Who Can Access MTA Funding Under the NDIS?
A move can be necessary long before a permanent home is ready. For an NDIS participant leaving hospital, waiting for home modifications, or preparing to move into supported accommodation, that gap can create real stress and safety concerns. Understanding who can access MTA funding can help participants, families and support networks plan for a stable place to stay while longer-term arrangements are being finalised.
Medium Term Accommodation, usually called MTA, is an NDIS support for particular transition periods. It is not available for every housing need, and it is not a replacement for social housing, private rental assistance or everyday living costs. When it is the right fit, however, MTA can provide a safe and suitable temporary accommodation option while a participant waits for their longer-term home and supports to be ready.
What is MTA funding?
MTA is funding for temporary accommodation for an NDIS participant who needs a place to live for a limited period while waiting for a more permanent housing solution. The NDIS generally funds MTA for up to 90 days at a time, where the participant’s disability-related needs make the accommodation reasonable and necessary.
The key word is temporary. MTA is designed to bridge a clear gap between one living arrangement and the next. For example, a participant may be ready to leave hospital but their accessible home is still being modified. Another person may be waiting for a Specialist Disability Accommodation vacancy, or for a Supported Independent Living arrangement to begin.
MTA funding generally covers the accommodation component of the temporary stay. Participants still need to contribute towards ordinary day-to-day costs they would usually pay themselves, such as rent, food, utilities and personal expenses. The exact arrangements depend on the property and the participant’s individual circumstances, so it is wise to clarify costs before moving in.
Who can access MTA funding?
MTA is available to NDIS participants who have a genuine, short-term need for disability-related temporary accommodation while they wait for a confirmed long-term housing outcome. The participant must be able to show that the temporary stay is connected to their disability support needs, rather than being a general housing issue alone.
The NDIS will look closely at the individual situation. There is no single diagnosis, age group or living arrangement that automatically qualifies someone for MTA. A participant may be eligible if they need accessible accommodation, a safer environment, overnight support, or a setting that matches their functional needs during the transition.
In practice, MTA may be considered for participants who are:
- leaving hospital, rehabilitation or another clinical setting and cannot safely return to their previous home
- waiting for home modifications that are needed to make their permanent home accessible or safe
- waiting to move into Specialist Disability Accommodation, supported accommodation or another confirmed long-term option
- moving between accommodation arrangements because their current home is no longer suitable for their disability-related needs
- experiencing a short transition period where suitable housing and essential supports cannot begin at the same time.
A difficult housing situation on its own does not necessarily meet the NDIS criteria. For example, if a tenancy ends unexpectedly but there is no disability-related reason for requiring a particular type of temporary accommodation, the NDIS may not fund MTA. This distinction can feel frustrating, but it is central to how the NDIS decides whether a support is reasonable and necessary.
The long-term plan needs to be clear
One of the most important factors in an MTA request is evidence of what will happen after the temporary stay. The NDIS is more likely to consider funding when there is a realistic, documented plan for the participant’s longer-term accommodation.
That plan might include an estimated completion date for home modifications, written confirmation that an SDA property is available or expected to become available, or clear arrangements for a move into a suitable supported living home. If the long-term pathway is uncertain, the NDIS may ask for more information before approving MTA.
This does not mean every detail must be perfect. Delays can happen with construction, vacancies and service arrangements. What matters is being able to explain why MTA is needed now, what outcome the participant is waiting for, and how the temporary accommodation will support a safe transition rather than become an open-ended arrangement.
Evidence that can strengthen a request
Good evidence focuses on the participant’s day-to-day reality. An occupational therapist may explain why the current home cannot safely meet mobility, sensory or personal care needs. A hospital social worker or treating team may outline why discharge to the previous address is not appropriate. A support coordinator can document the housing options explored, expected timeframes and the steps being taken to secure a permanent solution.
Useful information may include functional assessments, discharge plans, reports about home modification timelines, correspondence about an SDA or SIL vacancy, and details of the support required during the temporary stay. Clear evidence helps the NDIS understand that the request is practical, time-limited and linked to the participant’s goals and safety.
MTA, SIL and SDA are different supports
These terms are often used together, but they fund different parts of a participant’s living arrangement.
MTA pays for temporary accommodation during a transition. It is about where a person can stay for a short time while waiting for their longer-term home.
Supported Independent Living, or SIL, funds the disability-related supports a person needs at home, particularly for tasks such as personal care, meal preparation, household routines and overnight assistance. SIL does not automatically pay for the property itself.
Specialist Disability Accommodation, or SDA, is funding for purpose-built or specially modified housing for people with very high support needs or extreme functional impairment. Eligibility for SDA is separate from eligibility for MTA.
A participant may need more than one support at different points. For instance, someone may use MTA while waiting for an SDA home, then receive SIL supports once they move into their permanent arrangement. The right combination depends on the person’s needs, goals and NDIS funding decision.
How to include MTA in an NDIS plan
If MTA may be needed, raising it early is usually the best approach. Waiting until a move is urgent can make an already difficult situation more stressful, especially when accommodation, support workers, assessments and funding decisions all need to line up.
Participants can discuss the need with their NDIS planner, Local Area Coordinator, support coordinator or recovery coach. Families and carers can also help gather information, provided the participant consents to their involvement. The conversation should explain the current living situation, why it is not safe or suitable, the intended temporary accommodation period and the plan for permanent housing.
Where circumstances change suddenly, it is still worth seeking advice promptly. A plan reassessment or change of circumstances request may be needed if MTA was not included in the existing plan. No one should assume that a current accommodation budget will automatically cover MTA, as funding categories and approved supports can vary.
Choosing the right temporary accommodation
Approval is only one part of the process. The property also needs to suit the participant. A temporary home should be accessible where required, located appropriately for appointments and informal supports, and able to work alongside the person’s daily support needs.
Consider practical details such as wheelchair access, bathroom layout, room configuration, behaviour support requirements, medication routines, transport and whether staff can provide the required support. For a participant with psychosocial disability, a calm environment and consistency of support may be just as important as physical accessibility.
It is also helpful to ask what happens if the permanent move is delayed. Some extensions may be possible where the need remains temporary and evidence supports the request, but extensions are not guaranteed. Early communication with the NDIS and accommodation provider gives everyone more time to respond.
Support for a safer transition
Housing transitions involve more than keys and moving boxes. They can affect routines, relationships, mental health, independence and a participant’s confidence in daily life. The strongest MTA arrangements are built around the participant’s preferences, not simply the first available room.
At Arise Services, our team can work with participants, families and referral partners to understand accommodation needs, coordinate supports and help make transitions feel more manageable. With person-centred planning and the right evidence, temporary accommodation can become a practical step towards a home where the participant feels safe, supported and in control.