The NDS Helpdesk team have chosen the top five questions and responses from the past month. These questions cover NDIS Practice Standards and the NDIS price guide. Got a question on your mind? NDS members can ask the Helpdesk

Question 1

When claiming for Programs of Support, can this be funded by different funding categories for the same group? For example, one participant pays using core funds and another participant in the same group pays using capacity building funds?

Answer

The NDIS Pricing Arrangements deal with Programs of Support from p. 28. It notes Programs of Support can be entered into by providers of group-based supports in:

• 'Assistance in Shared Living Arrangements - Supported Independent Living section of the Assistance with Daily Life Support Category
• Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation Support Category, including Supports in Employment
• any of the Capacity Building Support Categories'

There is nothing in the Pricing Arrangements to suggest several participants couldn't partake in the same program using different funding categories (provided they are one of the above).

The document emphasises the program should support 'the achievement of a specified outcome' and notes providers must enter into an agreement with each participant, 'specifying the program of support, including its length, exit rules and intended outcomes'.

Question 2

Is a provider able to deliver domestic supports at a client's home while they are admitted to hospital?

Answer

It is possible for a provider to support a participant with domestic services whilst they are admitted to the hospital, provided that the support is in line with their goals, the support is related to their disability and the support is not more appropriately delivered by another mainstream system.

As a provider, if you have a service agreement with a participant and provide services on a regular basis (such as domestic assistance and/or yard work), you are able to continue delivering these supports with the consent of the participant, as it would make sense that these supports would be provided regardless of hospitalisation (making them a disability-related need), and that they would need to continue to maintain the household. We would suggest ensuring that the participant agreed to the provision of the support whilst they were hospitalised and also suggest informing their LAC or support coordinator of the arrangements that are in place.

Question 3

I am requesting clarification regarding the new guidelines for claiming the $27 per worker per participant for PPE, as recently released on the NDIS website. We have received notice that some providers are planning to claim this which has caused concerns with families and sustainability of current plans.

Answer

During the current COVID emergency the NDIA has indicated providers can claim up to $27 per participant, per worker, per day for support worker PPE when delivering assistance with daily life supports.

The Agency believes most participants will have sufficient funding in their plans to cover the cost of these supports. If, however, a participant funds are going to be depleted prior to the end of the plan, the participant will need to request a plan review.

Question 4

As a plan manager, we receive tax invoices on behalf of NDIS clients. Should the invoices be made out to our organisation as the plan manager, or the participant?

Answer

The NDIS Guide to Plan Management September 2020 does not specifically address the question of whether invoices should be made out to the registered Plan Manager or to the individual NDIS participant. Section 4.2.1 of the Guide provides information relating to invoices and what should be included on these. 

We suggest that invoices be made out to the Plan Manager with reference to the NDIS participant and the services or goods delivered.

Question 5

Can a participant over the age of 18 receive ILO support from a previous informal support who is not related to them?

Answer

The ILO Guideline provides detail about what is likely to be funded under ILO. It is worth noting that the guideline is not prescriptive.

There are two stages to ILO: 'exploration and design' and 'supports'. Assuming you are referring to the latter stage, within this stage there are two examples provided of primary support types: host arrangements (living with a person/family not related to the participant) or housemates (living with people who provide care, help and companionship).

The Guideline is clear that a host arrangement should not be fulfilled by the participant's family, however there is no explicit suggestion that an unrelated informal support is not able to be a host. It is worth noting the Guideline is clear that the NDIS won't fund supports that 'would be reasonable to expect your family, friends or community to provide' (page 16).

NDS is currently gauging sector interest in ILO and considering future information sessions to allow providers to better understand the support type. Keep an eye on NDS news updates for further information.