Housing transitions are one of the most stressful parts of the NDIS journey. You might be ready to leave hospital, but your home isn’t ready for you. You might have a long-term place lined up, but it’s weeks away from being available. Medium Term Accommodation exists for exactly these in-between moments, and it’s one of the least understood supports in the scheme. Here’s a clear look at what MTA is, who it’s for, and how the funding actually works.
What is Medium Term Accommodation?
Medium Term Accommodation, or MTA, is NDIS funding for temporary housing while you wait for your confirmed long-term home to become available. Think of it as a bridge. It isn’t where you’re ultimately headed; it’s a safe, appropriate place to stay while the next stage is being finalised.
The NDIS funds MTA because it recognises a practical reality: housing takes time. Home modifications need builders and approvals. A vacancy in your future home might be a month away. Hospital discharge needs coordinating. MTA fills that gap so you’re not left without somewhere suitable to live in the meantime.
When is MTA funded?
There’s one rule that sits above all the others: MTA is only funded when you have a confirmed long-term home that you have a genuine prospect of moving into, but can’t yet. Without that confirmed destination, MTA generally won’t be approved, because the whole point of the support is to bridge a gap to something specific.
Common situations where MTA applies include:
- You’re ready to leave hospital or rehab, but your home isn’t ready for you to return to.
- Your long-term home is being modified for your disability, and you can’t safely live there while the work is done.
- You’re waiting for a place in your confirmed long-term accommodation to become available.
MTA is only available in these kinds of specific, transitional circumstances. It isn’t a general housing payment, and it isn’t automatically included in a plan.
How long does MTA last?
The standard funding period is up to 90 days, which is three months. For most people, that’s enough time for the long-term arrangement to be finalised.
Extensions beyond 90 days are possible, but only in genuine, evidence-backed circumstances, for example if a builder confirms modifications will take longer than expected and the delay is outside your control. Extensions are assessed case by case, and this is one area where a support coordinator can help by documenting the ongoing need.
What MTA funding covers, and what it doesn’t
This is where a lot of confusion sits, so it’s worth being precise.
MTA covers the cost of the accommodation itself, the roof over your head, for the approved period, at the rates set in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. That’s essentially it.
MTA does not cover your everyday living costs. Groceries, phone, internet and other day-to-day expenses remain your responsibility, the same as they would be in any home.
Just as importantly, MTA does not pay for the support you receive while you’re there. If you have support workers who help you shower, cook or get out into the community, those supports are funded separately through your Core Supports or other relevant parts of your plan. MTA secures the building; your other budgets cover the help.
MTA needs to be in your plan
MTA isn’t part of your flexible, everyday budget that you can dip into as needed. It generally needs to be specifically listed, or “stated,” in your NDIS plan before you can use it, which means the funds are set aside for this purpose and can’t be spent on other things.
If you think MTA applies to your situation, it’s worth raising during a plan review or reassessment, with evidence of your confirmed long-term housing and why you can’t move in yet. A support coordinator can help you gather that evidence and put the case forward.
How MTA differs from STA
People often mix up MTA and Short Term Accommodation, so here’s the quick distinction:
Short Term Accommodation (STA) is about respite. It’s a short stay, often used to give participants a change of environment or to give the usual support arrangement a break.
MTA is about transition. It’s a longer stay, up to 90 days, specifically for bridging the gap while you wait for a confirmed long-term home.
Different purpose, different timeframe, different funding. If you’re weighing up which one fits your situation, that difference is the thing to hold onto.
Getting the right support through a housing transition
A housing transition is rarely just about the building. It’s about making sure the right supports move with you, that the paperwork is in order, and that nothing falls through the cracks between one home and the next.
Personalised Support Services is a registered NDIS provider in Melbourne offering Medium Term Accommodation in comfortable, fully accessible homes across Melbourne and the south-east, including Pakenham, Cranbourne North and Ocean Grove. Each home is set up for genuine accessibility, and you can take a virtual tour before you decide. If you’re navigating a move and want to understand your options, explore our accommodation options and current vacancies or get in touch with our team.
This article is general information to help you understand your options. What’s funded in your plan depends on your situation, so it’s always worth confirming with your planner or support coordinator.
