With the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, what PPE can I purchase through NDIS ?

This information is available here: https://www.ndis.gov.au/coronavirus/latest-advice-ndis

To better support NDIS participants during the extended coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the NDIS have made a temporary change to funding arrangements for personal protective equipment (PPE).

These changes apply where coronavirus (COVID-19) is active your community, and the use of PPE is consistent with current health advice. 

You can now recover the costs to purchase PPE items using your NDIS funds, if you;

• receive an average of at least one hour a day of face-to-face daily living supports, and
• live in Victoria or New South Wales.

Plan and self-managed participants can purchase PPE and record and claim their purchases in the usual way. Agency-managed participants can purchase PPE through registered providers.

If you need PPE items like face masks, face shields and gloves, and the use of these items is directly related to your face-to-face daily living supports, you can use your core supports budget to purchase these items. 

Previously only participants who used PPE as a regular part of their support arrangements were able to access PPE through their NDIS funds.

We encourage you to keep an adequate supply of the essential products, but do not stockpile more than you need.

If you need to purchase face coverings or masks for use outside the home, this is still an everyday expense, and you cannot use your NDIS funds to pay for them. Hand sanitiser continues to be a personal expense.

Participants are expected to manage PPE purchases from their existing core supports budget. As part of our initial coronavirus (COVID-19) response we made changes to the myplace portal so all participants, no matter how their plan is managed, can use their core supports budget flexibly to purchase the services and supports they need. 

Additional PPE measures

In addition to the ability for participants to purchase PPE, to meet current public health guidelines in New South Wales and Victoria, the NDIS have introduced new temporary pricing arrangements in the NDIS Price Guide and Support Catalogue 2020-21.

Providers and participants should discuss and agree on any pricing changes before they are applied.

These arrangements are in place from 29 July 2020 until 30 September 2020. We will continue to monitor the situation and may implement further measures.

Participant plans won't be automatically adjusted; however, plan use will be monitored. If you are concerned about your situation please contact us on 1800 110 800 and select option 5.

PPE for disability support workers in NSW and Victoria—including masks

New support items have been introduced so providers can claim for PPE used when delivering face-to-face supports assisting participants with daily living in NSW and Victoria: