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How to include moving supports in your NDIS plan

Yes, you can include moving supports in your NDIS plan, but only when those supports meet the NDIA’s reasonable and necessary criteria. The core test is straightforward: the support must relate directly to your disability, represent value for money compared to alternatives like home modifications, and help you pursue your plan goals. The NDIA, not your support coordinator or removalist, makes the final call.

Here is what to do right now:

  • Check whether your move is directly linked to your disability needs (not just a lifestyle preference or general housing change).
  • Get an occupational therapist (OT) report that is less than 12 months old and explains why your current home cannot be modified.
  • Notify the NDIA before you sign contracts or incur moving costs.
  • Contact EasyMove Services for an NDIS-aware moving quote that can form part of your evidence pack.

The 2025 HYGR tribunal decision confirmed that ancillary relocation costs can be funded when a home modification has been approved but the existing property cannot be modified. That precedent matters, and we will walk through it in detail below.

Key takeaways

Moving supports can be included in an NDIS plan when they are directly linked to disability needs, supported by current OT evidence, and represent better value for money than home modifications.

Point Details
Reasonable and necessary test The NDIA funds moving supports only when they are disability-linked, value for money, and more effective than modifying the current home.
OT report under 12 months An OT report covering functional limitations, modification feasibility, and a cost comparison is the most persuasive evidence you can submit.
Notify NDIA before moving Contact your NDIS planner before signing contracts or incurring costs; moving first risks losing the chance to fund relocation supports.
HYGR precedent The 2025 HYGR tribunal decision shows ancillary relocation costs can be funded when tied to an approved home modification and no cheaper alternative exists.
EasyMove Services EasyMove Services provides NDIS-aware removalist services, itemised quotes, and documentation that support coordinators and OTs can use in an evidence pack.

Table of Contents

When the NDIS will consider funding your move

The NDIA applies six criteria when deciding whether any support is reasonable and necessary. Each one maps directly to moving decisions, and understanding how they apply to your situation is the first step toward a successful request.

Diagram of NDIA six criteria for moving supports

The support must relate to your disability. A move driven purely by a preference for a different suburb will not qualify. A move because your current home cannot accommodate a ceiling hoist, a wheelchair, or other assistive devices needed for your daily functioning is a different matter entirely.

It must help you pursue your plan goals. If your plan includes goals around independent living, community participation, or improved daily function, and your current home physically prevents those goals from being met, the connection is clear and worth documenting.

Value for money is the pivotal test. NDIA planners routinely weigh the projected cost of moving against the cost of modifying the existing property. If home modifications would cost significantly more, take longer, or still not meet your long-term needs, a move can represent better value. NDIS home modifications guidance states explicitly that if a current home cannot be modified, or if modifications would be very high cost or would not meet long-term needs, the NDIA may consider funding supports to help you move to a more accessible home.

The support must be effective and beneficial. Moving to a property that is already accessible, or that requires only minor modifications, is more likely to satisfy this criterion than moving to a property that still needs substantial work.

Family and informal support is considered. The NDIA will assess what it is reasonable to expect your family or household to provide. Successful claims clearly separate disability-related needs from normal family responsibilities, a distinction the HYGR decision reinforced.

The support must be an NDIS support. Not every cost associated with a move qualifies. The NDIA draws a firm line between disability-linked relocation supports and general household moving expenses.

The NDIA will generally only fund moving supports that are directly tied to your disability needs and that represent value for money compared to alternatives. NDIS guidelines on moving house confirm that some services associated with moving to a home suitable for approved complex home modifications can fall within funded supports when directly attributable to disability needs.

Supports that may be considered include:

  • Home transition supports coordinated by an OT or support coordinator to plan and manage the move to a more accessible property.
  • Removal of specialised equipment such as ceiling hoists, ramps, or custom bathroom fittings from the current home.
  • Storage of specialised equipment during the transition period, when the new home is not yet ready to receive it.
  • Ancillary relocation costs tied to an approved complex home modification, such as temporary accommodation or removalist costs directly attributable to the disability-related move (as accepted in the HYGR decision).
  • OT-led transition planning to assess the new home, recommend modifications, and document the functional requirements of the move.
  • Transport of assistive technology including power wheelchairs, communication devices, and other mobility aids that require specialist handling.

Pro Tip: Request these supports under the correct budget line from the start. Home transition supports often sit under Capital (home modifications), Capacity Building (support coordination), or Core (assistance with daily activities). Asking your support coordinator to confirm the right line before submitting your request avoids delays.

Common moving costs the NDIS will not fund

Standard day-to-day moving costs are excluded from NDIS funding unless a direct disability link and a value-for-money case can be established. NDIS reasonable and necessary support rules make clear that routine living costs and general moving expenses fall outside what the scheme funds.

