NDIS Improved Daily Living Skills: What It Covers (2026-27)

NDIS Improved Daily Living Skills is a Capacity Building budget (support category 15) that pays for therapy, assessments and training to help you do more for yourself. Some plan views and payment requests call the same budget “CB Daily Activity”.

Key points

• Improved Daily Living Skills, Improved Daily Living and CB Daily Activity are three names for one budget: support category 15.
• It pays for allied health therapy, assessments, therapy assistants and skills training that build your independence.
• It does not pay for a support worker to do daily tasks for you. That is Assistance with Daily Life, a Core budget.
• There is no standard amount. The NDIA sets your budget from your goals and the evidence of your needs.
• Occupational therapy and speech pathology are capped at $193.99 an hour and psychology at $252.99 an hour in 2026-27.
• All line item codes in this category start with 15.

What Is Improved Daily Living?

Improved Daily Living Skills is one of the Capacity Building support categories in an NDIS plan. Capacity Building budgets pay for supports that teach or build something, so that over time you can do more yourself.

This category is the one most therapy sits in. It funds three things:

• Assessment: a professional works out what you can do now and what support you need. A functional capacity assessment by an occupational therapist is the common example.
• Therapy: regular sessions with an allied health professional that work towards a goal in your plan.
• Training: practical teaching in everyday skills, for you or for the people who support you.

You may see three names for it. The Support Catalogue calls it “Improved Daily Living Skills”. Many plans shorten that to “Improved Daily Living”. Some plan views show “CB Daily Activity”, where CB stands for Capacity Building. All three mean category 15.

For how this budget sits beside the others, see our NDIS Capacity Building supports guide.

What Can Improved Daily Living Funding Be Used For?

Improved Daily Living funding can be used for assessment, therapy and training that builds your skills and independence, where the support relates to your disability and the goals in your plan. In practice that means:

• Occupational therapy, including functional capacity assessments
• Speech pathology
• Physiotherapy
• Psychology and counselling
• Dietetics and exercise physiology
• Social work, developmental education, art therapy and music therapy
• Audiology, orthoptics and podiatry
• Therapy assistants working under a therapist’s direction
• Skills training, such as public transport training
• Training for parents and carers
• Early childhood supports for younger children
• Nursing supports related to your disability

Therapy and assessments

Occupational therapy looks at how you manage everyday tasks such as dressing, cooking and showering. The therapist can assess your function, teach new ways to do a task, and recommend equipment or home changes. The assessment is paid from this budget. The equipment itself is paid from Capital.

Speech pathology works on speech, language, social communication and communication devices. It also covers swallowing and mealtime safety.

Physiotherapy and exercise physiology work on movement, strength, balance and stamina so you can take part in daily life.

Psychology and counselling build skills for managing the effects of your disability, such as emotional regulation, coping strategies and social skills. Clinical treatment of a mental health condition is generally the health system’s job, so the goal needs to link to your disability and your daily functioning.

Dietetics covers nutrition advice tied to your disability. Social work and developmental education build practical life skills and support networks.

Therapy assistants

A therapy assistant carries out a program that your therapist has written and supervises. The hourly limit is much lower than a therapist’s, so pairing the two gives you more practice time from the same budget.

Skills training

The category includes practical training that is not therapy:

• Skill development and training, including public transport training
• Help to build decision-making, daily planning and budgeting skills
• Training for carers and parents, so they can back up your program at home
• Assistive technology mentoring, to learn to use equipment you already have
• Specialised driver training, which is a quoted support and needs to be reasonable and necessary for you

Early childhood supports

For children younger than 9, the category has its own early childhood line items for therapists, educators and therapy assistants. Some younger children with developmental delay or autism may be supported through the Thriving Kids program outside the NDIS instead. Ask your early childhood partner which pathway applies to your child.

