A guide to NDIS assistance with daily life

Sometimes, we need a hand with everyday tasks so we can achieve greater independence. That's what "Assistance with Daily Life" is all about.

This NDIS support category falls under Core Supports, the most flexible support budget. It's also 1 of the 5 support categories that you can use to access Like Family's support services.

In this article, we'll explain what Assistance with Daily Life is, how it differs to similar Capacity Building supports, as well as some examples of activities that it can and can't cover.

What is Assistance with Daily Life?

Assistance with Daily Life covers supports and services that help you do daily personal activities, so you can live as autonomously as possible. It covers everything from short term accommodation to a support worker's assistance with meal preparation.

Assistance with Daily Living can take place at your home, out in the community or a bit of both — it depends on you and your needs!

How is it different to Capacity Building daily living supports?

You'll notice there's a support category under Capacity Building called "Improved Daily Living". Although the names are similar, these two categories have slightly different purposes.

Assistance with Daily Life (Core Support) relates to assistance with everyday tasks that you wouldn't be able to do easily by yourself, like showering, cleaning and accessing the community. These supports are important for helping you maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle.

On the other hand, Improved Daily Living (Capacity Building) focuses on helping you build independence and learn new skills, so you are less reliant on support services in the future. For example, you may work with a support worker to learn how to use public transport.

What are some examples of Assistance with Daily Life?

Assistance with Daily Life covers a huge range of activities. What you get funding for will ultimately depend on what is reasonable and necessary to support your needs. These services and supports can include:

• help with household tasks and gardening
• supported independent living (SIL)
• short term accommodation
• help with personal care activities, like showering and dressing
• sleepover support
• transport to get out and about in the community
• meal preparation

Keep in mind that the cost of these services depends on factors like location, day, time of day and level of support. For example, hiring a support worker will generally be more expensive on Sundays than Mondays!

What does Assistance with Daily Life not cover?

There are a few things that you cannot use your NDIS funding for as part of Assistance with Daily Life:

• the cost of food. This means you can use your funds to hire a support worker to help with meal prep, but not for the ingredients themselves.
• the cost of cleaning and household supplies. Similarly, your NDIS funds won't cover the cost of things like laundry detergent or cleaning wipes.
• the cost of personal items that are not related to your disability, like toiletries.
• ticket prices for events. You can pay or use your Companion Card for a support worker to accompany you to a museum, but your NDIS funding won't cover the entry fee.

If you're unsure whether your NDIS plan covers a certain service or support, talk to your Support Coordinator or Local Area Coordinator.

How can I check if Assistance with Daily Life is covered by my NDIS plan?

It's easy. Just head to your myplace portal and search for ‘Assistance with Daily Life’ in your plan. You can also talk to your Plan Manager if you're unsure.

Don't forget: NDIS core support funding is flexible and can be used for all four support categories.

Get assistance with daily life with Like Family

Thinking about hiring a support worker to help you with everyday personal tasks? We can help!

Like Family is an NDIS registered provider specialising in social and community support. We have a network of over 3,000 active, NDIS-verified support workers who are passionate about empowering others to increase their independence and live life to the fullest.

You can use your Assistance with Daily Life funding with us to get help with:

• meal preparation and cooking
• household tasks and gardening
• grocery shopping and errands
• transportation
• community access
• and much more!

Our hourly rates are 16% below the NDIS price guide for 1:1 social supports, so you can get more hours out of your budget. You also don't need to negotiate prices with your support worker! Learn more about how you can use your funding with Like Family.

If you'd like to learn more, head to our website or contact our friendly Customer Care team at hello@likefamily.com.au