Short-term accommodation (STA) funding and how to use it can cause some confusion. In recent months, the NDIS has a renewed focus on STA funding and with this they are making stricter decisions on STA claims.

What Has Changed? 
STA funding has not changed. However, the NDIA is more strictly enforcing the criteria to claim STA expenses. Because of this, what we are seeing is an increase in:
 

• the time taken for the NDIA to pay STA claims while they review 
• the likelihood that the NDIA may request further information from participants to support STA claims
• the number of STA claims being rejected or declined by the NDIA
• the number of rejections where the NDIA deem the claim a 'holiday' expense.

What Do I Need To Know? 
It is important to remember that the NDIS operational guidelines for short-term accommodation make it clear that this funding is not intended for holidays. The NDIA fund STA when the need for this is related to your disability, such as for respite or skill building. 

Based on the guidelines, when considering whether to fund short-term accommodation the NDIS need to know:

• the STA is related to your disability
• it helps you pursue a goal or goals
• it helps you to participate in the community
• it is value for money
• how much support you receive from your family and other informal supports.

Get Advice Before You Book

Before you commit to or make any upfront payments for short-term accommodation (STA) bookings, we strongly recommend obtaining advice from your NDIA planner, or your Local Area Coordinator (LAC). It’s important to remember that STA funding is limited to 28 days per year, you will need Planner pre-approval for any additional days. It's essential to discuss your disability support needs with your NDIS Planner, LAC, or Support Coordinator prior to spending STA funding on accommodation or vacation-like experiences.
 
This advice is particularly important if you will require a Support Worker or additional supports outside of group settings, such as respite accommodation. Taking these steps can help minimise the risk of claim rejections and ensure a smoother approval process for your claims.