Key Points
- Assistance with Daily Life is a Core Support category funding everyday personal care, household tasks, and daily living activities
- Current weekday daytime rate is $70.23/hour (2025-26 NDIS Price Guide v1.1)
- Common support item codes include 01_011_0107_1_1 (self-care) and 01_019_0107_1_1 (domestic activities)
- Core Support budgets are flexible - you can move funds between Core categories without a plan amendment
- Different from “Improved Daily Living” which is Capacity Building funding for therapy and skill development
What is Assistance with Daily Life in the NDIS?
Assistance with Daily Life is one of four Core Support categories in the NDIS. It provides funding for supports that help participants with everyday personal tasks they cannot complete independently due to their disability.
This funding covers the practical, hands-on help you need to live safely and comfortably in your home and community. Unlike Capacity Building supports that focus on building skills for the future, Assistance with Daily Life addresses your current, ongoing needs.
Important distinction: Assistance with Daily Life (Core Support) is different from Improved Daily Living (Capacity Building). Core supports provide ongoing assistance; Capacity Building funds therapy and training to build independence.
What Does Assistance with Daily Life Cover?
Personal Care Activities
Assistance with Daily Life funding covers help with essential self-care tasks:
| Activity | Examples |
|---|---|
| Personal hygiene | Showering, bathing, oral hygiene, grooming |
| Dressing | Putting on clothes, fastening buttons, choosing appropriate clothing |
| Toileting | Assistance with using the toilet, continence management |
| Eating and drinking | Meal assistance, feeding support, swallowing supervision |
| Mobility | Transfers, repositioning, walking assistance |
| Medication | Reminders, prompting (non-clinical administration) |
Household and Domestic Tasks
The funding also covers assistance with maintaining your home:
- House cleaning and tidying
- Laundry and ironing
- Meal preparation and cooking
- Grocery shopping
- Light gardening and yard maintenance
- Taking out rubbish and recycling
Accommodation-Related Supports
Assistance with Daily Life includes several accommodation support types:
| Support Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Supported Independent Living (SIL) | 24/7 or regular support in shared or individual accommodation |
| Short Term Accommodation (STA) | Respite care away from your usual home |
| Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) | Temporary housing while awaiting long-term solutions |
| Individualised Living Options (ILO) | Flexible living arrangements with tailored support |
Disability-Related Health Supports
Qualified support workers or nurses can assist with:
- Catheter care and stoma management
- Wound care and dressing changes
- Diabetes management (blood glucose monitoring)
- Mealtime management for swallowing difficulties
- Ventilator and respiratory support
- PEG feeding assistance
Assistance with Daily Life Support Item Codes
Understanding NDIS line item codes helps you read your plan and invoices correctly. Here are the common Assistance with Daily Life codes for 2025-26:
Registration Group 0107 - Daily Personal Activities
| Line Item Code | Description | Price Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 01_011_0107_1_1 | Assistance with Self-Care - Weekday Daytime | $70.23/hr |
| 01_012_0107_1_1 | Assistance with Self-Care - Weekday Evening | $77.33/hr |
| 01_013_0107_1_1 | Assistance with Self-Care - Saturday | $98.83/hr |
| 01_014_0107_1_1 | Assistance with Self-Care - Sunday | $127.43/hr |
| 01_015_0107_1_1 | Assistance with Self-Care - Public Holiday | $155.50/hr |
| 01_019_0107_1_1 | Assistance with Daily Personal Activities - Level 2 | $70.23/hr |
| 01_020_0107_1_1 | Night-Time Sleepover Support | $297.60/night |
Registration Group 0115 - Group/Shared Living
| Line Item Code | Description | Price Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 01_021_0115_1_1 | Group Personal Care - Weekday Daytime | $70.23/hr |
| 01_022_0115_1_1 | Group Personal Care - Weekend | $98.83/hr |
| 01_023_0115_1_1 | Group Personal Care - Sleepover | $297.60/night |
For a complete list of all NDIS line item codes, see our NDIS Line Items Guide 2024-25.