What It Cannot Be Used For

Improved Daily Living funding cannot be used for:

• A support worker doing tasks for you. Help with showering, meals, cleaning or getting out is paid from Core.
• Buying equipment or home modifications. Those are Capital supports. The assessment that recommends them is covered here.
• Everyday living costs. Rent, groceries, utilities and general gym memberships are not NDIS supports.
• Treatment that belongs to the health system. Examples are hospital care, GP visits, medication, and clinical mental health treatment.
• Supports that do not relate to your disability or to a goal in your plan.
• Topping up another budget. You cannot move this funding into Core or Capital.

If you are unsure, ask the provider which line item they would claim, then check with your plan manager or the NDIA before you book.

Who Improved Daily Living Helps

The NDIA does not hand out this budget by diagnosis. It funds it when a plan goal calls for building skills. It tends to suit people who:

• Want to do more of their own cooking, self-care, money management or travel
• Are learning to communicate, or to use a communication device
• Need strategies for sensory needs, emotional regulation, memory or planning
• Are getting ready for a change, such as leaving school, moving out or starting work
• Need an assessment as evidence for housing, equipment or a plan reassessment
• Have family or carers who need training to support them well

Improved Daily Living vs Core

The names sound alike, so people often mix up Improved Daily Living with Assistance with Daily Life. They do different jobs.

A simple test: if someone does the task for you or with you, it is Core. If someone teaches you to do it, or assesses what you need, it is Improved Daily Living.

Our Core vs Capacity Building comparison covers the other budgets.

How It Is Funded and How Much

Improved Daily Living sits in the Capacity Building part of your plan. Three rules shape how you can use it.

It stays in its own category. Core funding is flexible across most Core categories. Capacity Building funding is not. Money in Improved Daily Living cannot be moved to Core, Capital or another Capacity Building category.

It is usually flexible inside the category. You can generally choose the mix of therapies, for example less psychology and more occupational therapy, as long as each support fits your goals. The exception is a stated support. If your plan says an amount is for a named support, it can only be spent on that support.

Not every plan has it. The NDIA includes this budget when your goals and evidence show you need capacity building supports.

How much funding will you get?

There is no standard amount, and the NDIA does not publish typical budgets for this category. Your amount is set from:

• The goals in your plan
• Evidence of your functional needs, such as assessments and therapist reports
• What therapists recommend, including how many hours and why
• Progress reports from earlier plans
• What other systems, such as health and education, are responsible for

Two people with the same diagnosis can receive very different budgets. To see what a given dollar amount buys, use the worked examples below.

CB Daily Activity Examples by Disability Type

These examples show how CB Daily Activity funding can be used. Your supports depend on your own goals.

For Participants with Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Occupational therapy for sensory strategies and daily routines
• Psychology for emotional regulation and managing anxiety
• Speech pathology for social communication, or for a communication device
• Parent and carer training so strategies are used the same way at home

For Participants with Physical Disabilities

• Physiotherapy for mobility, transfers, strength and balance
• Occupational therapy assessments for equipment and home modifications
• Exercise physiology for stamina and function
• Assistive technology mentoring to learn new equipment

For Participants with Intellectual Disabilities

• Occupational therapy for cooking, self-care and household skills
• Public transport training for independent travel
• Developmental education for money and daily planning skills
• Speech pathology for communication strategies

For Participants with Psychosocial Disabilities

• Psychology or counselling for coping strategies linked to daily functioning
• Occupational therapy for routines and structure
• Social work for problem-solving and building support networks
• Daily planning and budgeting skills support

NDIS Improved Daily Living Line Item Codes (Category 15)

Providers claim each support with a line item code from the NDIS Support Catalogue. Every Improved Daily Living code starts with 15. These are the codes you are most likely to see on an invoice in 2026-27. Since 1 July 2026 the session items are named “Direct Service”, because travel, non-face-to-face time and NDIA-requested reports are claimed on separate items.

Allied Health Therapy Codes

Support and Training Codes

Understanding the Code Structure

Take 15_617_0128_1_3, the occupational therapy code:

Check that the code on each invoice matches the service you received. Search any code in the NDIS price guide tool.

2026-27 Therapy Price Limits

A price limit is the most a registered provider can charge per hour for a support. It also applies to any provider when your plan is NDIA-managed or plan-managed. A provider can charge less. These limits come from the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27, which took effect on 1 July 2026.

