NDIS Travel Claims: What Support Workers Can and Can't Claim

When NDIS travel is claimable

Travel is claimable when a support worker needs to travel to deliver a support to a participant. This typically applies when the support is delivered at the participant's home or in the community — not at a centre or office. The key principle is that travel must be directly related to delivering a funded support.

What counts as claimable travel

The NDIS Price Guide specifies what travel is claimable and at what rate.

• •Travel between participant visits during a working day
• •Travel from your last participant visit to your home/office (in some circumstances)
• •Travel time is charged at the relevant support item rate
• •Kilometres may be claimable as a separate line item depending on the service agreement
• •Travel time is typically capped — check the current Price Guide for limits

What is NOT claimable

Not all travel qualifies. Understanding the exclusions prevents rejected claims.

• •Travel from home to your first participant of the day (commuting)
• •Travel that is unreasonably long due to poor planning
• •Travel to training, meetings, or non-participant activities
• •Travel already included in the support item price (some items bundle travel)

How to record travel correctly

Accurate records protect you during audits and make invoicing faster. For each claimable trip, record the start location, end location, distance in kilometres, time spent travelling, and the participant the travel relates to. GPS-based logbook apps make this automatic — start the trip when you leave one participant and end it when you arrive at the next.

Invoicing travel to plan managers

When invoicing for travel, use the correct NDIS support item number for travel. Include the participant's NDIS number, the date, the distance or time, and the rate. Plan managers expect itemised invoices — lumping travel into the support charge without separating it can cause delays or rejections.

Tips for reducing travel between participants

Less travel means more time with participants and fewer claims to manage. Group participants by area when scheduling your day. Use route optimisation to find the shortest path between visits. Build in realistic buffer time so you're not rushing between appointments. And communicate ETAs to participants — they appreciate knowing when to expect you.