Can I Use NDIS or CAPS Funding for Reusable Incontinence Underwear? A Step-by-Step 2026 Guide for Australians

By Luciana Seara

Real Talk
Apr 27, 2026

Helen is 72. For three years, she spent roughly $80 a month on disposable pads — quietly, without mentioning it to anyone, folding the cost into her grocery shop so her daughter wouldn't notice. She has a Pensioner Concession Card. She has a diagnosis that qualifies her for government assistance. The funding was sitting there, waiting for her to claim it. Nobody had told her it existed. This guide exists so that doesn't happen to you.

The Short Answer

Yes — in most cases, Australians managing bladder leaks can access government funding to offset the cost of incontinence products, including reusable incontinence underwear, leakproof trackpants, and disposables.

The longer answer is that there are multiple schemes — NDIS, CAPS, DVA, Home Care Packages, and state-based programmes — and which one applies to you depends on your age, diagnosis, and circumstances.

We'll walk through all of them. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly which scheme fits your situation, what you need to apply, and how Kovered's products fit into the process.

1. NDIS — For Australians Under 65 With a Permanent Disability

Who it's for:

Australians under 65 with a permanent disability where incontinence is disability-related.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds incontinence products as "consumables" or "disability-related health supports" within your plan, where they are considered "reasonable and necessary" for your disability.

The key phrase is disability-related. If your incontinence is a direct consequence of your disability — spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, neurological condition, or other eligible diagnosis — it can be funded through your NDIS plan.

What you need:

  • An active NDIS plan with funding allocated for continence supports
  • A continence assessment from a qualified health professional — a continence nurse, occupational therapist, or GP. The National Continence Helpline — 1800 33 00 66 can connect you with one for free
  • Evidence that the products are necessary for your disability management

How you can spend it — the three plan types:

  • Self-managed — you can purchase from any provider, including Kovered, and claim the cost back through the NDIS portal. This is the most flexible option and the simplest for buying reusable products
  • Plan-managed — your plan manager pays the invoice directly. Send them your Kovered invoice, and they handle the rest. Kovered provides itemised NDIS invoices on request
  • Agency/NDIA-managed — you must purchase from a registered NDIS provider. Contact us to discuss your options if this applies to you

Can I get NDIS and CAPS at the same time?

No. If you are receiving NDIS continence funding, you are not eligible for CAPS — and vice versa. You choose the scheme that best fits your situation. We'll explain CAPS next — and this is the part most people don't expect.

2. CAPS — The Government Payment Most Australians Have Never Heard Of

  • The Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) is a direct cash payment from the Australian Government — paid into your bank account — specifically to help cover the cost of continence products.

  • It is not means-tested beyond requiring a Pensioner Concession Card for non-neurological conditions. It does not require you to shop at a specific store. It does not restrict you to specific brands. The money is yours to spend on whichever continence products work for you — including Kovered's reusable underwear and leakproof trackpants.

  • Helen had a Pensioner Concession Card and a qualifying diagnosis. She was eligible. The payment for 2025–26 is indexed annually — check the current rate at Services Australia. In recent years it has been in the range of $650–$680 per year, paid directly into your account.

Who is eligible for CAPS:

  • Australian citizen or permanent resident
  • Aged 5 or over
  • Permanent and severe incontinence as a result of an eligible condition
  • For neurological conditions (spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, and others): no Pensioner Concession Card required
  • For non-neurological conditions: a Pensioner Concession Card is required
  • Not currently receiving NDIS continence funding
  • Not a permanent resident of a government-funded aged care facility

How to apply:

  1. Get a medical assessment confirming your diagnosis and that your incontinence is permanent and severe — your GP can do this
  2. Apply through Services Australia — online, by phone on 1800 200 422, or in person at a service centre
  3. Once approved, the payment is made directly to you — use it to purchase whichever products work for you

Helen applied on a Wednesday afternoon. Her daughter helped her fill in the form online. She was approved within two weeks. The first payment landed in her account shortly after. She bought three pairs of Kovered women's leakproof briefs and hasn't bought a disposable pad since.

3. DVA — For Australian Veterans

  • If you hold a Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Gold or White Card, continence products may be available through the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP).

  • DVA can fund up to three months' supply of continence products at a time for eligible veterans, at no cost to the veteran.

  • What to do: speak to your GP about a referral through DVA, or contact DVA directly on 1800 838 372. A continence assessment will be required.

4. Home Care Packages — For Australians 65 and Over Living at Home

  • If you are 65 or over (50 or over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and receiving a Home Care Package through My Aged Care, continence supports may be included in your package — particularly at levels 3 and 4.

  • Home Care Packages are managed by your approved provider. Contact your provider and ask specifically about continence product support within your package. Not all providers will volunteer this information — you may need to ask directly.