All figures are per hour. Standard limits are national and do not vary by state. Remote and very remote limits apply in Modified Monash areas 6 and 7.

Price limits can be amended during the year. Check a current figure in the NDIS price guide tool or on the NDIA’s pricing arrangements page.

How Far Does a Budget Go?

A quick way to estimate hours is to divide your budget by the hourly limit. The table shows whole hours of session time at the standard 2026-27 limits. The budget amounts are round numbers for the arithmetic. They are not typical or recommended amounts.

Travel, report writing and other non-face-to-face work come out of the same budget, so leave a buffer.

Example 1: one therapy, with a buffer

A budget of $10,000 for a 12-month plan, used for fortnightly occupational therapy and some psychology.

• Occupational therapy: 26 hours x $193.99 = $5,043.74
• Psychology: 12 hours x $252.99 = $3,035.88
• Session total: $5,043.74 + $3,035.88 = $8,079.62
• Left for travel, reports and non-face-to-face time: $10,000 - $8,079.62 = $1,920.38

Example 2: therapist plus therapy assistant

A budget of $8,000. The occupational therapist sets and reviews the program. A Level 2 therapy assistant runs weekly practice.

• Occupational therapy: 10 hours x $193.99 = $1,939.90
• Therapy assistant Level 2: 40 hours x $86.79 = $3,471.60
• Session total: $1,939.90 + $3,471.60 = $5,411.50
• Left over: $8,000 - $5,411.50 = $2,588.50

Forty hours with the occupational therapist alone would cost 40 x $193.99 = $7,759.60.

These examples use the price limits that applied from 1 July 2026. Your provider may charge less, and hours will differ in remote areas.

Travel, Cancellations and Reports

Three kinds of charge reduce the hours you get from a budget. Ask about each before you sign a service agreement.

Provider travel

A therapist who comes to you can charge for travel time if your service agreement allows it. Under the 2026-27 arrangements, therapy travel is claimed on its own line item at 50% of the therapist’s hourly limit. Claimable time is capped at 30 minutes each way in Modified Monash areas 1 to 3, and 60 minutes each way in areas 4 and 5. Providers can also claim agreed non-labour costs, such as vehicle running costs, parking and tolls.

To cut travel costs, attend the clinic, use telehealth where it suits, or choose a therapist close to you.

Short notice cancellations

For therapy, a short notice cancellation is one made with less than 2 clear business days’ notice. A provider can charge up to the full agreed fee if their service agreement says so. Clear business days do not count weekends, public holidays, the day you give notice or the day of the appointment.

Reports and non-face-to-face time

Time a therapist spends on your notes, program and reports is charged at their hourly rate. From 1 July 2026 this time, and reports the NDIA asks for, are claimed on separate line items from the session itself.

Reports matter because the NDIA looks at evidence when it sets your next budget. To keep the cost under control:

• Ask each therapist for an estimate of report hours at the start
• Agree what the report will cover and when it is due
• Leave that amount unspent until the report is written
• Ask for the report well before your plan ends

If you think a provider has charged an unfair price or billed for supports you did not receive, raise it with the provider first. You can also report it to the NDIS Commission on 1800 035 544.

Using It With Other Supports

Improved Daily Living works best when it connects to the rest of your plan.

With Core supports. A therapist writes the program. Support workers paid from Core help you practise it between sessions. For example, a speech pathologist sets up a mealtime plan and your support workers follow it at every meal.

With other Capacity Building budgets. Communication skills gained in therapy can be put to use through social and community participation supports.

Each invoice is claimed from the budget that matches the support. A therapy invoice cannot be paid from Core, and a support worker shift cannot be paid from Improved Daily Living.

Choosing a Therapist

Check these before you sign a service agreement:

• Registration with their profession. Occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and podiatrists must be registered with Ahpra. You can search the Ahpra register of practitioners for free. Speech pathologists, dietitians and exercise physiologists are certified by their professional bodies instead.
• NDIS registration, if you need it. NDIA-managed plans can only use NDIS registered providers. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can use unregistered providers too.
• Experience with your goals. Ask what they have done with people who have similar goals, and how they measure progress.
• Where sessions happen. Home, clinic, school, community or telehealth. This affects travel charges.
• All charges in writing. The hourly rate, travel, cancellation terms and report costs should be in the service agreement.

