NDIS medium term accommodation is funding for somewhere to live for up to 90 days when you cannot move into your long term home yet, because your disability supports are not ready. It is only available in specific circumstances, and the NDIS sets out exactly what they are. This guide explains who is eligible, what it covers, how long it lasts, and how to ask for it. Every fact comes from the NDIS.
Quick summary
- Medium term accommodation, or MTA, funds a place to stay for up to 3 months, or 90 days.
- You must have a long term home, be unable to move in yet, and be unable to stay where you are.
- It covers the cost of the accommodation only, not food, bills or personal care.
- When you leave hospital, MTA can help you move out sooner, even without a confirmed long term home.
- It is a one-off support, not emergency housing and not short term accommodation.
- The NDIS can fund more than 90 days if you have evidence you need it.
What is NDIS medium term accommodation?
The NDIS describes medium term accommodation as funding you can use to live somewhere for up to 3 months, or 90 days. For example, you might be waiting on a specialist disability accommodation vacancy that will not be ready for another month. Or you might need somewhere to stay while home modifications are finished, so that you can use your bathroom.
MTA is not a standalone support. Instead, the NDIS only includes it in your plan as part of your other home and living needs. It is also a one-off support, because you probably will not need it again once you move into your long term home.
It is easy to mix up with short term accommodation, but the two do different jobs. Short term accommodation, now called short term respite, gives you time apart from your usual care arrangements. Our guide to NDIS respite accommodation covers that support in full.
Who is eligible for NDIS medium term accommodation?
According to the NDIS guideline, you must meet all 3 of these criteria:
- You have a long term home you will move into afterwards.
- Your disability supports are not ready, so you cannot move in yet.
- You cannot stay in your current accommodation while you wait.
1. You have a long term home
A long term home is the home you expect to live in, and it has been confirmed you can live there. For example, it might be your own home after home modifications are finished. It might also be a private rental, or social or community housing, while you wait for supports such as a ceiling hoist. Or it might be a home where you will start getting supported independent living, which our guide to the SIL house explains.
You need to give the NDIS evidence that your long term home is confirmed. Examples include a letter from a provider confirming an offer of accommodation and support, evidence that a home modification request is in progress, or a tenancy agreement offer. You also need to tell the NDIS the likely date you can move in.
2. Your supports are not ready
MTA is only for a wait caused by your disability supports. For instance, you may be waiting for assistive technology to be installed, or for someone to move out of a SIL home before you can move in.
3. You cannot stay where you are
Examples include needing to move out while home modifications are done, a breakdown in your supports, or leaving a residential facility, hospital or custodial setting. However, if you have a stable home now, the NDIS would usually expect you to stay there until your new home is ready.
The guideline gives a clear example. Someone who lives with family, whose family is happy to support them, and whose SDA home will be ready in 2 months is not eligible, because they can stay where they are.
Leaving hospital or the justice system
Different rules apply in two situations. First, MTA can help you move out of hospital sooner while you find your long term home. If you are eligible for SDA, supported independent living, individualised living options or home modifications, the NDIS can add MTA to your plan. In this case you do not need a confirmed long term home. NDIS health liaison officers and the hospital discharge team work with you on it.
Second, if you are eligible for SDA and you are leaving a justice setting, you can access MTA while you wait for a vacancy. Your support coordinator works with the NDIS justice liaison officer to find the right supports.
What NDIS medium term accommodation covers
MTA only covers the cost of the accommodation for the time you stay there. It does not cover food, internet, electricity or other usual living costs. It also does not include personal care. You get those supports separately, and you can keep using the other supports in your plan while you stay.
If you need more help during the stay, tell the NDIS. Where they meet the funding criteria, it may fund assistive technology, extra support, or help to move into the accommodation.
The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits set a maximum daily amount. If your accommodation costs less, you can only claim what you actually pay. If it costs more, you can only claim the maximum, and you pay the difference yourself.
What it will not fund
- long term rent, or your rent or mortgage once you move into your long term home
- a stay for general repairs or renovations that are not related to your disability
- a stay when it is reasonable for you to live with family or friends in the meantime
- emergency housing, which other government and community services are responsible for.
How long does NDIS medium term accommodation last?
The NDIS generally funds MTA for up to 90 days. However, it may fund longer if there is evidence you need it because of your disability support needs. For example, if your builder says your modifications will take 100 days, the NDIS could fund 100 days. Similarly, you might have a confirmed SDA tenancy offer, but no vacancy for 120 days. You need to give the NDIS that evidence before it decides.
How to get NDIS medium term accommodation in your plan
If you think you need NDIS medium term accommodation, talk to your my NDIS contact or support coordinator. The NDIS will look at assessments of your support and accommodation needs, your allied health reports and your daily support needs reports. If it needs more information, it may fund an assessment.
The NDIS says it will try to let you know its decision within 10 days. If you disagree with the decision, you can ask for an internal review within 3 months of getting your plan. MTA is one of several options, so our guide to NDIS home and living is worth reading alongside this one.
Frequently asked questions
How long can you stay in NDIS medium term accommodation?
Generally up to 90 days. The NDIS can fund longer if you have evidence that your disability supports will take longer to be ready.
Does NDIS medium term accommodation cover rent?
It covers the cost of the accommodation while you stay there, up to a maximum daily amount. It does not cover long term rent, a mortgage, or living costs like food and electricity.
Is medium term accommodation the same as short term accommodation?
No. Short term accommodation, now called short term respite, gives you time apart from your usual care and is usually funded for up to 28 days a year. Medium term accommodation is a place to live while your long term home is not ready.
Can I get medium term accommodation while waiting for an SDA vacancy?
Yes, if you meet all 3 criteria. The NDIS gives the example of an SDA vacancy that will not be ready for another month. You must also be unable to stay where you live now.
Do I need a confirmed home to get MTA?
Usually, yes. The exceptions are leaving hospital, if you are eligible for certain home and living supports, and leaving a justice setting, if you are eligible for SDA.
Is NDIS medium term accommodation emergency housing?
No. The NDIS says MTA is not emergency housing, and you must have a home you can move into. Other government and community services are responsible for emergency housing.
How 1 Care Connect can help
1 Care Connect is a registered NDIS provider with a nurse led team. If your long term home is the missing piece, we have SIL and SDA homes across NSW. You can browse our current SIL and SDA vacancies, or read what is SDA to see how specialist disability accommodation works.
To talk through your options, contact our team or call 1300 264 942.
Related reading
- NDIS respite accommodation: short term stays explained
- SIL house: what living in a SIL home is like
Sources: NDIS, What is medium-term accommodation (MTA); NDIS, Our Guideline: Medium term accommodation, from the NDIS Our Guidelines page; NDIS, What is short-term accommodation (all read 5 October 2026). This article is general information only and is not financial, legal or clinical advice. NDIS funding, eligibility and pricing are set by the NDIS and can change. Always check the current details on the NDIS website or with your planner or support coordinator. Last updated: 5 October 2026.
