Low cost AT items can be purchased using the consumables support category in the Core budget of your NDIS plan.
Under this new approach you cannot purchase items more than $1500 and must comply with the exclusions, but we do not think participants will need to spend more than $750 to get the items they needed to maintain existing services.
As an example, therabands and exercise balls are likely to be more appropriate than exercise machines for use at home to continue a fitness program under the policy.
In the case of computer tablets or iPads for telehealth/care or participating in online video classes, advice from AT specialists is that most NDIS participants will not need more than a standard tablet, which costs no more than $600.
Your Core support budget is flexible – so if you don’t have enough money in your consumables support category, you can use funding allocated to other support categories.
Plan managed or self-managed participants can purchase these items from any provider, and NDIA-managed participants can purchase these from NDIS providers registered to deliver the relevant AT support.
Many NDIS therapy and support coordination providers registered to deliver AT supports could assist Agency managed participants with the supply of the AT item for you, and make the claim through the provider portal.
We know some participants may only have funding in their Capacity Building budget, like children assessing the early childhood approach. We introduced a new support code in the Capacity Building budget called: Low Cost AT - Support Capacity Building delivery - 15_222400911_0124_1_3.
You can use this to claim for these supports.