NDIS PACE Plan 101: Everything You Need to Know

What is an NDIS PACE Plan?

From 2023, the National Insurance Disability Agency (NDIA) started rolling out PACE. This is the new computer system for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), specifically designed to improve the experience for both NDIS participants and providers. It will eventually replace the existing systems, including the MyPlace portal, for all NDIS participants.

Since then, new and reassessed NDIS plans have all been created in the PACE system. If you’re still on a legacy plan, you’ll transition to PACE at your next plan renewal. There’s new language and a new structure involved, but the same overarching goal – to support your needs and help you reach your goals.

Because everyone will eventually have PACE plans, it’s important that participants understand what this looks like, and how it differs from previous plans you might have had.

 

 

Understanding the PACE categories

Previously there were three overarching support budgets available to fund NDIS supports for participants. Under PACE, there are four support budgets you could see in your plan:

1. Core Supports budget
2. Capacity Building Supports budget
3. Capital Supports budget
4. Recurring Supports budget (new)

Each of these top-level support budgets helps you in different parts of your everyday life, and is broken down further into funded categories. The 6 new categories under PACE offer more flexibility in your NDIS plan, allowing you to access the support you need.

Core Supports

Your Core budget covers the everyday supports you need to live your life. The categories include:

1. Assistance with Daily Life
2. Home and Living – This new category covers Supported Independent Living (SIL), Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) and an Individualised Living Option (ILO). These supports were previously covered under Assistance with Daily Life.
3. Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation
4. Transport
5. Consumables

Note: While Core Supports are mostly flexible across the categories, Home and Living isn’t. If you have funds for Home and Living, they’re not able to be used elsewhere within the wider core supports budget. 

Capacity Building

Your capacity building budget helps you build skills and independence, so you can participate more fully socially, in the community and at work or school. This allows you to do more of what you want and enjoy.

Capacity building supports aren’t flexible within categories – if you have funding in one of the categories, you can’t use it anywhere else. These are:

1. Support Coordination and Psychosocial Recovery Coaches – previously Support Coordination
2. Improved Living Arrangements
3. Increased Social and Community Participation
4. Finding and Keeping a Job
5. Behaviour Support – new category, previously funded under Improved Relationships. This funds items like behaviour management plans and specialist behaviour intervention support.
6. Relationships – previously Improved Relationships
7. Health and Wellbeing – previously Improved Health and Wellbeing
8. Lifelong Learning – previously Improved Learning
9. Choice and Control – previously Improved Life Choices
10. Improved Daily Living Skills

Capital Supports

Your capital budget funds higher-cost items and one-off supports. This typically involves items that would be considered a bigger investment or higher risk for the NDIA, meaning you’ll need quotes and approval in order to get items funded.

Capital categories include:

1. Assistive technology
2. Assistive Technology Maintenance, Repair and Rental – new under PACE, this category expands on Assistive Technology supports to cover things like flexible equipment packages for changing needs.
3. Home Modifications – previously Home Modifications and Specialist Disability Accommodation
4. Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) – this is now its own support category under PACE, previously it was funded under the broader Home Modifications category

Related: What is Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)?

Recurring Supports

This is a new area introduced under PACE. It works a little different from the other budgets, because it’s for funding the NDIS will pay to you directly on a regular basis to cover ongoing supports like transport. This allows you access to set amounts paid on a regular schedule, rather than having to claim for approved, ongoing supports each time.

What else has changed under the new system?

The main change is greater visibility and control for participants. The new system is more user-friendly and allows you to view your budget, plan information, personal details, your claims, and any messages and correspondence from the NDIA – all through the new ‘my NDIS’ participant portal and app.

There are also some changes to the PACE payment system – you can add your plan manager directly to your plan as a ‘My Provider’ (previously called ‘participant endorsed providers’).

This means the NDIA will know that specific providers are allowed to see your plan budgets and make claims against your NDIS plan. For plan managers, this access is important for keeping your plan’s financial management running smoothly.

Other important changes: New NDIS Plan Funding Periods

All plans started or reassessed after October 2024 have had standard 12-month funding periods. As of May 2025, these funding periods were further developed to introduce quarterly, monthly and up-front funding options.

This change comes from feedback the NDIS was receiving about participants finding it difficult to stretch their funds out when getting all the funding together at the start of their plan. Receiving funds in smaller instalments makes it easier to stay on track, and brings NDIS funding in line with the staged release models other Australian Government programs use.

If you haven’t seen these in your plan yet, you will see this change after your next plan reassessment.

For full information about this change, see our article explaining the new changes to NDIS funding periods.

Related: NDIS Support Worker Pay Rates in 2025

What stays the same for NDIS participants under PACE?

The changes introduced by the new PACE system reflect what the NDIA is seeking to achieve: greater transparency, ease of use, and participant empowerment. 

However, the fundamentals of what NDIS plans are for (and your rights as a participant) remain the same. 

• You’re still at the centre of your NDIS plan.
• Your NDIS plan funding is still guided by your plan goals.
• You still have choice and control over your providers, budgets and purchases (assuming your choices are compliant with your NDIS plan).

Do you need help with your PACE plan?

A new system can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. If you need help understanding PACE, you’re in the right place.

NDSP’s friendly team of experts stay ahead on everything NDIS, so we can best help our clients when things change. We can help you understand and manage your new PACE plan, or we can help with your existing plan if you haven’t been transitioned into PACE just yet.

Related: How We Ensure NDIS Compliance Without Gatekeeping Your Funds

How NDSP makes plan management easier

Plan management with NDSP means we manage the financial aspects of your NDIS plan, including:

• Budget tracking
• Regular reporting
• Submitting invoices and ensuring prompt provider payment
• Keeping thorough records in case of audit

You can access a real-time view of your budget, anytime and on any device, with our user-friendly Nappa portal. We also have informative and free resources to help you understand the NDIS in our online participant toolbox.

Our helpful team works to empower plan-managed participants across Australia, providing personalised services to help you get the most out of your plan. Why not contact us today and find out more about how NDSP can help you on your NDIS journey?