How are decisions about meal preparation supports made, and what evidence is needed?
Decisions about funding for meal preparation supports are based on your individual plan and the NDIS funding criteria. If included in your plan, this may be accessed as part of the core funding.
Providers must issue itemised invoices for meal preparation and delivery claims. While a quote is not usually required, if additional funding is sought or the arrangement extends beyond a short-term period, evidence such as a recommendation or plan change request may be needed.
Meal Preparation Supports
Meal preparation is a type of funding that is provided to participants if they meet certain criteria such as age, the NDIS reasonable and necessary criteria, and goals. It is important to keep in mind that the NDIA will only fund this support for adults as typically it is the responsibility of the parent to provide meals to children in their care.
This support is funded through the assistance with daily living core category of an NDIS plan. If you have other supports that assist with meals such as supported independent living, or support worker assistance, the NDIA may not fund other meal preparation services.
There are two ways the NDIA considers funding meal preparation in a participant’s plan.
Firstly, is when the person does not have the capacity to do this for themselves. Someone else needs to do this for the participant, such as a support worker, or meal preparation service.
Secondly, when the person wishes to increase and build their independence and learn how to do this themselves. This may involve a person teaching the participant how to prepare meals. Typically this would be included in your daily assistance or independent living funding.
As this support is not a stated support, there is some flexibility to use this funding. However, it is important to ensure that this support is right for you. The NDIA and your planner are the best point of contact to ensure this can be funded from your plan.
When choosing to access meal preparation services you must consider the following:
Is it reasonable and necessary, and in line with your plan?
Does this support you to meet your goals?
Is using this support going to impact your budget for other things like support work?
Is this within your budget and represents good value for money?
Has there been a short-term change to your situation? – the NDIA allows this support to be used temporarily if something has happened that means you need this support. For example, your informal support worker may be sick or your regular worker may not be able to help you.
What can I use this funding for?
This funding can only be used to cover the cost of preparing and delivering the meals to you. The cost of the ingredients is not able to be covered by the NDIA. Most service providers will bill you separately for the food cost, and the expenses that are claimable will be sent to your plan manager.
If the cost of the food and ingredients is not able to be separated or itemised, then only 70% of the total amount can be claimed through your funding.
What types of services can I use?
Meal Preparation Services – Some companies specialise in meal preparation services
Support worker – You can choose to have a support worker prepare and bring meals to you. If you choose this option, the provider should bill for their time spent preparing the food. However, you will need to buy the ingredients or pay the support worker for the cost of them.
Skills building supports – if you have indicated that one of your goals is to build skills and independence by learning to prepare meals, an option is to use assistance from a support worker. These will be services delivered to help you learn to cook and plan healthy meals. Instead of just paying for a meal delivery service, you will gain valuable skills and techniques you can use in the future.
Where can I find meal preparation services?
You can search for NDIS meal preparation services in your area. There are some examples below for providers located in Queensland
Lite n Easy
Able Foods
iSupport Chef
Nourish’d
Youfoodz
Otherwise, you can speak with your support workers to see if they can assist you with support to prepare meals.
Useful information:
How can I use my meal preparation support flexibly