to leftover funding? A major misconception when it comes to leftover funding is that any remaining funding will automatically transfer across on to the next plan you receive. This is not the case. If funding is not used, it is returned to the NDIA. Which means, if you do have funding remaining, it is important to discuss with your LAC or NDIA planner during your plan review meeting the reasons why that funding wasn’t spent and why you feel that you need that funding in your next plan. How to avoid underspending in the future The best way to avoid underspending (or overspending) in the future is to understand your budget. Get to know: How much your overall funding How much your Core, Capital, and Capacity Building funding is Whether those funding categories are flexible What your maximum weekly spending is* Your monthly Plan Magic online portal budget statements (if you are Plan Managed by First2Care) Who you can ask for help (First2Care, Support Coordinator, LAC) *If you would like assistance in working out your maximum weekly spending, contact your First2Care Client Manager. They can provide you a breakdown of your budget into weekly spending, so that you can be sure to use your plan effectively and as it was intended. Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.

The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (formerly the NDIS Price Guide), is a guide that provides NDIS participants with an overview of how they can use their funding as well as the price limits on services that a service provider can charge. Although this guide is incredibly helpful and important for NDIS participants, there are a lot of pages (we’re talking 100+) and often the language used is complex. To make things easier, let’s breakdown how to read, understand, and navigate the NDIS Pricing Arrangements & Price Limits with confidence. What is the Pricing Arrangements & Price Limits? The Pricing Arrangements & Price Limits is released every financial year to reflect the new market cost of services. Although the guide is released annually, there are circumstances where updates may be required (like with Covid-19). When this occurs, the guide is updated online and the NDIS will release a statement on their website notifying of any changes. The guide outlines the pricing for supports, how providers should invoice, price limits, if a quote is required, and any rules and regulations that apply for the year ahead. The guide contains plenty of useful information around what you might be able to claim using your NDIS funding and what category you can claim under. How to use the Pricing Arrangements & Price Limits There are hundreds of kinds of supports and descriptions listed in the guide. So, in order to navigate the guide easily you’ll first need to understand how the NDIS categorises supports. The NDIS categorises supports into ‘Support Purposes’, ‘Support Categories’, and ‘Support Items’ Support Purposes Your Support Purposes are divided into: Core supports: your main support category which helps with everyday activities, and to access and participate within your community Capital Supports: covers Assistive Technology and Home Modification Capacity Building Supports: designed to help build skills and independence in your daily life, and to help you pursue your goals Support Categories Support categories further breakdown your Support Purposes – Core, Capital and Capacity Building Supports. Your Core supports is divided into four main categories. They are: Assistance with Daily Life Consumables Assistance with Social and Community Participation Transport Your Capital supports is divided into two main categories. They are: Assistive Technology Home Modifications Your Capacity Building Supports are divided into eight categories. They are: Improved Living Arrangements (or ‘CB Home Living’) Increased Social and Community Participation (or ‘CB Social Community and Civic Participation’) Finding and Keeping a Job (or ‘CB Employment’) Improved Relationships (or ‘CB Relationships’) Improved Health and Wellbeing (or ‘CB Health and Wellbeing’) Improved Learning (or ‘CB Lifelong Learning’) Improved Choices (or CB Choice and Control) Improved Daily Living (or CB Daily Activity) Support Items Each support that a provider supplies to a participant can be classified as one of the support items listed in guide. Providers claim payments against the support item that aligns to the service they have delivered. Support item example: It specifies the item number (or line item), the item name and notes, the unit (or how frequently it is charged i.e., each, hour, daily, week, month, and annual), and then the pricing limits for national, remote, and very remote areas. Now that you know how the NDIS categorises supports, all you need to do is: Go to the table of contents Find support purpose and support category (i.e., Core Support, Assistance with Daily Life) Review the different options underneath the support category and find the most relevant to you Go to the corresponding page number Review the description of that support and the pricing limits. What is a line item? Essentially every support service that you receive will have a line item, or to put it simply – a code, attached to it. This code is then used by your service providers on your invoices to show the NDIA what support service they provided and by the NDIA to determine which of your support budgets pays for the support. What if a support fits into more than one line item? Some NDIS supports may fall under different support categories (Core, Capital, Capacity Building) and line items. If this is the case, always choose the relevant line item from either your Capital or Capacity Building Support budget before choosing a line item under Core Supports. The reason for this is because both Capital and Capacity Building Supports are typically not flexible, whereas your Core Supports budget is flexible. If you no longer have funding available in your Capital or Capacity Building Support budget, then you could use your Core Support budget. The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits can be a little confusing and overwhelming. If you need help to better understand how the guide works, you can contact your Support Coordinator, your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or our support team. Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.

