Stated supports in plain words
Every NDIS support in your plan is described as either flexible or stated. Flexible funding gives you room to choose which supports to buy and how much to spend on each. Stated funding does not: it is set aside for one particular support or type of support, and that is the only thing it can pay for.
For some stated supports the NDIA goes further and describes the exact item you can buy, the amount you can spend, or even the provider who must deliver it. If the plan says a support is stated, you cannot move that money to a different support, even one in the same budget.
Common examples of stated supports
The NDIA usually states a support when it is expensive, one off, needs specialist advice, or must be delivered in a particular way. Supports often stated in current plans include:
- Assistive technology, especially higher cost items such as wheelchairs and communication devices
- Home modifications
- Vehicle modifications
- Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
- A support the NDIA wants delivered by a particular provider
Quote required items
Some stated supports are marked as quote required. That means the NDIA needs to see quotes, specialist reports or both before it releases the funding into your plan. You may see the support listed but with no money available yet.
If you have a quote required item, ask your therapist or supplier for the quote and report early, and check with your plan manager or support coordinator that it has been sent to the NDIA. Delays here are one of the most common reasons equipment and modifications take months.
Stated supports under new framework plans
Stated supports are now a defined term in the NDIS Act. The Getting the NDIS Back on Track changes in 2024 created new framework plans, which have a flexible budget and a budget for stated supports, each with its own total funding amount. A support is a stated support when NDIS rules declare it to be one for participants generally or for a group you belong to.
Participants start moving to new framework planning from 1 April 2027. The government says the aim is for more of your funding to sit in the flexible budget, with the stated supports budget kept for things that must be spent on their stated purpose, such as home modifications or assistive technology. Consultation papers have listed examples like short term and medium term accommodation, SDA, private vehicle transport, behaviour supports and support coordination. The final list is set in the stated supports rules, so check your own plan once you move.
Why it matters for how you spend
Spending stated funding on something else breaks the rules for your plan and can lead to the NDIA asking for the money back or changing how your plan is managed. It also matters for providers, because a provider cannot claim a support against a stated amount meant for something different.
Read your plan carefully. It tells you which supports are stated, how much is set aside, and any conditions such as a named provider. If something is stated that you think should be flexible, you can ask for a review of how your supports are described.
If your stated support no longer fits
Needs change. If a stated item is no longer right for you, for example a therapist recommends different equipment, talk to the NDIA about a plan variation. Changes to how supports are described, or the amount of a stated support, are generally handled through a variation or, for bigger changes, a reassessment. You can also ask for an internal review within 3 months of receiving your plan if you disagree with how a support is described.