As we approach 2025, both participants and support workers must be fully informed about the latest updates to the NDIS travel allowance and NDIS transport services. This detailed guide will break down the key changes, clarify claiming rules, and provide practical advice for support workers, ensuring everyone can confidently navigate the system.
Understanding the NDIS Travel Allowance: What’s Covered?
The NDIS travel allowance is designed to cover the costs associated with participants and their support workers travelling to and from NDIS-funded activities and supports. This can include a wide range of activities, from therapy sessions and medical appointments to community participation and social outings.
The core principle behind the NDIS travel allowance is to remove transport as a barrier to accessing essential services and engaging with the community. This often involves transportation assistance delivered by dedicated support workers.
The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2024-25, which came into effect on October 1, 2024, outlines the conditions under which providers can claim for provider travel. It’s important to note that these guidelines are designed to ensure transparency and proper use of participant funds.
General Claiming Rules for Provider Travel
For a provider to claim NDIS travel allowance in respect of a support item, several conditions must be met:
Eligibility: Claiming NDIS travel allowance for Provider Travel is only allowed when the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits expressly permit it for the particular support item.
Compliance: All proposed charges for travel activities must comply with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.
Direct Support: The travel component must be directly linked to the delivery of a specific disability support item (face-to-face) for the participant.
Value Explanation: Providers must clearly explain the activities and their value to the participant, demonstrating how they represent the best use of the participant’s NDIS funds.
Advance Agreement: Crucially, providers must have the participant’s agreement in advance, with travel costs explicitly detailed in the service agreement.
Worker Remuneration: The provider must be required to pay the support worker delivering the support for their travel time, either due to their employment agreement or, if they’re a sole trader, for travel between their regular workplace and a participant, or from one participant to another.
These rules ensure that the NDIS travel allowance is used appropriately and with the participant’s full understanding and consent. This helps maintain the integrity of NDIS transport services.
Provider Travel – Labour Costs (Time)
The NDIS recognises that support workers’ time spent travelling is a legitimate cost. For each qualified support worker travelling to reach a participant, the maximum claimable travel time is:
- Up to 30 minutes for travel in major cities and regional centres (MMM1-3 areas), and
- Up to 60 minutes in remote and very remote areas (MMM4-5 areas)
The relevant MMM classification is based on where the participant is located when the support is delivered.
Additionally, for core and capacity-building supports, providers can claim for travel time from the last participant back to their usual place of work. The same time limits apply (30 minutes for MMM1-3 and 60 minutes for MMM4-5), provided the provider is required to pay the support worker for this return travel.
Apportioning Travel Time for Multiple Participants
If a support worker provides services to multiple participants in the same ‘region’, providers should apportion the total travel time (including return journeys) fairly among the participants who received support. This apportionment must be agreed upon with each participant in advance as part of their service agreement.
How to Claim
When claiming the NDIS travel allowance for a support worker’s time (labour costs), remember to submit these claims separately from the main support. You’ll use the same line item as the primary support, selecting the ‘Provider Travel’ option in the myplace portal. The hourly rate for travel should be the same as, or lower than, the agreed-upon hourly rate for the primary support.
Provider Travel – Non-Labour Costs
In addition to covering a support worker’s time, providers might have other expenses when travelling to deliver face-to-face supports. These “non-labour costs” can be discussed and agreed upon with the participant for a fair contribution. The NDIS considers the following contributions reasonable:
- Vehicle Costs: Up to $0.99 per kilometre for a vehicle owned by the provider or support worker.
- Other Transport Costs: Up to the full amount for road tolls, parking fees, and public transport fares.
Claims for non-labour costs for NDIS travel allowance can only be made if the rules governing provider travel allow a claim for provider travel time. These costs are claimed separately from the primary support and travel time, using the relevant “Provider Travel – non-labour costs” support item (e.g., Item Number 01_799_0102_1_1).
Similar to labour costs, if a support worker travels to support multiple participants in a region, non-labour travel costs should be apportioned among them with prior agreement.
Activity-Based Transport: Supporting Community Participation
The NDIS also provides for “Activity Based Transport,” which specifically covers transport related to community participation supports. This is a vital component of NDIS transport services, enabling participants to engage in social, economic, and community activities.
When a community participation support provider transports a participant to, from, or during a community participation activity, they are eligible to bill the participant’s plan for:
Worker’s Time
The time support workers spend providing the transport is claimed at the agreed hourly rate for the relevant support item. If transporting multiple participants, the worker’s time should be apportioned. The claim is deducted from the participant’s core budget using the applicable community participation support item.
Non-Labour Costs
Reasonable contributions for these costs include:
- Up to $0.99 per kilometre for a vehicle not modified for accessibility.
- Up to $2.76 per kilometre for a vehicle that’s modified for accessibility or a bus.
- Up to the full amount for other forms of transport or associated costs like road tolls, parking, and public transport fares.
These non-labour costs associated with activity-based transport are claimed against specific support items, like Item Number 04_590_0125_6_1. Like provider travel, if multiple participants are transported, these costs should be apportioned among them with prior agreement. While these support items don’t have strict price limits, they’re claimed using a ‘notional’ unit value of $1.00. So, if your non-labour costs come to $21.50, you’d simply claim 21.5 units at $1.00 each.
Support Worker Guide to Navigate NDIS Travel Allowance
For support workers, understanding the nuances of the NDIS travel allowance and NDIS transport services is crucial for accurate claiming and effective participant support.
Here are key considerations:
Familiarise Yourself with the Pricing Arrangements
Stay current with NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits to know all eligible support items and NDIS travel allowance claiming rules.
Clear Communication is Key
Always discuss and agree upon travel costs with participants in advance. Ensure these agreements are documented in the service agreement.
Accurate Record-Keeping
Maintain meticulous records of travel time, kilometres travelled, and any additional costs (tolls, parking, public transport fares). This documentation is essential for accurate claiming and auditing purposes for NDIS transport services.
Understand MMM Classifications
Be aware of the Modified Monash Model (MMM) classification for the areas where you provide support, as this determines the maximum claimable travel time.
Apportioning Costs Fairly
When supporting multiple participants during a single trip, ensure that both labour and non-labour NDIS travel allowance costs are apportioned fairly and transparently among them, with prior agreement.
Distinguish Between Provider Travel and Activity-Based Transport
Understand the difference between general provider travel (for delivering support) and activity-based transport (for community participation). Different claiming rules and support items apply.
Utilise myplace Portal Correctly
Familiarise yourself with how to claim NDIS travel allowance through the myplace portal, specifically using the “Provider Travel” option and the correct support items for non-labour costs and activity-based transport.
Seek Clarification
If you are ever unsure about a particular travel scenario or claiming rule, don’t hesitate to seek clarification from your provider.
All About You Disability Support: Your Partner in Accessible Journeys
All About You Disability Support provides comprehensive NDIS transport services designed to connect you with life’s important opportunities, supports, and experiences. We handle the complexities of NDIS travel allowance rules, so you can access all necessary supports without the burden.