Goals are a great way to give yourself something to focus on and work towards. However, it’s important to recognise that your goals may change over time, whether that’s because your focus has shifted or because you’ve achieved a goal that you previously set. Regularly reflecting on your goals is a great way to ensure that your goals align with your wants and needs – and what better time of year to do a bit of reflecting than at the beginning of a new year. Why are goals important? Goals are important because they show the NDIA what your personal aims and desires are, the things you want to work towards in the short and long-term. They also help to inform the NDIA what funding you may need in your NDIS plan. Although the NDIA doesn’t directly fund your goals, they can fund supports and services that can help you to achieve your goals. Your goals may include: Building your capacity for more independence Working towards finding a job or studying Participating in social and recreation activities Connecting with family, friends, and your community When you attend your planning meeting or plan review meeting, it’s important to have a clear idea of what your short and long-term goals are so you can discuss them with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIA planner. Reflect first, review second Before reviewing your goals, you should reflect on what you have already achieved. When we say “achieved” we don’t necessarily mean a goal that you have completed. Goals take time, sometimes they are ongoing indefinitely, and that’s okay. The key to reflecting on what you’ve achieved, is to take the time to recognise the wins – big or small. It’s important to acknowledge: Any barriers or challenges that you experienced How you overcame those barriers Whether you are still overcoming those barriers What wins or successes you have experienced How your current goals are progressing What you enjoyed and what you didn’t Once you have reflected on your current goals, then you can think about whether those goals are still a focus for you, or if you would like to make an adjustment to one or more of your goals. An adjustment could be something small like restructuring a goal you already have or maybe you have a whole new goal that you want to work towards. How to know if your goals are working for you If you’re unsure how to review your current goals to know if they are still working for you, you can ask yourself these questions: Are my goals still relevant to my current aspirations? Are there any changes in my circumstances or priorities? What steps have I taken that have helped me to work towards or achieve my goals? Are my goals better suited as a short-term goals or long-term goals? Am I over or underspending on my NDIS funding? How can I use my NDIS funding better? Who can help me achieve my goals? Goal Setting Top Tips When setting your goals, it’s a good idea to: Write down your goals and have them in an easy access location Write your goals in a way that means that funding can be used flexibly Choose goals that are relevant to you or that you are passionate about Make sure your goals are achievable Set as many goals as you feel comfortable (the NDIA suggests 3-5 short term goals and 2-3 long-term goals, however that is just a guide) Think about whether your goals cover these areas: home, work, health and wellbeing, relationships, choice and control, daily living, lifelong learning, and social and community participation Give yourself a realistic timeframe for achieving each goal Turn your goals into a habit Share your goals with a friend, family member or even someone who can be a goal buddy so you can encourage each other to keep working towards your respective goals and share your wins If you need help with your goals, you can discuss them with your LAC or Support Coordinator. Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.

