CK ANSWER
Yes. Abena continence products, including pads, pull-up pants, briefs, and bed protection, are commonly funded through the NDIS, Australia's Support at Home program, and, in some cases, the Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS).
Under the NDIS, these products are typically funded as Consumables through Core Supports when they relate to your disability.
Under Support at Home, continence products may be funded as clinical care consumables following a continence assessment and inclusion in your care plan.
Before purchasing, check with your plan manager, care provider, or support coordinator to confirm your eligibility and funding arrangements.
Explore the Abena range available for NDIS and Support at Home participants:
Popular Abena continence products:
Pull-up pants designed for moderate to heavy urinary incontinence. Abena Pants L3
A larger-sized pull-up option offering high absorbency and everyday comfort. Abena Bariatric Pants XXL1
Designed to provide a secure fit for bariatric users. Abri-Form Comfort L2
All-in-one brief suitable for higher absorbency needs and assisted care. Abri-Fix Pants Super
Reusable fixation pants designed to securely hold continence pads in place. Abena San 7 Premium
Shaped continence pad for moderate to heavy urinary incontinence.
You've got a trolley of Abena pads or pants in front of you, or maybe a bookmarked tab open, and you're trying to work out whether this is something you pay for out of pocket every fortnight, or something that's meant to be covered. If you're newly navigating the NDIS or Support at Home, this question comes up more than almost any other, mostly because continence products get used up fast and the cost adds up quickly if you're footing the bill yourself.
Let's walk through exactly how the funding works, so you can stop guessing and start ordering with confidence.
What are Abena continence products?
Abena is one of the most trusted names in continence care in Australia, with a range that covers everything from light pads for occasional leaks through to full absorbency briefs and pull up pants for higher level needs, along with bed and chair protection. The right product depends entirely on the person, their level of continence, mobility, and daily routine, which is exactly why funding for these products is based on assessed need rather than a single approved item.
Are Abena continence products funded by the NDIS or Support at Home?
Yes, continence products like Abena pads and pants are very commonly funded, and this is genuinely one of the more straightforward funding categories once you know where to look.
1. Through the NDIS
Continence products sit under Consumables, part of your Core Supports budget. This covers everyday, disability related items under $1,500 that get used up and replaced regularly, which is exactly what continence products are. In most cases, there's no need for a quote or prior approval. Your plan will have a dollar amount set aside for consumables, and you can generally choose your own products and supplier within that budget.
2. Through Support at Home
Continence products are classed as nursing care consumables under clinical supports. This matters because all clinical care under Support at Home is fully government funded, regardless of income, assets, or classification level. So if continence care is included in your support plan, the products themselves shouldn't come with an out of pocket cost. This usually starts with a continence assessment, often through a continence nurse or your care provider, which then sets out what's needed in your care plan.
3. Through the Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS)
This one catches a lot of families out because it's a separate scheme entirely, run through Services Australia rather than the NDIS or Support at Home. CAPS is an annual payment for people with permanent and severe continence issues, and it can be used alongside NDIS or Support at Home funding. It was temporarily unavailable to Support at Home recipients after the new Aged Care Act began, but that's since been reversed, and the payment has been restored. If continence care makes up a big part of the weekly budget, it's well worth asking whether CAPS applies here too.
4. Through My Aged Care
As with other Support at Home categories, My Aged Care doesn't fund products directly. It's the assessment pathway that identifies continence support as a need and sets it up within the support plan, which then unlocks funding through the clinical supports category.
How Does Incontinence Product Funding Work in Practice?
For NDIS participants, this is often as simple as ordering online each month using Consumables funding, with no waiting on approvals for standard products like pads or pants.
For Support at Home participants, a continence assessment usually needs to happen first, so the right products and quantities get built into the care plan. Once that's set up, ongoing supply tends to run smoothly, and it's worth checking with your provider whether CAPS has also been applied, since it's easy for this one to slip through the cracks during the initial setup.
Which Abena Incontinence Product Should You Get?
Continence products vary a fair bit depending on absorbency level, fit, and how they're worn, and getting this right makes a real difference to comfort and confidence day to day. Here's a quick comparison of the Abena range to help you see what's likely to suit different needs.
