NDIS budgets explained: Core, Capacity Building and Capital

Checked against official sources on 12 October 2026

Most current NDIS plans split funding into three budgets: Core, Capacity Building and Capital. Each works a little differently, and knowing the rules helps you get the most from your plan.

Core supports

Core supports help with everyday activities related to your disability. The Core budget has four categories:

Consumables: everyday items such as continence aids
Daily Activities: help with self-care and daily tasks
Assistance with Social and Community Participation
Transport

Core is the most flexible budget

You can generally use Core funding allocated to one category to buy supports in another Core category. The exceptions are funds set aside for a specific purpose, such as periodic transport payments, Specialist Disability Accommodation, in-kind supports and stated items like assistance in shared living.

Capacity Building supports

Capacity Building supports help you build skills and independence over time. There are eight categories: Choice and Control, Daily Activity, Employment, Health and Wellbeing, Home Living, Lifelong Learning, Relationships, and Social and Community Participation.

You can spend Capacity Building funds on any approved support within a category, but you can't move funds between categories. If your plan includes support coordination, it is funded here as a fixed amount.

Capital supports

Capital supports cover Assistive Technology (such as wheelchairs, communication devices or vehicle modifications) and Home Modifications (such as a bathroom rail). This funding can only be used for the specific items it was approved for, and spending usually depends on supplier quotes.

Funding periods: when your money becomes available

Plans created or reassessed from 19 May 2025 release funding in portions called funding periods, rather than all at once. Most plans use three-month periods; some home and living supports are released monthly. Your total budget doesn't change, only when you can use it.

Unspent funds in one period roll into the next period of the same plan. You can't use money from a future period early, although the NDIA can bring funds forward in urgent situations at its discretion.

What's changing

From 1 October 2026, budgets for social, civic and community participation and for Capacity Building daily activities are being progressively reset as plans are renewed or reassessed. Disability organisations report this will mean reductions for many participants.
From 1 February 2027, unspent funds from a previous plan will no longer carry over when plans are renewed or reassessed.
From 1 April 2027, participants start moving to new framework plans, which will change how plans are structured. The budget types in this guide apply to current plans.

Common questions

Can I move money between NDIS budgets?

Within Core you generally can, except for stated or fixed-purpose items. Capacity Building funds can't be moved between categories, and Capital funds can only be used for the approved items.

What happens to unspent NDIS funding?

Unspent funds roll over to the next funding period within the same plan. From 1 February 2027, unspent funds from a previous plan won't carry over when your plan is renewed or reassessed.

What is an NDIS funding period?

A portion of your plan budget released at set intervals, usually every three months, for plans created or reassessed from 19 May 2025.

Wevlo's budget tracker lets you log spending against each support category so you can see what's left in each funding period before it runs out.

Try Wevlo free — no card needed

Sources

This guide is general information, not advice. NDIS rules change often, so check ndis.gov.au or call the NDIA on 1800 800 110 before making decisions about your plan. Wevlo is not an NDIS-registered provider and is not part of the NDIA.