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How The NDIS Handles Gardening, Cleaning, & Maintenance

Do you want to learn more about NDIS cleaning, NDIS gardening, or NDIS upkeep? We frequently receive inquiries about this three assistance and how to have them funded by the NDIS. Let’s take a deeper look at how everything works.

Is it possible for the NDIS to pay for gardening, cleaning, and house maintenance?

Yes, in a word. Cleaning, gardening, and maintenance may be covered by the NDIS, but only if they are related to your disability and meet the reasonable and necessary criteria.

For example, if your disability prevents you from mowing the grass, you can use your NDIS funds to hire a gardener.

When it comes to NDIS cleaning, gardening, or maintenance, the criteria for reasonable and essential can get a little more complicated. If you live in a shared house (or at home with your parents) and are unable to clean your room, the NDIS will pay for a cleaner to come in and clean your room only. The NDIS does not think it acceptable or necessary to cover the entire house because the rest of the house can be cleaned by the other occupants.

 

In addition, expert aids that anyone (including persons without disabilities) might need from time to time, such as an electrician to rewire a plug or a plumber to fix water pipes, are not covered by the NDIS.

 

In my NDIS plan, how is it funded?

Cleaning, gardening, and house maintenance are all included in Support Category 1 of the NDIS (Assistance with Daily Living). Because this is a Core Support, you can utilise it to receive help around the house or in the garden if you have funds in your plan’s Core budget.

Another alternative is to hire a Support Worker to help you with the tasks you can’t complete. This is referred to as ‘Assistance with Personal Domestic Activities,’ and it falls under the category of Assistance with Daily Living Support.

 

Is it necessary for me to employ certain NDIS-registered businesses?

Due to a lack of time or resources, many cleaners, gardeners, and handymen are tiny enterprises that are unlikely to register with the NDIS. You can still utilise your NDIS funding to access them if you attain services or are self-managed. If you’re under NDIA management, you’ll need to find an NDIS-registered provider.

 

What else should I look for in a candidate?

If you’re ready to hire a gardener, cleaner, or handyman, there are a few basic measures you should follow to ensure a pleasant experience for both of you.

 

  • Set a price

Because the NDIS utilises an hourly fee structure for these services, you and your service provider will need to agree on a price before the task begins. Keep in mind that the NDIS will not pay for anything other than the hourly wage, so any additional expenditures will have to be factored in.

 

  • Create a service agreement

A service agreement is just a written contract that specifies what services will be provided, why, and at what cost. Setting up a service agreement with any service providers you use is always a smart idea.

 

  • Show them our guide

Because navigating the NDIS for small businesses may be difficult, we’ve put up a guide for gardeners, cleaners, and handymen that includes topics like invoicing appropriately so the NDIS pays them!

 

  • Check that the provider has a legitimate ABN (Australian Business Number)

Even if the cleaner, gardener, or handyman is not enrolled in the NDIS, they must have a valid ABN in order to be paid for their services.