Costs that are typically excluded include:

  • Property purchase price, mortgage repayments, or stamp duty.
  • Rental bonds, advance rent, or lease break fees.
  • General household removal costs not linked to disability needs.
  • Furniture, white goods, or general household items for the new property.
  • Real estate agent fees or conveyancing costs.

If some of these costs fall on you, there are practical alternatives worth exploring. State housing authorities, community housing providers, and some charitable organisations offer transition support grants. Mainstream supports through Centrelink or state disability housing programmes may also apply. Where family members are contributing to the move, documenting their involvement clearly in your evidence pack helps the NDIA understand what informal support is already in place.

One important exception: when relocation costs are directly attributable to an approved complex home modification and no lower-cost alternative exists, the HYGR tribunal accepted that some of those costs could be funded. That outcome required detailed cost comparisons and strong OT evidence, not just a general request.

What evidence strengthens a request to include moving supports

Up-to-date clinical and OT evidence that links the move to your disability outcomes is the single most important factor in a successful application. NDIA evidence requirements confirm that OT reports less than 12 months old are commonly expected, and that the most persuasive reports explain why the current home cannot be modified and compare the costs of modifying versus moving.

Here is what a strong evidence pack looks like:

  1. OT functional capacity report (less than 12 months old) covering your functional limitations, why the current home cannot be modified to meet your needs, a cost comparison between modifying and moving, and the recommended outcomes of the move.
  2. Treating health professional letters from your specialist, GP, or allied health team confirming the disability-related basis for the move.
  3. Home modification assessment from a qualified OT or builder showing what modifications would be required, their cost, and why they are not feasible or cost-effective.
  4. Quotes for modifications versus moving costs so the NDIA can make a direct value-for-money comparison.
  5. Photos of the current home documenting access barriers, hazards, or structural limitations that cannot be resolved through modification.
  6. Evidence of alternatives explored showing that you have considered and ruled out other options, including home modifications, assistive technology, or in-home support changes.

When requesting your OT report, ask specifically for these headings: functional limitations, modification feasibility assessment, cost comparison, and recommended outcomes. The NDIA values specificity. A report that says “the home is unsuitable” carries far less weight than one that details why a 900mm doorway cannot be widened due to load-bearing walls and that the cost of structural modification exceeds the cost of relocating to an already accessible property.

How to ask the NDIA to include moving supports in your plan

Contact your NDIS planner or support coordinator before you move, before you sign a lease, and before you incur any relocation costs. This is not a formality. Moving first and asking for reimbursement later is one of the most common reasons funding requests are denied.

Step 1: Prepare your evidence and quotes. Gather your OT report, treating health professional letters, modification quotes, and removalist quotes. EasyMove Services can provide itemised, NDIS-aware quotes that specify disability-linked costs separately from general moving costs, which is exactly the format planners need.

Step 2: Request a plan meeting or plan variation. Contact your NDIS planner through the myNDIS portal or by phone. Ask for a plan variation if your disability support needs have changed, or a plan review if a broader reassessment is warranted. NDIS guidance on plan changes notes that short-term changes may be managed through flexible budgets in your current plan, while longer-term changes usually require a formal variation or new plan with supporting evidence.

Step 3: Submit your supporting documents. Attach all evidence to your request. The NDIA will not chase documents on your behalf. A complete submission at the first attempt reduces back-and-forth and speeds up the decision.

Step 4: Understand the timeline. Standard plan variations typically take several weeks. If your situation is urgent, for example if you face eviction or a sudden change in your home’s accessibility, tell your planner explicitly and ask for an urgent review. Document the urgency in writing.

Step 5: If you need support while waiting. Ask your support coordinator whether any existing flexible budget in your current plan can cover short-term transition costs while the variation is processed.

If your request is denied, you have the right to request an internal review by the NDIA. Submit a written request within three months of the decision, attach any additional evidence, and clearly state which criterion you believe was applied incorrectly. If the internal review also goes against you, the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) is the next avenue, as the HYGR decision illustrates.

How to ask the NDIA to include moving supports in your plan — overview diagram

Real decisions: how the NDIA applies these rules in practice

Case 1: HYGR (2025) — relocation costs funded alongside approved home modifications

In the HYGR tribunal decision, the participant required complex home modifications to accommodate their disability needs. The existing property could not be modified to the required standard, and no lower-cost alternative existed. The NDIA had already approved the home modifications. The tribunal accepted that ancillary relocation costs tied directly to that approved modification were fundable supports.

The key factors that tipped the decision were: the home modification had already been approved; the existing home was demonstrably unable to be modified; the relocation costs were itemised and directly attributable to the disability-related move; and no cheaper alternative had been overlooked. The lesson is that relocation funding rarely stands alone. It is most likely to succeed when it is anchored to an approved modification and supported by granular cost evidence.