To process NDIS participant invoices or requests for reimbursements, the NDIA need to have a clear process in place to ensure all invoices and reimbursements can be managed correctly. The NDIS requires that specific information be included on an invoice or reimbursement for it to be processed. One key piece of information needed are NDIS line items. In this article, gain a better understanding of what a line item is, how to read one, and what to do if your support service fits into different categories or line items. What is a ‘line item’? An NDIS line item is the NDIA’s way of categorising support services. Essentially every support service that you receive will have a line item, or to put it simply – a code, attached to it. This code is then used by your service providers on your invoices to show the NDIA what support service they provided and by the NDIA to determine which of your support budgets pays for the support. By understanding what line items are, it can help you to navigate the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits Guide (formerly known as the Price Guide) and assist you in understanding the support services you have been funded for as well as the price limits the NDIS has laid out for that service. How to read a line item Sometimes when things are written in a coded way, it can be a little daunting to try to read or understand it. NDIS line items are simple to understand once you know how they are created. Line items are made up of two parts: A brief description of the service provided A unique numerical code Here is an example taken from the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2021-2022: Assistance with Self Care Activities – Night-Time Sleepover Support NDIS Description of service: This support item provides a participant with assistance with, or supervision of, personal tasks of daily life where overnight support is needed, but the caregiver can sleep when not required to provide support. This support applies to any day of the week and on public holidays. This support item includes up to two hours of active supports provided to the participant for the duration of the period. Providers may claim for the third or additional hour at Saturday rates on weekdays, or at applicable rates on other days (Saturdays, Sundays or Public Holidays). This support item can be delivered to individual participants subject to the rules set out in this NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. As well as direct service provision, this support item can be used to claim for: Non-Face-to-Face Support Provision Provider Travel Short Notice Cancellations Providers of this support can also claim for the costs of: Provider Travel - Non-Labour Costs using support item 01_799_0107_1_1 Line item example: Sometimes there might be two or more line items in one category. Here is another example taken from the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2021-2022 with two line items in one category: Assistance with Household Tasks NDIS Description of service: These support items enable participants to maintain their home environment. This may involve undertaking essential household tasks that the participant is not able to undertake. These support items can be delivered to individual participants subject to the rules set out in this NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. As well as direct service provision, these support items can be used to claim for: Non-Face-to-Face Support Provision Provider Travel Short Notice Cancellations Providers of these supports can also claim for the costs of: Provider Travel - Non-Labour Costs using support item 01_799_0120_1_1 Line item example: What if a support falls into several line item categories? Some NDIS supports may fall under different support categories (Core, Capital, Capacity Building) and line items. If this is the case, always choose the relevant line item from either your Capital or Capacity Building Support budget before choosing a line item under Core Supports. The reason for this is because both Capital and Capacity Building Supports are typically not flexible, whereas your Core Supports budget is flexible. If you no longer have funding available in your Capital or Capacity Building Support budget, then you could use your Core Support budget. We know that navigating the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits guide can be very complex, if you have any questions our friendly support team are always happy to help. Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.

When it comes to Functional Capacity Assessments, there can be a lot of confusion around when to get one, how often, where to go and so many more unanswered questions. We've pulled together our top five tips to make sure that you have all the information you need to know about Functional Capacity Assessments. What is a functional capacity assessment? Before we get into the top tips, it’s important to know what a functional capacity assessment (FCA) is and how it relates to your NDIS plan. An FCA works to determine your current level of functioning, your strengths and weaknesses, how you manage on a day-to-day basis, and it can help to identify any challenges or gaps that may need to be addressed. After having an FCA, your occupational therapist (OT) or other specialised health professional can make recommendations based on the assessment outcomes that can be used as supporting evidence of your funding needs when applying to the NDIS as well as in future plan reviews. It’s very important to know that FCA’s are fundamentally different from the Independent Assessments (IA) proposal that was scrapped in 2021. One of the key reasons FCA’s and IA’s are sometimes confused is because both use standardised assessments. During an FCA, standardised assessments are used as a secondary measure to back up the assessments and observations made by an OT health professional. The primary focus is on observation, assessments of numerous tasks, reporting, feedback, and bringing all the observations together to create an FCA report. An FCA can often take 10-12 hours to complete over multiple sessions. Whereas with the proposed IA’s, the primary focus was standardised assessments, 20 minutes of observation and a minimum of one task assessed. Needless to say, FCA’s provide better insights, more details, and a fuller picture of a person’s capacity alongside the