NDIS non face to face OT claiming rules?

The short answer

An occupational therapist can claim non face to face time under the NDIS when the activity is directly related to a specific support for that participant, the participant agreed in advance, and it is charged at or below the same hourly price limit as direct therapy. Report writing, resource preparation and case conferencing usually qualify. General administration does not.

Sources
NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27 (formerly NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits)
NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2025-26, non face to face support provision rules
National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth)
NDIS Code of Conduct

What counts as non face to face

Non face to face supports are things an OT does for a participant without the participant present. Under the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits rules, carried into the 2026-27 NDIS Pricing Schedule, they are claimable for Capacity Building supports such as therapy when they are part of delivering a specific support item to that participant, the participant has agreed in advance, and the provider can explain why they are the best use of the participant's funds. Typical examples are writing progress and assessment reports, preparing a home program or visual supports, scoring standardised assessments, and case conferencing with the participant's other providers with consent.

What you cannot claim

Administrative work is already built into the overhead component of the price limit and cannot be billed on top. That includes preparing the service agreement, entering participant details, rostering, invoicing and making payment claims, and travel that does not meet the provider travel rules. Nor can you claim time spent on your own general professional development or reading that is not specific to the participant. Reports the NDIA asks for at plan commencement or reassessment are claimed under the separate NDIA requested report item, again with the participant's prior agreement.

How to invoice it

The 2026-27 Pricing Schedule lists occupational therapy as separate line items for direct service, non face to face, provider travel and NDIA requested reports, all at the same hourly limit except travel, which is half. Invoice non face to face time on its own line, in the actual units of time spent, with a short description of the activity and the date. Record what you did in the clinical file. Plan managers and the NDIA can ask for evidence, and under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 a payment a provider was not entitled to can be recovered as a debt.

Set expectations early

The easiest way to stay compliant is to put non face to face time in the service agreement with an estimate of hours for typical activities, then confirm before any large piece of work such as a functional capacity assessment. Many participants do not realise a report can take longer to write than the session took to run, so explain it in plain language and give a rough estimate of hours before you start. For 2026-27, check the NDIA pricing arrangements page for any updated claiming rules document, as the NDIA has been reviewing how non face to face time is charged.

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