Funding Type Spotlight: NDIS Improved Daily Living
Improved Daily Living is the part of an NDIS plan that pays for building skills, not for someone doing things for you. It sits in the Capacity Building budget, and from 1 October 2026 it's one of only two budget areas the Government can reduce under its new support determination power. Here's what it covers, what it costs in 2026–27, and what's changing.
In the NDIS Pricing Schedule it's support category 15, Improved Daily Living Skills. The new NDIS Act refers to the same group as "improved daily living skills".
What NDIS Improved Daily Living funding can be used for
Improved Daily Living funds supports that build your capacity over time. Broadly, that's three things.
✔ Assessments and reports
Functional capacity assessments
Reports the NDIA asks for to show how you're going against your goals
✔ Therapy
Occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy and psychology linked to your goals and daily functioning
Training for parents and carers so they can support you better
✔ Learning everyday skills
Cooking, meal planning and food preparation
Household routines like cleaning and laundry
Personal organisation and time management
Budgeting, daily planning and decision making
Travel and public transport skills
What it doesn't cover
Someone doing tasks for you. That's Core funding, under Assistance with Daily Life.
Everyday living costs like groceries, rent and bills. The Act now states that participants are responsible for their day-to-day living costs (section 17B).
Supports another system should provide, such as health treatment or education. From 1 February 2027, the Act says the NDIS won't fund a support that would be more appropriately provided by another scheme or government service system (section 34(1)(g)).
Codes and pricing (2026–27)
These are the two Improved Daily Living items we deliver, with their price limits from the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026–27, effective 1 July 2026:
15_037_0117_1_3 Skill Development and Training including Public Transport Training: up to $73.58 an hour (national), $103.01 remote, $110.37 very remote.
15_035_0106_1_3 Assistance With Decision Making, Daily Planning and Budgeting: up to $73.58 an hour (national), $103.01 remote, $110.37 very remote.
Price limits apply if your plan is managed by the NDIA or by a registered plan manager. If you self-manage, they don't bind you, but they're still a useful guide.
What's changing: the 10% reduction from 1 October
From 1 October 2026, the Minister can make a support determination reducing Improved Daily Living funding. The Government has said the reduction will be 10%.
It applies to plans that start after the determination takes effect (section 34A), so most people will see it at their next reassessment or renewal. If your plan has $10,000 of Improved Daily Living funding, a 10% reduction would leave $9,000.
The Act says the reductions will carve out some supports, including disability-related health supports and supports in employment (section 34A(1C)).
The new variation pathway for people who need 24-hour care can't be used to top Improved Daily Living funding back up (section 47B(9)).
Social and community participation funding is being reduced by 50% at the same time. We explain that one in The 1 October NDIS Changes: What They Mean for Group Programs and Community Access.
What changes from February 2027
Evidence counts more. When the NDIA decides whether a support is effective and beneficial, published, peer-reviewed research now ranks first and evidence of how the support has worked for you ranks third. The NDIA can refuse a support where the research is thin, even if your own outcomes are good (section 34(1E) and (1F)). For skill building, clear goals and regular progress records matter more than ever.
Caps are possible. The instrument used to work out plan budgets can now set a maximum amount, a maximum intensity or a maximum worker-to-participant ratio for a support (section 33(2EA)).
We go through the full Act in The NDIS Act 2026 Has Passed. Here's What Changed From the Bill, and What Didn't.
Who is this support best for?
Improved Daily Living suits people who want to do more for themselves, for example:
Young people finishing school or getting ready to move out
Adults building routines to live more independently
People who want to manage their own money, appointments and weekly planning
Anyone whose goal is to need less support over time
How we deliver Improved Daily Living
We deliver Improved Daily Living 1:1, at home and in the community, on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Sessions focus on building systems you can repeat on your own, including cleaning and household routines, meal planning and food preparation, laundry, personal organisation, time management, and breaking tasks into steps. We also support decision making, daily planning and budgeting. You can read more on our Improved Daily Living page.
If you'd rather build skills in a group, see our spotlight on Skills Development and Training, which is funded from a different budget, Increased Social and Community Participation.
Choosing the right provider
When you use Improved Daily Living funding, look for a provider who:
✔ Sets clear, measurable goals with you
✔ Keeps progress records you can use at your reassessment
✔ Builds your skills rather than just doing the task
✔ Explains codes and pricing upfront
✔ Plans for you to need less support over time
Need help with Improved Daily Living?
If you'd like to know whether Improved Daily Living fits your plan, or how the October changes affect it, we're happy to help.
📍 Based on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast
Sources
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026, Federal Register of Legislation
This is general information, current as at 21 September 2026. It isn't advice about your individual plan. Price limits are maximums, and providers may charge less.
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