Having a pet at home can be so wonderful! They can provide companionship, emotional support, a sense of purpose and so much more. When it comes to assistance animals, what they provide can be positively life changing!
The NDIS will fund assistance animals but not pets or companion animals. Having a pet is generally considered a choice and not a necessity. The NDIS consider expenses related to pets as day-to-day living costs that you should pay for yourself.
Before buying or accepting a pet, it’s a good idea to be sure you will be able to financially support it and have a suitable home environment for it.
What about dog walking?
Unless you have an assistance dog, the NDIS won’t usually pay for a dog walker to take your dog for a walk for you.
However, if you have ‘Assistance with Daily Life’ funding, you might be able to have a support worker assist or supervise you walking your dog.
Your ‘Assistance with Daily Life’ budget “relates to assisting with or supervising personal tasks of daily life to enable the participant to live as autonomously as possible. These supports are provided individually to participants and can be provided in a range of environments, including the participant’s own home.”
Invoicing
If you have funding for “Assistance with Daily Life” and having a support worker is consistent with the goals in your plan, you can use the following line item for this type of support:
Assistance With Self-Care Activities
If you aren’t sure whether your pet is considered an assistance animal, visit the NDIS guide on assistance animals.
