A guide to NDIS cleaning supports and important things to consider
Are you curious about NDIS cleaning supports and how it all works? Read our guide to learn all about NDIS cleaning assistance and funding.
Does the NDIS fund cleaning?
In a previous post, we’ve talked about the three kinds of NDIS funding categories. Household cleaning – as well as related assistance like cooking, personal care and yard maintenance – falls under Core Supports. In your plan, this is called “Assistance with Daily Life”. This is a funding category that can help you take care of your daily needs and reach your goals. So in short, yes, the NDIS can fund cleaning!
What cleaning does the NDIS fund?
The NDIS can fund cleaning if the need is directly related to your disability. For example, you may be unable to vacuum or do your laundry due to your disability. In this case, the NDIS may be able to provide funding to hire a cleaner to do these tasks for you.
If you live with other people, you may receive NDIS cleaning assistance only within your room but not the entire house, as the people you live with may handle cleaning in other areas of the home.
The National Disability Insurance Agency will also take into account whether you are already receiving this type of cleaning assistance. For instance, if you are living in a shared housing facility that already provides cleaning support, the NDIA might deny your request, or else require more compelling evidence of your need.
Does the cleaner have to be NDIS registered?
This will depend on how your plan is managed. If you have chosen to have your funds managed by the NDIA, the NDIA will pay NDIS registered providers on your behalf. Unfortunately, it also means you can’t use non-NDIS registered providers. This can pose a challenge as not all cleaners will likely be NDIS registered, especially for cleaning services that have a small team and don’t have the structure, finances and time to be registered as an NDIS provider.
You’ll have more flexibility if you manage your plan yourself or if you work with an NDIS Plan Manager, like our team at Afea. In this case, you’ll have more options as you can use both NDIS registered and non-registered providers for your household cleaning needs.
Things to consider when choosing a cleaner
Deciding on who to let into your home to assist you with daily needs is a huge choice to make! You have the power to make your own household decisions, but below are some general pointers to keep in mind:
- How much will this cost me? It’s always a good idea to agree on the cost of services upfront before hiring someone to start the job. The NDIS has an hourly-rate system for services, as laid out in the NDIS Price Guide, so it’s best to find a cleaner who can provide services within these rates.
- Does the cleaner have an ABN (Australian Business Number)? If they have an ABN, your cleaner can issue you an invoice which you can then use to claim funding for their services.
- Do they have a service agreement? A service agreement clearly outlines how and when your services will be delivered, and how much it will cost. A service agreement is good to have not only for cleaners but for other providers you may hire.
- What am I looking for in an NDIS cleaning service provider? Beyond the financial considerations, you may also want an NDIS cleaner who meets your preferences in terms of the language they speak, the way they work or their personality.
Where to find NDIS cleaners
At Afea, we have a team of experienced Plan Managers and Support Coordinators ready to help. We have access to a wide network of NDIS cleaning service providers. We can help connect you to one that is best suited to your particular needs.