Current Pricing: 2025-26 Rates
The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2025-26 v1.1 (effective 24 November 2025) sets maximum hourly rates for Assistance with Daily Life supports:
Standard Support Worker Rates
| Time Period | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| Weekday Daytime (6am-8pm) | $70.23 |
| Weekday Evening (8pm-12am) | $77.33 |
| Weekday Night (12am-6am) | $77.33 |
| Saturday | $98.83 |
| Sunday | $127.43 |
| Public Holiday | $155.50 |
Additional Charges
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Provider Travel | $0.99/km |
| Short Notice Cancellation | Up to 100% of service cost |
| NDIA-Requested Reports | $70.23/hr |
Note: These are maximum price limits. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can negotiate lower rates with providers. For complete pricing details, see our NDIS Price Guide 2025-26.
How is Assistance with Daily Life Different from Improved Daily Living?
This is one of the most common points of confusion for NDIS participants. Here’s the key difference:
| Feature | Assistance with Daily Life | Improved Daily Living |
|---|---|---|
| Funding Type | Core Support | Capacity Building |
| Purpose | Help you do tasks NOW | Build skills for FUTURE independence |
| Examples | Support worker helps you shower | OT teaches you to shower safely |
| Flexibility | Flexible within Core budget | Fixed to specific category |
| Goal | Maintain current lifestyle | Reduce need for support over time |
When to Use Each Type
Use Assistance with Daily Life when:
- You need ongoing, regular help with personal care
- You cannot safely complete daily tasks independently
- You need someone to assist while you do activities
- The support is for maintenance, not skill-building
Use Improved Daily Living when:
- You want to learn new skills
- A therapist is training you or your support worker
- You’re working toward greater independence
- The support includes assessment or therapy
For detailed information on Capacity Building supports, read our NDIS Improved Daily Living Guide.
Eligibility for Assistance with Daily Life Funding
Who Can Access This Funding?
To receive Assistance with Daily Life in your NDIS plan, you must:
- Be an NDIS participant - Have an approved NDIS plan
- Have a disability-related need - The support must be required because of your disability
- Meet “reasonable and necessary” criteria - The support must be:
- Related to your disability
- Value for money
- Effective and beneficial
- Not the responsibility of another system (health, education)
Evidence Required
When requesting Assistance with Daily Life funding, provide evidence showing:
| Evidence Type | What It Demonstrates |
|---|---|
| Functional assessment | Which daily tasks you need help with |
| Medical reports | How your disability affects daily living |
| Allied health reports | Specific support requirements |
| Current support hours | What assistance you already receive |
| Goals | How the support helps achieve your NDIS goals |
How to Maximise Your Daily Life Funding
1. Understand Your Budget Flexibility
Core Support funding is generally flexible between categories. This means you can:
- Move unused Assistance with Daily Life funds to Transport
- Use Community Participation funding for daily support if needed
- Reallocate funds without a formal plan amendment
Exception: “Stated supports” in your plan (like SIL) are not flexible and must be used for their specific purpose.
2. Choose the Right Provider Type
| Provider Type | Best For | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Provider | NDIA-managed participants, complex care | Must follow price limits |
| Unregistered Provider | Plan-managed, self-managed | May offer lower rates |
| Individual Worker | Flexibility, continuity | Self-managed only |
| Family Member | Familiar support | Restrictions apply |
3. Track Your Spending
Monitor your Assistance with Daily Life budget to:
- Avoid running out before your plan ends
- Identify if you need a plan review
- Spot any incorrect provider charges
- Plan for seasonal variations in support needs
4. Request Plan Reviews When Needed
Request a plan review if:
- Your daily living needs increase significantly
- You’re consistently running out of funding
- Your circumstances change (health, housing, support network)
- You want to add new types of daily support
Common Questions About Assistance with Daily Life
Can family members provide paid daily life support?
