Can my funding pay for: Equipment purchased from nonspecialised stores?

We often receive enquiries about whether participants can purchase
recommended assistive equipment and products from alternative retail
suppliers, instead of specialised mobility and equipment suppliers.

You may have noticed over recent times that some big chain retail, hardware
and pharmacy stores now stock an extensive range of mobility and assistive
equipment for people who need some help with everyday living activities.

Newer Support at Home participants who are not covered by the ‘no worse off’
grandfathered contribution rules might be more mindful of equipment prices
because they have to pay part of these costs themselves. The higher the cost of
the item, the higher the contribution those participants will be asked to pay.
Here’s what you need to know:

• 
  The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing does not require you (or us)
  to purchase your assistive technology and equipment from any particular
  supplier. However, we often have purchasing Agreements in place with
  reputable suppliers, and we may suggest these to you
• If you choose to source the recommended items yourself, you must still have
  each item confirmed and signed off by us before you commit to purchasing it
• We recommend you do not make hasty purchases on sale items or at
  discounted stores, as their refund and returns policy may not be favourable
  if problems arise
• Many non-specialised sellers will not set up the equipment for you and may
  not be qualified to give you advice on safe use of the item
• Reimbursement requests for payments directly to participants can be
  complex, so understanding our policy and process is very important.

We will work closely with you and any relevant allied health professionals to
ensure the equipment and products you receive are tailored to your specific
needs, whilst also considering the best value for money.