Updated July 2026
Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA) is temporary NDIS-funded accommodation for specific situations where a participant cannot yet move into their longer-term home. It may support some hospital discharges, but it is not crisis housing and it does not fund personal care.
What is Medium-Term Accommodation?
MTA pays for a temporary place to live when an eligible participant cannot yet move into their long-term accommodation. Common examples include waiting for an SDA property to become available, waiting for approved home modifications to be completed, or preparing disability supports that must be in place before the person can move.
The NDIA decides whether MTA meets the funding criteria. It is designed as a bridge, not a permanent housing solution.
How long can MTA last?
Current NDIS guidance says MTA can be funded for up to three months, or 90 days. The actual period depends on the participant’s circumstances and approval. The transition plan should use that time actively: confirming the long-term housing pathway, completing modifications, finalising support arrangements, training staff and coordinating equipment.
MTA is generally a one-off support because the participant is expected to move into their longer-term home after the temporary period.
Can MTA help someone leave hospital?
Yes, in some circumstances. Current NDIS guidance says MTA may help a participant leave hospital sooner if they are eligible for SDA, SIL, ILO or home modifications. For this hospital-discharge pathway, the person does not need to have a confirmed long-term address before MTA can be considered.
The hospital remains responsible for medical discharge planning and confirming that the person is medically ready to leave. The NDIS health liaison contact may help explore home-and-living supports and gather evidence. A provider such as Eden Ability assesses whether it can safely deliver suitable disability accommodation and supports after discharge.
What does MTA pay for?
MTA funds the accommodation itself. It does not include:
- food and groceries
- internet, electricity or other utilities
- personal care or daily support workers
- clinical treatment or hospital care
- ordinary rent for a permanent home.
If a participant needs personal care, active overnight support, sleepover support, community access or assistance with daily activities while staying in MTA, those supports must be funded and arranged separately.
MTA compared with other NDIS home-and-living supports
| Support | Main purpose | What it funds |
|---|---|---|
| MTA | Temporary bridge while a longer-term home or supports are being prepared | Accommodation only, generally up to 90 days |
| Short-term respite | Time apart from usual care arrangements to sustain informal supports | Eligible disability support within current respite rules |
| SIL | Ongoing high-level support in the home | Support workers and supervision, not the home itself |
| SDA | Specialist housing for eligible people with very high support needs or extreme functional impairment | The specialist dwelling, not daily support workers |
| Crisis housing | Immediate response to homelessness or danger | Handled by emergency, housing and mainstream systems—not MTA |
Evidence and information often needed for an MTA pathway
- why the participant cannot remain in their current accommodation
- the intended long-term home-and-living pathway
- expected timeframes and barriers to moving
- functional and occupational therapy assessments
- hospital discharge summary and social work report, where relevant
- risk, care, mealtime, mobility and behaviour support plans
- required equipment, home modifications and accessibility
- funding for supports that will be delivered separately from MTA
- roles of the participant, nominee, support coordinator, hospital, NDIA and provider.
What should happen during the 90-day transition?
- Set the destination. Confirm the long-term housing goal and the decision or work still required.
- Assign responsibilities. Record who is responsible for funding evidence, property work, equipment, staffing and approvals.
- Plan supports separately. Build the daily and overnight roster from assessed needs and approved funding.
- Prepare the move. Complete environmental checks, staff training, introductions and participant-led transition visits.
- Review early. Track delays before the MTA end date becomes a crisis.
Frequently asked questions
Is MTA always available for 90 days?
No. Ninety days is the maximum period described in current NDIS guidance. The NDIA decides eligibility and the approved duration for each participant.
Do you need a confirmed long-term home before hospital-discharge MTA?
Current NDIS guidance says a participant being discharged from hospital does not need a confirmed long-term home, but they must meet the relevant eligibility pathway and funding criteria.
Can MTA pay for 24/7 support workers?
No. MTA pays for the accommodation. Any 24/7, personal care, active overnight or sleepover support must be approved and funded separately.
Is MTA emergency housing?
No. MTA is not crisis or emergency housing. It is a planned, temporary NDIS accommodation support for specific eligible circumstances.
Planning an MTA or hospital-discharge referral?
Read Eden Ability’s accommodation and hospital-discharge support pathway. Support coordinators, hospital teams and social workers can call 1300 22 88 56 to discuss suitability and current capacity.
General information only. Funding and eligibility are decided by the NDIA. Check the participant’s plan and the latest NDIS MTA guidance.
