How to ask for daily living skills funding at your NDIS plan review
Most people we speak with in Rockhampton do not miss out on daily living support because they no longer need it. Often, it is because their day-to-day needs were not clearly documented before their plan review.
Plan reviews can move quickly, and if there is no clear record of what support you need each day, it can be much harder to demonstrate why that funding should continue.
We support participants across Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Gracemere, Emu Park and Mount Morgan, and we are involved in many of these conversations. Here is what we have learnt about preparing properly.
What Counts as Daily Living Skills in an NDIS Plan
Daily living skills, sometimes called ADL skills, are the everyday tasks that keep your life running. Showering, dressing, cooking, taking medication, managing money, catching the bus, keeping the house liveable.
For adults, the picture is often broader than people expect. Daily living skills for adults can include planning a week of meals, managing appointments or handling a phone call to a landlord.
The NDIS splits this into two areas. Assistance with daily life pays for someone to help you do the task. Improved daily living pays for support to help you learn to do it yourself. Many plans need both and it is worth saying so.
Daily Living Skills Activities You Might Be Asking For
- Support to build a morning routine you can follow without prompting
- Cooking sessions that end with three meals you can make on your own
- Practice using public transport on a route you actually use
- Help setting up a system for bills, reminders and appointments
Start Gathering Evidence Before Your Review
Evidence is the part people leave too late. Give yourself four to six weeks.
The NDIA responds to specifics. “I struggle with cooking” is not evidence. “I can make toast and cereal, but I have not cooked a hot meal without support in the past six months” is.
What Actually Helps
- A current occupational therapy or allied health report that names the tasks and the level of support needed
- Support worker progress notes from the last few months
- A two week diary of what you needed help with and how long it took
- Notes on what happens when support is not there, written plainly and without exaggeration
If you are working with a support coordinator, ask them early what they have on file. Our team is happy to pull together the notes we hold for you before your meeting.
How to Word Your Goals So the Funding Makes Sense
Goals are where a lot of good preparation falls over. A goal like “I want more support” gives the planner nothing to fund.
Write the goal as the outcome you want. “I want to cook three meals a week on my own by the end of my plan.” “I want to shower and dress independently on weekdays.”
Then the support becomes obvious. The planner can see the gap between where you are and where you want to be, and the funding fills that gap.
Keep the goal honest. If a goal is written too ambitiously and you do not reach it, that can work against you next time.
What Your Support Worker Can Contribute
This is the piece people underuse. Support workers see your daily living skills activities up close, week after week.
Ask your worker to write a short summary covering what you can do independently now, what still needs prompting or hands on help, and what has changed since your last plan. Ours are trained to write notes that are factual and dated, which is exactly what a planner needs.
If a skill has improved, say so. Progress does not mean funding disappears. It usually means the next goal is within reach.
You can read more about our team on our About Us page and view the services we offer.
Talk To Us Before Your Review
If your plan review is coming up and you are not sure what to ask for, get in touch to talk about your support needs. Our Rockhampton team can walk you through what we have on file, help you think through your goals and put together the notes you need.
Contact us today, and we will make time for a proper conversation, no pressure and no jargon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I ask for more daily living skills funding at my plan review?
Bring evidence and clear goals. Show what you can and cannot do right now, back it with a current allied health report and support worker notes, then write goals that describe the independence you are working towards. Planners fund the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
What daily living skills activities can NDIS funding cover for adults?
Daily living skills for adults can cover personal care, meal planning and cooking, cleaning, budgeting, using public transport, and managing appointments and correspondence. What is funded depends on your goals and what is considered reasonable and necessary for you. It is best to talk it through before your review rather than guess.
How far in advance should I prepare for my NDIS plan review?
Give yourself four to six weeks. That is enough time to book any allied health appointments, request reports, keep a short diary and ask your support worker for a written summary. Reports in particular can take a few weeks to come back.
Can my support worker come to my plan review?
Yes, you can bring someone with you, including a support worker, family member or support coordinator. Many participants find it helpful to have someone there who can speak to what daily support actually looks like.