NDIS Transport is a crucial element in the NDIS to empower people with disabilities to live more independently. It opens doors to job hunting, work opportunities, education pursuits, appointments, sports, social events, and everyday chores. 

However, navigating NDIS transport funding can be a bit of a maze, with multiple funding levels and types to wrap your head around. 

In this blog, we will delve into the intricate world of Transport funded by the NDIS, so you can grasp it better and, in turn, offer transport-related services more effectively.

NDIS’s Role in NDIS Transport Support

When it comes to Transport Support for people with disabilities, the NDIS is responsible for:

• Helping people travel independently with training or assistive technology.
• Modifying private vehicles, but not public transport or taxis.
• Funding taxis, rideshares, or private transport if public transport is too difficult to use.

Transport Support is only for participants, not for their families, carers, or support providers. However, providers can claim travel time for home support or community activities with participants.

Below are some examples of Participant Transport Support that can be funded by NDIS: 

• Costs of taxis or other private transport options if the person cannot travel independently, as well as transport to and from school for students (Transport Funding).
• Driving test if the person needs to drive a modified car.
• Modifications to the participant’s car (Vehicle Modifications).
• Driving lessons if the person needs to learn how to drive a modified car or needs extra lessons because of their disability (Specialised Driver Training).
• Learning to use public transport (Public Transport Training).
• Activity based transport, for the cost of support workers to help the person get to work, study, or join social activities (Activity Based Transport).
• Also, the NDIS can pay for the support worker time and travel expenses to travel to the participant’s home to provide a support service (Provider Travel).

Things the NDIA Looks at Before Adding Transport Support to a Plan

Participants can get NDIS support for transport if their disability makes it very hard to use public transport.

According to NDIS guidelines, when the NDIA looks at transport funding needs, they will check if the transport support is:

• Reasonable and necessary.
• An extra cost directly due to the participant’s disability.
• A cost the participant wouldn’t have without their disability.

More specifically, for a NDIS transport support to be considered ‘reasonable and necessary,’ it should:

• Relate to the participant’s disability.
• Help the participant achieve their goals and objectives in their plan.
• Provide good value for money. This means the cost should be reasonable compared to other supports that offer similar benefits or reduce future support needs.

Transport funding as a ‘reasonable and necessary’ support helps participants participate in community activities, social events, work, and daily life activities.

‍

1. Transport Funding

Participants who can’t use public transport easily due to their disability can get Transport Funding (previously known as Transport Allowance)  for taxis, rideshares, community transport, and other suitable options.

This transport support is a “core support” under the NDIS. This means the NDIS funds transportation to help participants achieve their goals and engage in activities that promote independence and well-being. 

The NDIA must ensure the supports are reasonable and necessary according to the participant’s NDIS plan.

This funding considers any taxi subsidy scheme, so participants should use the cheapest transport that meets their needs. It does not cover transport for carers to take their family members to everyday activities.

Three levels of Transport Support

There are three levels of transport assistance to help create a transport budget for participants. NDIA-funded supports are updated yearly.

• Level 1: Up to $1,606 per year for participants who are not working, studying, or in day programs but want to increase community access (e.g., volunteering).
• Level 2: Up to $2,472 per year for participants who work or study part-time (up to 15 hours a week), attend day programs, or engage in social, recreational, or leisure activities.
• Level 3: Up to $3,456 per year for participants who work, look for work, or study at least 15 hours a week and can’t use public transport due to their disability.

In special cases, participants might get more funding if they have general or funded supports in their plan to help them participate in employment.

General Transport 

This support item allows a participant to pay a provider to transport them to an activity, even if the activity might not be a support service or is provided by another provider.

As a result, General Transport enables participant travel to and from appointments or workplaces, community events, social outings, and educational activities. 

Individual participants must have transport included in their NDIS plan to claim General Transport. Once it's included, they can receive this support following the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits rules.

If transport funding is included in their plan, participants can manage the funding themselves and receive an allowance directly into their bank account every fortnight. It's recommended that they request self-management during the planning phase for easier control and flexibility.

Example of General Transport

Alex doesn’t work or study and lives close to the city. Due to limited mobility, Alex's NDIS Plan includes funding for regular taxi services. This service is needed to attend a weekly swimming club, which is important for Alex's social and community participation goals. 

Since the trips are relatively short, the transport funding in Alex's Plan is $1,500 for the year.

Taxi company (as a Provider) delivers transport service to Alex at a cost of $50. The relevant support item (02_051_0108_1_1 | Transport) is not subject to a price limit but has a “notional” unit price of $1.00. The provider would submit a payment request for 50 units at $1.00 a unit for a total amount of $50.