benefit that you can choose your own OT assessor rather than having one assigned to you. Tip #1 Knowing when to get an FCA When applying for the NDIS, you need to submit an Access Request which includes providing supporting information regarding your disability, your current supports and support needs, as well as any other supporting evidence you have that has been provided by health professionals. This could include an FCA, however it is not necessary to obtain this for your NDIS Access Request. The reason an FCA is not considered necessary is partially because it can be a very costly process to undergo. While it might assist you in getting the funding you need, there is no guarantee that it would have any impact on your allocated funding and paying for an FCA out of pocket is not affordable for most people. You do have the option of doing an FCA after your planning meeting or plan review meeting. If you would like to have an FCA, discuss this with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIA planner during your planning meeting or plan review meeting so they can note that you would like additional funding added to your NDIS plan to have an FCA completed. Tip #2 Finding the right functional capacity assessor When searching for an OT assessor to complete your FCA, you can ask for a referral from your general practitioner (GP) doctor as they will already have a base knowledge of your needs and are likely to recommend someone that would be a compatible choice for you. It’s important to note, that you do not need a GP referral letter to see an OT assessor for an FCA. Another option that you can explore is finding an OT assessor yourself. MyCareSpace have a great list of OT’s that perform FCA’s, which you can view here. All you need to do is fill in your postcode or suburb and you will be directed to OT assessor options in your area. The website outlines who can provide evidence of functional impairment in relation to the six domains listed in the NDIS Act and what assessments are deemed best practices for a range of disabilities. You should always choose an OT assessor that best matches your support needs but it's important to note that not all OT's have decided to practice and develop their skills in FCAs. So, when choosing an OT assessor it is essential to choose someone who specialises in FCA skills. Remember, you can request funding in your NDIS plan for an FCA. You do not need to spend money out-of-pocket to have this done prior to applying for the NDIS. Tip #3 Be prepared An FCA can be a bit of a lengthy process that can be done in one longer session or be spread out over multiple sessions. How long the FCA takes will depend on the complexity of your situation and the amount of funding that has been allocated for an FCA in your NDIS plan (if you opted to have the assessment done after the commencement of your NDIS plan). The FCA can be done at home, in a clinic, another environment within the community, by phone or via video chat. The OT assessor doing the assessment will take into consideration your age, disability, and any other important factors. Your OT assessor will explore your: Management of daily tasks like showering, dressing, toileting, personal hygiene, sleep, nutrition etc. and if there are any challenges that may be impacting your ability to complete these tasks Home management skills like meal preparation, shopping, cleaning, laundry, household budgets and bills etc. and any challenges within your current living situation and supports Community management abilities like accessing shops, banks, attending medical or health related appointments etc. and how you manage this with driving, public transport or supported transport access Work and study abilities and whether there are any challenges you experience or short- or long-term goals you would like to set Recreational and social engagement skills like exercise, craft, art, music etc. and how your ability to engage may be impacted, as well as whether you want to engage and your confidence in engaging socially in the community When your FCA is complete, your OT assessor will finalise the Functional Assessment report with a summary of your current functional abilities and recommendations for ongoing support, as well as any therapy or Assistive Technology (AT) options that may increase your independence and help you to achieve your goals. Your FCA can then be used as supporting evidence in your future plan review meetings or for an early plan review, to help ensure that you have the funding that you need. Tip #4 Review your FCA When your FCA is complete, it’s important to review the assessment that has been provided. Although the OT assessors should cover everything, reviewing it can help to prevent you or your OT assessor missing any key information. If something is missing, you can provide more information or request another session with your assessor to address those gaps. It’s also a good idea to let your assessor know if you are having a good, average, or bad day when you are having your FCA completed. If the impact of your disability fluctuated from good to bad days, sharing this information can help to ensure that your report is balanced and doesn’t just focus on the good or bad. Your FCA should provide an accurate representation of you and your needs. Sometimes it can be overwhelming to review your FCA, as there may be some assessments made by the OT that were unexpected or surprising for you. If you feel this way, you can always reach out for support from your family, friends, disability advocates etc. to work through reviewing the FCA before sending it to the NDIA. Tip #5 How often do I need an FCA? When it comes to an FCA, some people have them completed regularly (i.e., with every plan review) while others have never had one at all. But the real question is, how often do you actually need an FCA? The NDIA has not yet provided any definitive answer to the question. However, based on the information that was put forward regarding the frequency of IA's when they were proposed, it is safe to say that once you have had your initial FCA, having another FCA roughly every five years would be reasonable. However, if there have been any significant changes in your circumstances or capacity, you should seek to have an FCA completed so that it accurately represents your current circumstances. Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.