Case 2: Hypothetical denial — no OT report, no cost comparison

Consider a participant who requests funding for a move to a larger home in a different suburb. The request cites general discomfort in the current home and a preference for being closer to family. No OT report is provided. No cost comparison between modifying the current home and moving is submitted. The NDIA declines the request on the basis that the move is not demonstrably linked to disability needs, that no evidence shows the current home cannot be modified, and that the costs are not value for money compared to alternatives.

The lesson: a general preference for a different home, even a genuinely more accessible one, will not satisfy the reasonable and necessary test without clinical evidence and a documented cost comparison.

How EasyMove Services helps NDIS participants with moves and evidence

EasyMove Services provides NDIS-aware moving services and can help prepare disability-linked moving quotes and logistics evidence that planners and support coordinators can use directly in an application.

Services that map to NDIA evidence needs include:

  • NDIS removalist service with itemised quotes that separate disability-linked costs from general moving costs, formatted for inclusion in an evidence pack.
  • Specialist equipment transport for ceiling hoists, power wheelchairs, communication devices, and other assistive technology requiring careful handling and documented chain of custody.
  • Storage for specialised equipment during the transition period, with receipts and inventory records suitable for NDIA review.
  • Letters of service that describe the disability-related scope of work, which OTs and support coordinators can attach to plan variation requests.
  • Live tracking of goods in transit, providing documented proof of care for high-value assistive devices.
  • Liaison with support coordinators and OTs to align the moving plan with the evidence requirements of the NDIA application.

EasyMove Services works with support coordinators to make sure the moving logistics and the NDIA evidence pack are aligned from the start. You can learn more about NDIS-funded moving services or go straight to the NDIS removalist service page to request a quote.

Practical tips from an NDIS-aware mover

Plan early. The single most common mistake participants make is moving first and asking the NDIA later. By the time the move is done, the opportunity to fund relocation supports has often passed.

Tell your OT exactly what you need from the report. Ask them to address functional limitations, modification feasibility, a cost comparison, and recommended outcomes. A report that covers all four headings gives the NDIA what it needs to make a decision. A report that only says the home is “not suitable” is unlikely to be enough.

Order your quotes before your plan meeting, not after. Having itemised quotes from a removalist like EasyMove Services in hand when you sit down with your planner demonstrates that you have done the groundwork and makes the value-for-money comparison concrete.

When documenting family contributions, be specific. If a family member is providing informal support during the move, note what they are doing and for how long. The NDIA will assess what is reasonable to expect from family, and clear documentation helps separate disability-related needs from normal household responsibilities.

Common mistakes to avoid: moving before notifying the NDIA; submitting an OT report that is more than 12 months old; omitting a cost comparison between modifying and moving; and failing to document why informal or family support is insufficient to meet your needs.

EasyMove Services: your NDIS-aware moving partner

When you are preparing to move as an NDIS participant, the removalist you choose matters more than most people realise. An itemised, disability-specific quote from a provider who understands NDIA evidence requirements is worth far more to your application than a generic price estimate.

EasyMove Services

EasyMove Services specialises in NDIS removalist services that go beyond shifting boxes. The team provides itemised quotes that separate disability-linked costs from general moving costs, handles assistive technology and high-value items with documented care, and supplies letters of service that OTs and support coordinators can attach directly to plan variation requests. Live tracking gives you and your support team real-time visibility of goods in transit. Get in touch with EasyMove Services today to request an NDIS-aligned quote and get the documentation your application needs.

Sources

This article provides general information only and is not a substitute for professional NDIS planning advice. Confirm current rules and eligibility with the NDIA or a qualified support coordinator before making decisions.

FAQ

Can the NDIS fund general removal costs when I move house?

Generally no. Standard removal costs are excluded unless they are directly attributable to your disability needs and represent better value for money than modifying your current home.

What is the most important document for an NDIS moving support request?

An OT report less than 12 months old that covers your functional limitations, why your current home cannot be modified, and a cost comparison between modifying and moving is the most persuasive evidence you can provide.

Do I need to tell the NDIA before I move?

Yes. Notifying the NDIA before you move and before you incur costs preserves your ability to have relocation supports funded. Moving first and asking for reimbursement later is one of the most common reasons requests are denied.

What did the HYGR decision mean for NDIS participants?

The 2025 HYGR tribunal decision confirmed that ancillary relocation costs can be funded when they are tied to an approved complex home modification and the existing home cannot be modified. It is not a blanket approval for moving costs, but it establishes that strong evidence and a direct disability link can overcome the general exclusion.

How can EasyMove Services help with my NDIS application?

EasyMove Services provides itemised, NDIS-aware quotes that separate disability-linked costs from general moving costs, handles specialist equipment transport with documented care, and supplies letters of service suitable for inclusion in an NDIA evidence pack.

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