Specialised Transport

This support provides specialised transportation for participants to schools, educational places, work, or community activities. It includes custom arrangements for people with physical disabilities or mobility issues, such as wheelchair-accessible vehicles and escorts if needed. Providers are experienced in ensuring safe and comfortable travel.

Individual participants can receive this support following NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits rules.

‍

2. Vehicle Modifications

If a participant needs a specialised or modified car due to their disability, the NDIS may fund this under the category of Assistive Technology, provided:

• The modifications are directly related to the participant’s disability.
• The cost of the modifications is reasonable compared to other supports.

While the NDIS may not fund the vehicle itself, it can cover modifications to help participants:

• Get in or out of the vehicle more easily, with or without a wheelchair.
• Drive the vehicle using specialised controls or other adaptations.
• Be safely transported while in a wheelchair.
• Carry their wheelchair on the vehicle without needing to lift it.

‍

3. Specialised Driver Training Support

This support helps participants gain independence by providing driving lessons tailored to their specific needs related to their disability.

To access this support, participants need an assessment from a specialised Occupational Therapist trained in driving.

Individual participants can receive this support according to NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. It must be quoted and specified in the participant's plan to be used.

‍

4. Public Transport Training

This support provides personalised training, either at home or in the community, to help participants confidently use public transport systems, promoting greater independence.

It falls under Support Category 15 (Improved Daily Living) in the participant’s plan, focusing on building skills and capabilities.

The training includes customised sessions to improve route planning, safety awareness, and understanding of ticketing systems. Skilled trainers lead practical sessions and use technology to help participants navigate public transport networks effectively.

‍

5. Activity Based Transport 

The NDIS can fund payments to support workers who drive participants to activities they organise. These activities can be part of Social, Economic, and Community Participation Supports or Capacity Building Supports.

Specifically, participants can claim for Activity Based Transport from any of the following support categories:

• Assistance with Social and Community Participation.
• Improved Living Arrangements.
• Increased Social and Community Participation.
• Improved Relationships.
• Improved Learning.
• Finding and Keeping a Job (excl. SLES).

These trips are charged at an agreed hourly rate, which includes the total time your support worker attends the activity. You can also charge for the time it takes your support worker to travel to and from the participant’s home (Provider Travel).

Additionally, you can charge the participant for extra travel costs like road tolls, parking fees, or public transport tickets. It’s a good idea to discuss these costs beforehand and sign a service agreement that includes the hourly rate and any extra costs.

Example of Activity-Based Transport

Terri’s chess club includes a monthly competition organised by a specialist provider. To help Terri and others attend, the provider offers a shuttle bus service from home to the event and back.

The provider can charge for their time organising the activity as a community participation service. They can also split the transport costs among the participants.

For example, a round trip of 50 kilometres costs $50 in total, so each participant pays $10 per month. For Terri, this adds up to $120 per year from her plan.

‍

6. Provider Travel

This NDIS support covers travel costs and the time a worker spends travelling to a participant’s location to provide direct support. In some cases, it may also cover the time spent travelling back to the provider’s place of business.

Provider Travel comes in two types:

• Labour Costs: This includes the time and effort of support workers.
• Non-Labour Costs: This covers kilometre costs, parking fees, and road tolls.

Provider Travel - Labour Costs are charged separately from the primary support, using the agreed hourly rate for the primary support. The maximum amount you can charge largely depends on the region, as defined by the Modified Monash Model (MMM), and the nature of the support provided.

Provider Travel - Non-labour Cost cover additional expenses incurred when travelling to deliver primary support, such as road tolls, parking fees, and vehicle running costs. The NDIA defines reasonable contributions as follows:

• Up to the full amount for other transportation-related costs like road tolls, parking, and public transport fares.
• Up to $0.97 per kilometre for provider or worker-owned vehicles.

Non-labour costs related to Provider Travel are also charged separately from the primary support and the travel time. These non-labour costs should be claimed under the "Provider Travel - non-labour costs" support item specified in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.

Example of Provider Travel

A support worker travels 35 minutes (20 kilometers) to assist a participant in Zone 3 with self-care activities for two hours. Under the service agreement:

• Hourly rate: $72.13.
• Travel rate: $0.85 per kilometer.
• Travel time claim limit in Zone 3: 30 minutes.
• Toll fee: $10.

A breakdown of your claim will look like:

• Primary Support: $144.26 for two hours.
• Provider Travel - Labour Cost: $36.07 for 30 minutes.
• Provider Travel - Non-labour cost (Distance): $17 for 20 kilometers.
• Provider Travel - Non-labour cost (Toll fee): $10.
• Total claim: $207.33.