What this budget is
Improved Daily Living Skills is support category 15, in the Capacity Building part of your plan. Its purpose is to build your skills and independence in daily life. Most people know it as the therapy budget. In older plans and some plan management portals it still appears as CB Daily Activity or Improved Daily Living.
What it pays for
- Therapy from allied health professionals, such as occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy, psychology, podiatry and counselling
- Early childhood supports for children younger than 9, including key worker and family centred supports
- Assessments and reports, such as functional capacity assessments and assistive technology advice
- Daily living skills training, including public transport training, from support workers or therapy assistants
- Multidisciplinary team supports, hearing supports and some specialised driver training
Therapy price limits for 2026/27
The NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026/27, effective 24 September 2026, sets these hourly price limits in most of Australia, with higher limits in remote and very remote areas:
- Occupational therapy: $193.99
- Speech pathology: $193.99
- Physiotherapy: $183.99
- Psychology: $252.99
- Skill development and training, including public transport training: $73.58
The 10% reset from 1 October 2026
Under a support determination, funding for improved daily living skills supports is reduced by 10% when your plan is created, reassessed or renewed between 1 October 2026 and 30 September 2027. Renewals are included from 1 February 2027. Your current plan keeps working until then.
The reduction applies to the budget, not to what you spend. Some subgroups are protected, including disability related health supports, hearing services, customised and wearable technology and high intensity supports. Your new plan shows the total, the amount available and the funding not affected. The reset does not apply to new framework plans, which start from 1 April 2027.
How it differs from Core daily life support
Assistance with Daily Life in Core pays for someone to help you with, or do, everyday tasks. Improved Daily Living Skills pays for building your own skills so you need less help over time. A worker who cooks for you is Core. A worker or therapist who teaches you to cook is Improved Daily Living Skills.
Making it last
- Ask every provider for a quote with hours, report writing and travel included
- Plan the year: regular therapy, any assessments, equipment advice and a progress report before reassessment
- Consider therapy assistants for routine practice, at a lower price limit, with the therapist supervising
- Check the balance every few months with your plan manager or the my NDIS portal
- From 1 February 2027 unspent funds do not roll over at renewal, so use it through the plan
Who can you use
If your plan is agency managed you need registered providers. If you are plan managed or self managed you can also use unregistered therapists. Agency managed and plan managed participants must stay within the price limits. Self managed participants are not bound by them, but they are a useful benchmark.