NDIS participants will now have greater flexibility and increased choice when it comes to accessing transport funding in their plans.
From March 1, 2020, participants will be able to use their plan’s core support funding to claim service provider costs associated with transporting participants to and from NDIS funded community-based activities.
Providers will be able to claim some of their vehicle running costs when offering transport to a participant in conjunction with the community activities identified in their NDIS plan. These costs, which are in addition to the support worker’s time, will be factored at a per kilometre rate and can be claimed by providers as a separate item as part of the support they are delivering to participants.
The change will give participants more autonomy in their plans, and greater choice and control over the services and supports they need, NDIS Minister Stuart Robert said.
“Participants now have a fair and consistent process to cover their transport costs with providers. These changes build on positive momentum in resolving the long-standing issues regarding the interface between the NDIS and transport supports.”
In October 2019 the COAG Disability Reform Council endorsed an approach to improve the provision of transport supports under the NDIS. This included interim measures to increase transport funding for NDIS participants who are significant users of the taxi subsidy scheme.
The Federal Government will fully reimburse states and territories for their taxi subsidy schemes from January this year until October 31, 2021.
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