Living with a disability shouldn’t mean compromising on delicious, nutritious meals. If preparing food at home is challenging, NDIS funding could cover up to 80% of your meal delivery costs, meaning you’ll only pay for ingredients.
As someone who’s extensively researched and tested NDIS-approved meal services across Australia, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know: whether you qualify, how the funding works, and which providers deliver to your area.
By the end of this guide, you’ll understand exactly how to get quality meals delivered to your door while maximizing your NDIS support.
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What is NDIS?
NDIS stands for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which is managed by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). The scheme provides funding and support to eligible Australians with permanent and significant disabilities, helping them achieve greater independence and improved quality of life.
The NDIS takes a personalized approach to support, working with each participant to create a plan that meets their individual needs and goals. This can include funding for:
- Daily personal activities
- Transportation
- Household tasks
- Home modifications
- Therapeutic supports
- Mobility equipment
- Employment support
- Social and community participation
NDIS also connects participants with various support networks across Australia, including:
- Healthcare providers
- Community groups
- Sporting clubs
- Support groups
- Educational institutions
- Employment services
As of 2024, NDIS supports over 600,000 Australians with disabilities, investing more than $35 billion annually in disability supports. The scheme continues to grow and evolve to better serve the disability community.
Who qualifies for NDIS support?
There are a few important criteria that someone must meet before qualifying for NDIS support. These include:
- Be younger than 65.
- Be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia.
- Have a permanent disability that significantly affects your daily life and will likely require lifelong support. This can include intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, physical, or psychosocial disabilities.
Don’t worry if you don’t qualify for NDIS support, there are several other government programs available. My Aged Care supports those 65 and over, while various state and territory services provide disability support. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme and Department of Veterans’ Affairs also offer assistance to eligible Australians.
To check your eligibility and learn how to apply, visit the NDIS Access Checklist.
Are NDIS likely to fund a meal delivery service for me?
NDIS is only able to cover meal delivery services in a scenario where it is not realistic to expect a participant to cook their own meals or have access to family members who can cook for them.
Instead of relying on prepared meals, it is likely that NDIS will recommend exploring other options such as funding a support worker to help prepare ingredients. Meal delivery services will only be considered if other options aren’t realistic.
To pull from the NDIS guidelines, they would expect participants to meet one of the following criteria:
- Your disability might mean you can’t shop, cook or clean up after preparing your meal. We may fund the cost of a support worker to help you shop for your food, prepare your meals, and to clean up afterwards.
- Your disability might mean you have trouble planning your meals or following multi-step instructions. If you can re-heat your meals, we may fund a support worker to help you shop for food and pre-prepare some meals for the week. We may also pay for delivery of pre- prepared ingredients.
NDIS also won’t fund meal delivery providers when the medical condition is purely related to food intake, such as:
- weight loss
- food allergies
- diabetes
- cardiovascular (heart) disease
- kidney disease
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- irritable bowel syndrome
Whilst this may seem strange, this is because other services exist to help people with these conditions.
What is covered from meal delivery services on NDIS?
When NDIS approves meal delivery as an appropriate support, they cover the meal preparation and cooking costs, packaging and handling, delivery to your home, and any disability-specific meal modifications required for your needs.
You are responsible for paying for the food ingredients, which NDIS considers an everyday living expense that everyone pays for, whether they have a disability or not. This typically amounts to 20-30% of the total meal cost.
Most providers will automatically separate these costs on your invoice, charging you only for the ingredient portion while billing NDIS directly for the preparation and delivery costs. Any optional extras or upgrades would also be your responsibility.
How can I order prepared meals on NDIS?
The process for ordering meals varies depending on how your NDIS plan is managed. Your first step is to find an approved provider from our list below and contact them about their NDIS meal service.
Here’s what to expect based on your plan management type:
Agency Managed Participants
You’ll need to choose an NDIS-registered provider. They will typically ask you to:
- Provide your NDIS number and plan details
- Sign a basic service agreement outlining delivery terms and costs
- Allow them to create a service booking in the NDIS portal
Once set up, you’ll only pay the ingredient portion (20-30%) when ordering, with the provider billing NDIS directly for the rest.
Plan Managed Participants
You can use any meal provider, registered or not. The provider will:
- Create a quote for your plan manager’s approval
- Set up your account for NDIS pricing
- Bill your plan manager directly for the preparation and delivery costs
You’ll pay just the ingredient costs when ordering, and your plan manager handles the NDIS portion.
Self Managed Participants
You have the most flexibility but need to manage claims yourself:
- Pay the full cost of meals upfront
- Get an itemized invoice showing the split between ingredients and preparation
- Claim the preparation/delivery portion through the MyPlace portal
Most providers let you order online or by phone once your account is set up. You can change providers at any time if you’re not satisfied, just give the required notice (usually 7 days).
All NDIS meal delivery providers
Not all meal delivery services are members of the NDIS scheme, and it isn’t always easy to spot if they are.
We’ve checked with all the major meal delivery providers in Australia and collated the following list. If you live in the Northern Territory, there are some local options for NDIS meals. Please contact your local NDIA support for options.
