What does the NDIS say?
Short term respite allows your unpaid (informal) supports to have a break from caring for you. It cannot be used to pay for holiday accommodation, a cruise or to go on a tour. You can only claim the cost of respite accommodation and personal care. If you need help taking part in activities, you can also claim that. Short term respite does not pay for the cost of food, activities, or transport.
For example, your respite centre may offer a bowling activity for a separate fee. You must pay this fee yourself – you cannot claim it from the NDIS. If you need a support worker to help you while bowling, you can claim this cost.
You can’t use short term respite for more than 14 days in a row. You also can’t use more than 28 days per calendar year, unless the NDIS approves it. The NDIS expects you to have your respite in your home state or territory in most cases.
Children generally cannot use their funding for short term respite. The NDIS needs to approve this first.
For all the details, read through the Operational Guideline on Short Term Respite. There are a lot of rules, so please make sure you read through it before organising respite.
Can I claim it?
Supports are only claimable if they are “in accordance with your NDIS plan”. If your plan says that you can use your funding for short term respite, then you can. If your plan does not say this, then you should check with the NDIS first. If you use your funds for respite and the NDIS doesn’t agree with that, you may have to pay it back.
Who can help me find out?
Only the NDIS can decide if a support is reasonable and necessary for you. If you’re not sure if you can use your funds for short term respite, you can find out by:
- Getting in touch with your “My NDIS Contact” as listed on your plan. This may be a planner or LAC.
- Lodging an online enquiry via the NDIS website or through your NDIS portal.
- Asking the NDIS via email, calling 1800 800 110 or doing a webchat to request your LAC or a planner consider your request.
Send your written permission to us once you have it.
Some suggestions from us
The NDIS is looking closely at short term respite claims. They may hold onto an invoice to investigate it, before making payment. To reduce any risk, make sure you are funded for short term respite in your plan, before you book it.
If the NDIS wants further information, they could ask you or the provider for:
- Confirmation that the invoice is for respite, and not a holiday.
- Information about the type of accommodation and the activities included. They may also ask about other participants who were at the respite centre.
- Details on how the short term respite relates to your disability and addresses your goals.
- Reasons why you didn’t have respite closer to home, if you went interstate.
Sometimes, the NDIS has paid an invoice for short term respite, and later decided that they should not have. They will then ask for the monies to be repaid. Most providers will not refund the money if the service has already been provided. This means you may then need to pay the money back personally.
Before you book a short term respite stay, check your plan to make sure you’ve been funded for it. If you’re not sure, ask someone for help!
More Questions?
As always, feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions.
Email: accounts@ontimeplanservices.com.au
Phone: 03 5446 5400
Text: 0429 800 482