| Product Line | Best For | Typical User | Key Benefit | Absorbency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abena Light Pads | Light bladder leakage and stress incontinence | Active adults, particularly women managing light everyday leakage | Ultra-thin and discreet with an adhesive strip for a secure, underwear-like fit. | Light to Moderate |
| Abena Abri-Flex Pull-Up Pants | Moderate to heavy incontinence | Independent users who can dress themselves | Feels like normal underwear with tear-away side seams and a wetness indicator for easy changes. | Plus & Extra |
| Abena Abri-Form Slip Briefs | Moderate to heavy urinary or bowel incontinence | Assisted care, aged care residents and people with limited mobility | Maximum absorbency with secure tape fastenings and full leak barrier protection. | Moderate to Extremely Heavy |
| Abena Abri-San (San Premium) | Moderate to heavy incontinence using a two-piece system | People wearing fixation pants or close-fitting underwear | Extensive absorbency range allows precise matching to individual continence needs. | Light to Very Heavy |
| Abena Abri-San Special | Combined urinary and faecal incontinence | Clinical, hospital and aged care users | Integrated pockets help contain bowel contents while remaining breathable and comfortable. | Heavy |
| Abena Fixation Pants | Holding shaped pads securely | Anyone using Abri-San or San Premium pads | Stretch fabric minimises pad movement to improve comfort and reduce leakage. | Not Applicable |
| Abena Abri-Man Male Guards | Light to moderate male incontinence | Men wanting discreet everyday protection | Anatomically shaped specifically for men for a secure and comfortable fit. | Normal & Formula 2 |
| Abena Abri-Let Multipurpose Pads | Booster absorbency, wound care or maternity | Carers and users wanting to extend the life of another continence product | Flow-through design increases absorbency without replacing the primary product. | Normal & Maxi |
| Abena Bed Protection (Abri-Soft & Abri-Cell) | Protecting beds, chairs and treatment surfaces | Bed-bound users, overnight use and clinical settings | Protects mattresses and furniture while keeping surfaces cleaner and drier. | Not Applicable |
| Abena Abri-Wing | Users needing a more adaptable fit | People who don't fit traditional pad or brief sizing | Flexible wing design adapts to different body shapes and care situations. | Varies by Product |
If you're not sure where to start, our team can talk through absorbency levels and fit over the phone, without any of the awkwardness that can come with this conversation elsewhere.
Common Sticking Points, and How to Work Through Them
The most common issue we see is families paying out of pocket for months before realising continence products were meant to be funded all along, usually because nobody explained where this sits in the system. If you've been paying for these yourself, it's worth raising it with your support coordinator or Support at Home provider, since it may be able to be added to your plan going forward.
The other common one is running short before the next supply arrives. If quantities feel tight, that's a conversation worth having with whoever manages your plan, since assessed needs can be reviewed and adjusted rather than just accepted as fixed.
A Few Things Worth Keeping in Mind
Funding for continence products depends on an assessed need being documented in your plan, whether that's through your NDIS goals or a Support at Home care plan, so it's worth making sure this is properly recorded rather than assumed. CAPS eligibility also has its own criteria around permanence and severity of continence issues, so it won't apply to everyone.
This article is general information to help you understand how things generally work. It isn't a substitute for advice specific to your situation, and we'd always recommend checking directly with the NDIA, your support coordinator, or your Support at Home provider about your particular plan.
Where Platinum Health Supply Comes In
Continence care is one of those things that works best when it's simply sorted, delivered discreetly, arriving on time, with no fuss and no awkward conversations required. That's exactly what we aim for, because we care about making the practical side of care genuinely easier, not just supplying a product and leaving you to work out the rest.
Our full Abena range is available to browse in our Continence Care collection, covering every absorbency level from light pads through to full briefs. If you're ordering using NDIS funding, our NDIS ordering page walks you through the process. If you're a support coordinator, plan manager, or provider organising continence supplies for someone in your care, our NDIS and Home Care support page is built specifically for that.
And if you'd simply rather talk it through, our Aussie team is on 1300 60 44 99, happy to help you work out what's right, without any awkwardness attached.
Frequently Asked Questions About Abena Continence Product Funding
Can I choose Abena products instead of another continence brand?
In many cases, yes. If your continence products are funded through the NDIS or included in your Support at Home care plan, you can often choose the brand that best suits your assessed needs, provided it falls within your available funding.
Do I need a continence assessment before products can be funded?
Support at Home participants will usually need a continence assessment so the appropriate products can be included in their care plan. Under the NDIS, funding depends on your approved plan and disability-related needs.
Can I use CAPS together with the NDIS or Support at Home?
Yes. The Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) is separate from both the NDIS and Support at Home. If you meet the eligibility criteria, it may provide additional financial support for continence products.
What happens if my funded continence products are no longer meeting my needs?
If your continence needs change, speak with your support coordinator, care provider, or healthcare professional. Your assessment and product allocation can often be reviewed to ensure you continue receiving appropriate support.
Can Platinum Health Supply help with funded Abena orders?
Yes. We can help eligible NDIS and Support at Home participants understand the ordering process, choose suitable Abena products, and arrange ongoing supply based on their approved funding.
Choosing the right continence products is about more than absorbency. A good fit, the right level of protection, and understanding your available funding can make day-to-day continence care simpler and more comfortable.
