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The PACE system: New support category guide

Published at 12-02-2024 12:45:00

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The PACE system: New support category guide

The NDIA has begun implementation of the new PACE system to bring evolving support for all participants and their families. We understand this new system can seem a bit daunting and confusing at first but rest assured, we and the NDIS are here for you every step along the way!

The main changes within the PACE system include some new support types and categories, changes to some category names and how the NDIS communicates with you. If you would like to better understand an overview of these changes, feel free to check our article The new PACE system: An overview.

In this article, we will delve into the details of these updated support types and category changes and what they mean for you as an NDIS participant.

 

Support types 

The PACE system have added one new support type to the three previous types.

Support types now include:

  1. Core supports
  2. Capacity Building supports
  3. Capital supports
  4. Recurring Transport 

 

So what is recurring transport? 

Recurring Transport is the new support type that has been added to the PACE system. This support is specifically designed for regular transport payments. It is a self-managed category aimed to simplify transport arrangements for participants. The “Transport” category under Core supports still remains for funding that is plan managed or agency managed.

 

New support categories 

There are five new support categories under the PACE system, let’s take a closer look at each one.

 

Home and Living supports

Home and Living is under Core supports.

This support category is aimed at facilitating a range of supports that support greater independence in daily living. Supported Independent Living (SIL), Independent Living Options (ILO) and Medium Term Accomodation (MTA) have now been removed from Assistance with Daily Life and added to this new category instead.

Home and living funding is a stated support meaning the funding is only flexible within its category. A my provider must also be allocated. This can be your plan manager.

Here are the support items included:

 

Young People in Residential Aged Care (YPIRAC) 

YPIRAC is a new category under Cross Billing Core supports.

This is an NDIA managed category only, added for funding to be allocated in plans and payments for residential aged care subsidies and supplements.

Funding for YPIRAC is paid directly to the Residential Aged Care Provider.

 

Assistive Technology, maintenance, repair and rental

Assistive technology maintenance, repair and rental is under Capital supports.

This new support allows items split from Assistive Technology (AT). If you have AT in your NDIS plan, you will most likely have funding under this category.

The funding for this category must be used exactly as per your NDIS plan.

This category may include funding for:

 

Specialised Disability Accomodation (SDA)

SDA is under Capital supports.

SDA is for specialised homes for people with severe functional impairment or high support needs. This stated support funds specially designed housing tailored to meet the unique requirements for these individuals.

Funding for SDA has no flexibility, it must also be delivered by a registered provider and have a my provider allocated, this can be your plan manager.

 

Behaviour support

Behaviour support is under Capacity Building supports.

This support type is designed to help individuals with strategies for managing behavioural challenges with specialised interventions and supports to improve quality of life and mitigate the behaviours of concern. Some of the items under this category have been split from the category ‘Relationships’.

Behaviour support is flexible within Capacity Building Supports, but not any other support type. Behaviour support must also be delivered by a registered provider and have a provider allocated for funding, this can be your plan manager.

Behaviour support includes these support items:

 

Flexible Core Supports 

The new PACE system will allow for more flexibility in your NDIS plan. If you have flexible funding, you can use this to buy supports from other support categories that are also flexible, as long as their funding is the same.

There are now four flexible support categories, they are all under Core supports. These include:

01: Assistance with Daily Life 

02: Transport 

03: Consumables 

04: Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation

The flexibility must also match how your funding is managed, for example: if you have 2 support categories that are plan managed, the funding in these 2 can be managed flexibly.

 

Looking for more information? 

The NDIS has launched a new website that contains lots of information about the new PACE system and all the changes. This website is super helpful for participants who are in the PACE system or are transitioning to the new system.

You can access the new website here: https://improvements.ndis.gov.au

If you aren’t transiting to the new PACE system just yet, don’t worry, the existing website will still be there and operating as per usual.

 

Getting a plan manager

It’s easy to get a plan manager, even on the new PACE system! Just dial the NDIS on 1800 800 110 and request Just Plan Managers as your plan manager!

 

Get in touch

If you have any questions, we’d love to help you out, call us on 1300 217 037 or email us at info@justplanmanagers.com.au and our friendly team will get back to you in no time.

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