Yes, but with conditions:
- They must meet the same screening requirements as other workers
- They cannot be paid for supports they would provide anyway
- The arrangement must be approved in your plan
- Self-managed participants have more flexibility
What’s the difference between personal care and domestic assistance?
Personal care involves hands-on assistance with your body (showering, dressing, toileting). Domestic assistance involves help with household tasks (cleaning, cooking, laundry). Both fall under Assistance with Daily Life but may use different support item codes.
Can I use this funding for meal delivery services?
Yes, meal preparation and delivery can be funded if:
- It’s related to your disability needs
- It’s more cost-effective than a support worker preparing meals
- It’s included in your plan or covered by Core Support flexibility
How many hours of daily support can I get?
There’s no set maximum. Your funding is based on:
- Your individual functional capacity
- Your NDIS goals
- The level of support you need to live safely
- What’s “reasonable and necessary” for your situation
What if I need more support than my plan provides?
Options include:
- Request a plan review with evidence of increased need
- Use flexibility within your Core budget
- Access community or charitable services to supplement NDIS
- Speak with your Support Coordinator about alternatives
Understanding the Four Core Support Categories
Assistance with Daily Life is one of four Core Support categories. Understanding how they work together helps you maximise your funding:
| Category | Purpose | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|
| Assistance with Daily Life | Personal care, household tasks, accommodation support | Flexible |
| Consumables | Everyday disability-related items | Flexible |
| Assistance with Social & Community Participation | Community access, social activities | Flexible |
| Transport | Getting to activities and appointments | Generally flexible |
For a comprehensive overview of all Core Supports, see our NDIS Core Supports Guide.
Finding Assistance with Daily Life Providers
Where to Search
- NDIS Provider Finder - Official database of registered providers
- My Providers - Platform connecting participants with workers
- Local Area Coordinator - Can suggest providers in your area
- Support Coordinator - Helps match you with suitable providers
- Community organisations - Local disability and aged care services
What to Look For
When choosing a provider for daily life support, consider:
- Availability - Can they provide support when you need it?
- Experience - Do they have experience with your disability type?
- Screening - Are all workers properly screened?
- Communication - Can you easily contact them?
- Flexibility - Can they adjust to changing needs?
- Cultural fit - Do they understand your background and preferences?
Questions to Ask Providers
Before engaging a provider, ask:
- What are your hourly rates? (Compare to NDIS price limits)
- What’s your cancellation policy?
- How do you match support workers to participants?
- What training do your workers receive?
- How do you handle complaints or concerns?
- Can you provide references from other participants?
Key Resources
Official NDIS Resources
- NDIS Pricing Arrangements 2025-26 - Official price guide
- NDIS Support Catalogue - Complete list of funded supports
- NDIS Provider Finder - Search for providers
Related MD Home Care Guides
- NDIS Core Supports Explained - Overview of all Core Support categories
- NDIS Improved Daily Living Guide - Capacity Building funding explained
- NDIS Line Items Guide - Complete support item code reference
- NDIS Price Guide 2025-26 - Current pricing and rates
How MD Home Care Can Help
MD Home Care provides comprehensive Assistance with Daily Life supports across Sydney and Melbourne. Our services include:
- Personal care - Showering, dressing, grooming, and toileting assistance
- Domestic support - Cleaning, cooking, laundry, and household management
- Complex care - High-intensity nursing and disability-related health supports
- SIL services - 24/7 supported independent living accommodation
- Respite care - Short-term accommodation and carer relief
All our support workers are:
- Fully screened with NDIS Worker Screening Checks
- Trained in person-centred care approaches
- Supervised by Registered Nurses for complex needs
- Matched to your cultural and language preferences
Contact us today to discuss your Assistance with Daily Life needs, or call 08 6386 9999 to speak with our team.