  • Important note: if you are a permanent resident of a government-funded residential aged care facility, you are not eligible for CAPS. Home Care Package support applies only to people living independently at home.

5. State-Based Schemes — For Australians Who Don't Qualify for the Above

Each Australian state and territory has its own equipment and assistive technology scheme that may cover continence products for people who don't qualify for NDIS, CAPS, or DVA.

State schemes by jurisdiction:

  • Victoria: SWEP (Statewide Equipment Program)
  • New South Wales: ENABLE NSW
  • Queensland: MASS (Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme)
  • Western Australia: CMASS (Community Aids and Equipment Program)
  • South Australia: EASA (Equipment and Assistive Technology SA)
  • Tasmania: CES (Community Equipment Scheme)
  • ACT: ACTES (ACT Equipment and Assistive Technology Scheme)
  • Northern Territory: DEP (Disability Equipment Program)

Local Council Rebates — some Australian councils offer rebates for reusable continence products as part of sustainability or waste reduction programmes, similar to cloth nappy rebate schemes. Eligibility and amounts vary significantly by council. Check with your local council directly or visit Kovered's funding options page for more details.

Eligibility criteria, income thresholds, and product coverage vary by state. These schemes are generally considered after NDIS, CAPS, and DVA options have been exhausted. Your GP or a continence nurse can advise on what's available in your state.

6. Which Scheme Is Right for You? A Simple Map

Use this to find your starting point:

Where to start:

Under 65 with a permanent disability where incontinence is disability-related?

Start with NDIS

65 or over, or under 65 with a Pensioner Concession Card and a qualifying condition?

Start with CAPS

Australian veteran with a DVA Gold or White Card?

Check DVA RAP entitlements first

65 or over receiving a Home Care Package?

Ask your provider about continence support within your package

None of the above apply?

Check your state-based scheme

If you're not sure which applies to you — or if you think you might qualify for more than one — the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66 is the single best first call to make. They know the schemes, they know the eligibility criteria, and they can tell you exactly where to start. This service is free and confidential.

How Kovered Fits Into the Process

Kovered's women's leakproof briefs, men's leakproof boxer briefs, and leakproof trackpants are all eligible incontinence products under CAPS, NDIS (self-managed and plan-managed), and most state-based schemes.

For NDIS self-managed and plan-managed participants: we provide itemised invoices with all the details you or your plan manager needs. Place your order and email us at info@kovered.com.au to request an NDIS invoice.

For CAPS recipients: the payment goes directly into your bank account. Purchase from Kovered as you normally would — your receipt is your record.

For everyone: every order comes with a 30-day first-pair trial. If the product doesn't work for you, we'll refund your first pair. No return required. Plain packaging, no medical branding on the outside.

If you have questions about how Kovered works with your specific funding situation, email us at info@kovered.com.au or visit our funding options page for more details.

What Helen Did

  • She applied for CAPS on a Wednesday afternoon with her daughter's help.

  • She was approved within two weeks.

  • She used her first payment to order three pairs of Kovered women's leakproof briefs and a pair of leakproof trackpants for her garden club days.

  • She's been in credit ever since. She hasn't bought a disposable pad in months. 

  • And the $80 she used to fold into her grocery shop? She spends it on her granddaughter now.

What to Do Today

If you think you might be eligible for any of the schemes above — start with one phone call.

National Continence Helpline: 1800 33 00 66 
Free. Confidential. Staffed by continence nurses who know every scheme and can tell you exactly where to start.

Or visit our NDIS and funding options page for a summary of how Kovered works with each scheme.

When you're ready to order:

What to Read Next

If you're still deciding which type of product is right for your situation — disposable pads, pull-ups, or reusable underwear — we've written a plain-English comparison that covers everything.

What's the Difference Between Incontinence Pads, Pull-Ups and Reusable Underwear? 5 Questions to Ask Before You Buy →

Already know which product you want but not sure where to start? Not sure which one is right for you? Find your setup →

About the author

Luciana is a carer and the founder of Kovered. She started the brand because dignity shouldn't depend on what products are available at the chemist. She writes the Real Talk blog because most of what exists online about incontinence is either clinical, sanitised, or written by people who've never had to help someone they love through it.

A Note Before You Go

Names and scenarios in this article are fictitious, created to reflect real situations many Australians find themselves in. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or financial advice. Funding amounts, eligibility criteria, and scheme conditions were accurate at the time of publishing — these change regularly and Kovered does not update articles to reflect new information. Always check current details directly with the relevant authority before making decisions. Kovered does not guarantee eligibility for any funding scheme. Kovered is designed by a carer, for carers. Because dignity shouldn't be something you lose.