What the rules say about food
Since 3 October 2024 the NDIS Supports Transitional Rules have listed supports that generally are not NDIS supports. Under day to day living costs, food and groceries, they exclude:
- Groceries, including all food, beverage, cleaning, household and health products
- Fast food, takeaway food and food delivery platforms
Why food is not covered
The NDIS pays for the extra costs that come from disability. Everyone has to buy food and household products, with or without a disability, so these are treated as everyday living costs you pay from your own income.
If you are struggling to afford food, that is a question for income support and community services rather than the NDIS. Services Australia, emergency relief services and food banks can help.
What the NDIS can pay for
The NDIS cannot buy the food, but it can pay for the disability related help around it:
- A support worker to help you shop, or to shop for you, when your disability means you cannot do it yourself
- Daily living skills training to build your ability to plan, shop and pay on your own
- Meal preparation, and the preparation and delivery part of a meal service, but not the ingredients
- Assistive products that help you prepare food and drinks
- Modified foods you need because of your disability, including food for tube feeding
Meal services and delivery
Meal delivery services can be claimed when the food cost can be separated from the preparation and delivery cost. You pay the food part and the NDIS pays the rest. Ask the provider to show both amounts on the invoice so your plan manager can pay it.
Ordinary takeaway and food delivery platforms are excluded, even if a support worker orders for you.
Shopping support and what it costs
Help with shopping is usually funded from your Core budget as assistance with daily life. For 2026/27 the standard price limit for a support worker on a weekday during the day is $73.58 an hour in most of Australia. Plan managed and agency managed participants cannot be charged above the price limit.
If you want to become more independent, ask for skill building instead of, or alongside, ongoing help. A worker can start by shopping with you and gradually step back.
Common mix ups
- Paying for groceries on a support worker's card and claiming it from the NDIS is not allowed
- Cleaning products and toilet paper are groceries, even if a cleaner uses them in your home
- Continence products, wound care items and other disability related consumables are different and can be funded
- Supplements and vitamins are not NDIS supports, but prescribed modified foods can be
For providers
Keep food costs out of NDIS claims. If you run a meal service, separate the food cost from preparation and delivery on every invoice. Support workers who shop with participants should use the participant's own money for purchases and keep receipts, and services should have clear rules about handling participant money.