Recurring Supports Budget: Recurring Transport Explained

Key information:

• Recurring Transport is part of the Recurring Supports budget under the NDIS PACE system.
• If you’re eligible, transport funding is paid fortnightly into your bank account — no need to make claims.
• There are three levels of funding based on your transport needs and circumstances (up to $1,784 per year, up to $2,676 per year or up to $3,456 per year)
• You can use Recurring Transport for rideshares or taxis to work, school, or to get NDIS supports.
• This funding can’t be used for fuel, family travel, vehicle costs or holiday transport.

All participants are being transitioned to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) PACE system as their plans renew. With this change in computer system also comes a change in some categories and funding buckets. There are now four main funding budgets: 

1. Core Supports budget 

2. Capacity Building Supports budget 

3. Capital Supports budget 

4. Recurring Supports 

The Recurring Supports budget was created so eligible participants don’t have to keep making claims for supports they use on a regular basis. This offers more flexibility for participants (and less admin!) 

 

 

What is Recurring Transport? 

If you have Core Supports budget: Transport in your NDIS plan, there are two ways the funds will be available for use: 

1. Plan Managed Transport: This allows your providers to directly invoice your plan manager for supports delivered. 

2. Recurring Transport: This allows you to use funding for regular, disability-related transport costs without needing a provider claim each time, because the funding is directly paid into your bank account fortnightly. 

Most participants with Transport funding will see this made available through Recurring Transport. 

Who can access this transport funding? 

The support is aimed at helping NDIS participants who are unable to use public transport, or have substantial difficulty, due to the impact of their disability. If you’re eligible for Transport, you will likely see Recurring Transport in your NDIS plan. This means you can use your funds as and when required. 

How do the payments work? 

Recurring transport funding payments land directly in your nominated bank account. These are paid out by the NDIA fortnightly to eligible participants on a pro-rata model. The schedule for your payments starts the day of the week your plan is approved – so if your plan was approved on a Tuesday, your payments would be distributed every fortnight on Tuesday. 

If you have this funding in your PACE plan, you do not need to make a claim for each trip. While Transport funds are stated funds (can only be used as listed in your NDIS plan), this gives you a lot more control and flexibility over when you use them. 

NDIS Transport Funding Levels explained 

The amount you receive depends on the amount of funding you are approved for in your Core Supports: Transport budget. There are three transport funding levels: 

1. Level 1 – Up to $1,784 per year. 
2. Level 2 – Up to $2,676 per year. 
3. Level 3 – Up to $3,456 per year. 

Note: You can check NDIS Transport Funding information for full details about these funding levels. 

The level of funding you’re approved for will depend on your needs and your unique situation – whether you’re working or going to school, how many hours per week you’re doing this for, and whether you need transport to other community activities. 

For a more detailed look at these Transport funding levels and eligibility, try our dedicated Core Supports Budget: Transport article. 

What can you use Recurring Transport for? 

Once this funding is in your nominated account, you can use it to take a taxi or rideshare (like Uber) to school, work, or to get NDIS supports. 

Example scenario: 

Jay is attending a day program to learn new skills. However, due to the impact of his disability, it’s not possible for him to take public transportation to the program. He instead uses some of his Recurring Transport funds to book a rideshare service – so he can get there easily, on time and able to make the most of the session. 

What can’t you use this for? 

This recurring payment is for specific transport options, not all travel-related costs. You can’t use your NDIS Transport funding to pay for: 

• Petrol, diesel or other fuel
• Taxis or rideshares for your family members 
• Buying or maintaining private vehicles (including recreational transport options like e-scooters or e-bikes) 
• Holiday travel costs like cruises, holiday packages, flights, activities, accommodation – both interstate and internationally. 

This is because the NDIA will only pay for supports that are ‘reasonable and necessary’, and disability-related. Your NDIS funding is intended to help remove barriers that might otherwise hold you back from community participation, work or attending day programs; not for general costs that everyone must pay. 

Related:

• Reasonable and Necessary Supports Under the NDIS 
• NDIS Support Worker Pay Rates in 2025

You also can’t use this NDIS transport funding to purchase other supports, even if they’re mobility and transport related. For example, there are other items in the NDIS support catalogue that could help you with independent travel like: 

• Personal transport related aids and equipment under Capital Supports: Assistive technology (or from your Consumables funding for smaller purchases) 

• Training for accessing public transport and travelling independently would be funded through Improved Daily Living (Capacity Building supports) 

Adding Recurring Transport NDIS funding to your plan 

At your NDIS planning session or plan review, you’ll need to be able to provide evidence to the NDIS to support funding transport services. 

• Try thinking of situations where you currently aren’t able to travel on public transport, or where it’s difficult or unsafe due to your disability. 
• If you have goals to study or work, outline the travel associated with attending and why it isn’t possible, or reasonable, for you to do it on the public transport available. 

It may be helpful to write these down, so you have them ready to go at the plan meeting! 

You can also supply evidence from qualified health professionals. If you have been working with an OT, for example, they may be able to write a statement on your behalf about your functional capacity and how this impacts your ability to travel independently. 

If you need more support or your situation has changed, you should ask the NDIA for a review of your NDIS plan as soon as you can. If you’re not sure where to start, try reaching out to your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) for assistance. 

Related: What is a Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA)?

How Plan Management enhances your autonomy

The new categories in PACE (like Recurring Transport) make it easier for you as an NDIS participant to have control over your budgets and spending, while also making your plan as a whole easier to understand with purpose-built, simplified categories. It’s less admin and more time doing what’s important to you. 

If you’re a plan-managed participant, it can be easier still. By working with a plan manager, you hand the admin of your plan’s financial management over – without handing over your autonomy around choosing your providers or how you use your funds, including your transport supports. 

Related: NDIS PACE Plan 101: Everything You Need to Know 

NDSP Plan Managers are your NDIS plan funding experts 

When it comes to more accessible supports like transport, keeping track of your budgets and spending is key to getting the most out of your plan funds. NDSP takes care of the financial administration of your NDIS plan like budget tracking and provider invoicing, so you can stay focused on what really matters to you – like getting where you need to go! 

As plan managers we maximise value for you with our user-friendly Nappa portal, free online Participant Toolbox, and our national coverage to empower NDIS participants across Australia. Why not contact us today to learn more about how our plan management specialists can help.