NDIS Changes: What you need to know

You may have heard about changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). New legislation has passed Parliament, with some changes starting from 1 October 2026 and others being introduced over the coming months and years.

There’s a lot of information to take in, particularly when changes may affect your funding and supports. The important thing to know is that not everything is changing at once, and the changes won’t affect everyone in the same way.

Here’s a simple overview of what’s changing and when.

What’s changing from 1 October 2026?

From 1 October 2026, funding allocations for two categories of NDIS supports will begin to change:

Social, Economic and Community Participation: budget allocations will be reduced by 50%; and

Improved Daily Living Skills: budget allocations will be reduced by 10%.

This doesn’t necessarily mean everyone will experience a 50% or 10% reduction in the supports they currently use.

Everyone’s circumstances are different. For example, some people may not currently use their full budget allocation in these categories, so the impact will depend on your individual plan and how you use your funding.

Will my funding change straight away?

Not necessarily.

The changes will be introduced progressively over 12 months as NDIS plans are created, reassessed or renewed.

The new funding arrangements will apply:

• from 1 October 2026 for new plans and plans that are reassessed; and

• from 1 February 2027 for plan renewals.

If your plan isn’t currently being reassessed or renewed, you can continue using your existing plan and supports until that happens.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will contact you before a scheduled reassessment or renewal.

What supports aren’t changing?

The funding reductions are limited to the two support categories listed above. Other parts of NDIS plans, including critical supports, aren’t affected by this funding reset.

This includes:

• supports in the home;

• home and vehicle modifications;

• personal mobility equipment and transport;

• some consumables; and

• Specialist Disability Accommodation.

There are also supports within the two affected categories that are excluded from the reductions, including:

• employment supports;

• disability-related health supports;

• high intensity supports;

• intensive and complex behaviour supports;

• customised and wearable technology; and

• hearing services.
  

What if I need 24-hour disability support?

There are specific safeguards for eligible people with high support needs who require 24-hour disability support.

If this applies to you, you may be able to request a variation to your plan to make sure you continue to have enough funding to safely meet your 24-hour support needs.

Other NDIS changes coming

There are several other changes happening over the coming months.

Claims

From 1 December 2026, you or your plan manager will generally need to make claims within 90 days of the support being delivered.

Plan rollovers

From 1 February 2027, when a plan reaches its reassessment date and is renewed, unspent funding from the previous plan will no longer roll over into your renewed plan.

Further changes 

There are more NDIS changes planned beyond 2027, including changes relating to: 

• eligibility; 

• provider registration; 

• plan management; and 

• support coordination. 

These changes have different implementation dates, so they won’t all happen at once. 

You can read more about changes to plan management. 

What do I need to do now? 

For many people, there’s nothing you need to change right now. 

If your existing plan hasn’t been reassessed or renewed, you can continue to use your current plan and supports. 

If your plan is ending soon, or the NDIA has contacted you about a reassessment or renewal, it may be helpful to start preparing early. You can talk to your support provider and, where relevant, your Support Coordinator or plan manager about what the changes could mean for your individual circumstances. 

You can still request changes to your plan if there has been a significant and ongoing change to your circumstances, functional capacity or support needs. There are also pathways for plan variations in crisis or emergency situations. 

Because everyone’s circumstances are different, the effect of these changes will vary from person to person. If your plan isn’t changing yet, you don’t need to assume your supports will change immediately. 

For the latest information as the changes are introduced, visit the NDIS latest news page.