On the 1st of July 2021, the NDIA released the 2021/22 Price Guide update and announced plans to push Price Guide reviews back to the first half of each financial year. This change means we will hear more about changes to the Price Guide later on in the year. Now known as the Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, here’s everything you need to know about the updates:

Price increases:

Prices that depend on the Disability Support Worker cost model have increased by 2.95%. This increase is due to the Fair Work Commission raising the minimum wage and the uplift is to accommodate the increase in super guarantee percentage. This includes:

• Assistance with self-care activities and establishment fees
• SIL Assistance
• Assistance to access social, community and recreational activities. This includes establishment fees and group support.
• Capacity building by a Plan Manager
• Individual skills development
• Life transition planning
• Psychosocial Recovery Coaching
• Self-management capacity building
• Supports in employment
• Tenancy support
• Transition through school and to further education
• Training for carers and parents

Residential Supports were indexed by 1.1%. This includes:

• Medium Term Accommodation (MTA)
• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

The price for STA (Short Term Accommodation) and Assistance sits across the categories above, increasing by somewhere between 2 and 3%. This increase is dependent on the day and time.

No change to participant plans

Unfortunately, the NDIA will not increase participant funds to align with these price increases. However, according to the NDIA, “Our information shows that most participants will be able to continue to purchase the supports they need from their existing plan funds and will not be impacted by changes to price limits.” The NDIA also go on to say that they have a process in place to monitor plan utilisation and highlight any participants who are likely to use their entire funded supports before their plan end date. The NDA also mentioned that they “will ensure participants continue to receive the reasonable and necessary supports they need without disruption.”

Temporary Transformation Payment (TTP)

The Temporary Transformation Payment (also known as TTP) was reduced to 4.5%. This is a decrease of 1.5%.

National Price Limits

Supports such as transport that are not subject to price limits, now include a “notional price limit’ of $1.

Temporary COVID Measures

Temporary COVID measures were updated to align with the rapidly changing situation throughout the country. More information about this can be found in the Addendum.

Name Change

The name of the Price Guide has changed. Moving forwards, it will be known as the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.

You can read all of the updates from July 1st here. If you are concerned that these pricing changes will impact your plan’s funds, you can call the National Contact Centre to request a plan review.