Carevo is a connection platform, not a provider. You can use it to find occupational therapy at home or compare other NDIS therapy services listed in your area. Check each provider’s registration and experience yourself before you agree to services.

Tell us what you need or call 1800 953 253 to be connected with therapy providers who service your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CB daily activity in the NDIS?

CB Daily Activity is the short label some NDIS plan views and payment requests use for Improved Daily Living Skills, which is support category 15. CB stands for Capacity Building. It pays for therapy, assessments and training that build your skills for everyday life. It is the same budget under a different name.

What are examples of CB daily activity NDIS supports?

Common examples are occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy, psychology, dietetics and exercise physiology. The category also covers functional capacity assessments, therapy assistants, counselling, training for parents and carers, and skills training such as public transport training.

How much CB daily activity funding can I get?

There is no standard amount. The NDIA sets your budget from your goals and the evidence of your support needs, such as therapist reports and assessments. Two people with the same diagnosis can receive very different amounts. Your plan shows the total for the category and the period it has to last.

Is Improved Daily Living the same as Assistance with Daily Life?

No. Improved Daily Living Skills is a Capacity Building budget that pays professionals to assess you and teach you skills. Assistance with Daily Life is a Core budget that pays a support worker to help with tasks such as showering, meals and cleaning. One builds skills and the other provides hands-on help.

Is Improved Daily Living therapy or training?

It can be either, and it also covers assessments. Therapy comes from allied health professionals such as occupational therapists and psychologists. Training covers practical skills, for example catching public transport or planning a budget. Each support must relate to your disability and the goals in your plan.

Should I keep funding aside for therapy reports?

Yes. The NDIA looks at evidence when it reviews your plan, and a progress or end of plan report takes a therapist time that is charged to this budget. Ask each therapist early how many hours the report will take and what it will cost, then leave that amount unspent until it is written.

How do I know if my plan includes Improved Daily Living?

Look in the Capacity Building section of your plan or the my NDIS portal for Improved Daily Living Skills or CB Daily Activity. Not every plan includes it. If you cannot find it, ask your support coordinator, plan manager, local area coordinator or the NDIA on 1800 800 110.

What happens if I don’t use all my Improved Daily Living funding?

You do not have to spend it all. Funding that is unspent when your plan ends does not carry over into the next plan. The NDIA may look at what you used when it sets your next budget, so if you could not find a therapist or sat on a waitlist, tell your planner why.

Can I use Improved Daily Living with other supports?

Yes. Most people use it alongside Core supports. A therapist paid from Improved Daily Living might teach you a routine, and a support worker paid from Core helps you practise it during the week. The two budgets stay separate, so each invoice is claimed from the budget that matches the support.

Can I use Improved Daily Living funding for any therapy I want?

Usually you can choose the mix of therapies within the category, as long as each one relates to your disability and plan goals. The exception is a stated support. If your plan says an amount is for a named support, it can only be spent on that support. You cannot move this funding into Core or Capital.

What is the NDIS code for Improved Daily Living Skills?

Improved Daily Living Skills is support category 15, so every line item code in it starts with 15. Examples are 15_617_0128_1_3 for occupational therapy, 15_054_0128_1_3 for psychology, 15_622_0128_1_3 for speech pathology and 15_055_0128_1_3 for physiotherapy. Your invoice should show the code for the service you received.

Sources and Further Reading

• NDIS Pricing Arrangements, National Disability Insurance Agency. The NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27 and the NDIS Support Catalogue are published here. Line item codes and price limits in this guide come from the 2026-27 Support Catalogue (v1.2, 22 July 2026).
• Report an issue or make a complaint about a provider or worker, NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
• Register of practitioners, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

This guide is general information, not advice about your plan. Check your own plan and the current NDIS Pricing Schedule before you make decisions.