NDIS change can feel like a lot to hold at once. This update brings the major reforms into one place: what has already started, what is planned next, and what it means for your plan today.
If you are already on the NDIS, the most important thing to know is that nothing changes for you automatically. Keep using your current plan and supports unless the NDIA tells you a change applies to you.
What has already changed
The NDIS laws changed after the Getting the NDIS back on track amendment became law on 3 October 2024. A second amendment, Securing the NDIS for Future Generations, passed Parliament on 19 August 2026. Together they affect access, planning, plan management and the way funding can be used. Some parts are already operating; others depend on new rules and system changes still being worked through.
- New participants receive more detail about the impairment categories used in the access decision.
- NDIS funding must be used for NDIS supports, relate to disability and be in line with the plan.
- Funding periods and plan-change pathways are now part of the planning system.
- Tighter criteria apply to unscheduled plan reassessment requests.
You can read the full breakdown in the summary of legislation changes (opens in a new tab) on the NDIS website.
The reform timeline
The changes are not happening all at once. The dates below are a practical map of the transition. A date tells you when a change is intended to begin; it does not mean every participant will experience it that day.
When | What changes | What to understand |
|---|---|---|
27 Aug 2026 | Plan reassessments | Requests before the scheduled date are more limited and generally need a significant, ongoing change. |
1 Oct 2026 | Support budgets | Some social, civic and community participation budgets are progressively reset when plans are renewed or reassessed. |
1 Dec 2026 | Claims | Claims are expected to be submitted within 90 days of delivering a support. |
1 Feb 2027 | Renewed plans | Unused funding from an old plan is not expected to carry into a renewed plan automatically. |
1 Apr 2027 | New planning | Support needs assessments begin informing new framework plans. |
1 Jan 2028 | Access changes | New applicants are assessed using standardised functional capacity evidence; existing participants move gradually. |
By end 2030 | Transition | The move to the new framework is expected to be complete. |
A reform date is not automatically a personal plan decision. The NDIA should tell you when a change affects you and what you need to do.
Access and eligibility
There are changes to access criteria and to how many applications a person can make at one time. For applications made on or after 1 January 2025, new participants receive a notice of impairment setting out their impairment categories. Rules for people who applied before that date are still being developed.
A diagnosis alone does not determine support. The question remains how disability affects daily life: the routines you cannot complete without help, the supports that reduce risk, the adjustments you need, and the difference support makes to your independence.
A useful way to prepare
Keep a running record rather than trying to remember everything in the week before a meeting. Capture what happened, what support was needed, how often it happens, and what the outcome was. A short, specific entry is more useful than a broad statement such as "things are difficult".
Plans and funding
NDIS funding can only be used for items that are NDIS supports, that relate to your disability, and that are in line with your plan. Supports are organised into broad categories, which allows some flexibility in the exact item or provider you choose. Replacement supports may be possible, but they need an application and approval.
Before using funding, ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
Is this an NDIS support? | Not every useful service or everyday expense can be paid from NDIS funding. |
Is it connected to my disability-related needs? | The connection should be clear, specific and supported by your circumstances. |
Is it consistent with my plan and budget? | A support can still be unsuitable if it falls outside the plan or the available budget. |
Do I need approval first? | Replacement supports and some changes should not be assumed to be automatically approved. |
When in doubt, pause. Ask your NDIS contact or request a plan implementation meeting before committing funds.
Funding periods and plan changes
The way funding is released is changing. Funding periods now apply to some plans, and the detail depends on the type of plan and when it was approved. A funding period is not an instruction to spend money quickly. It is a boundary around when particular funding becomes available.
A plan variation may be enough for some changes without a full reassessment. A reassessment is generally relevant when circumstances have significantly changed or the current plan no longer meets your needs. If your plan no longer works for you, do not wait until the situation becomes unsafe.
The new way of planning
Support needs assessments are planned to begin from April 2027 as part of new framework planning. They are intended as a consistent information-gathering step so budgets are fairer and more comparable between people in similar situations.
The NDIA is developing the assessment with the University of Melbourne and the Centre for Disability Studies, with attention to different disability groups, cultural safety, trauma-informed practice and LGBTIQASB+ diversity. Details are on the new way of planning page (opens in a new tab).
This is still developing, so it is not a reason to assume what your future plan will look like. What you can do now is build a living picture of your support needs: routines, preferences, barriers, informal support, risks, goals and outcomes. Include the ordinary days as well as the difficult ones.
Children and the Thriving Kids pathway
A new early-intervention pathway called Thriving Kids is planned to roll out from October 2026, with broader implementation expected by 1 January 2028. It is intended for children aged eight and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs, delivered in the places where children live, learn and play.
This does not mean every child will leave the NDIS. Children with permanent and significant disability and substantially reduced functional capacity are expected to remain eligible. The pathway depends on the child’s circumstances and the rules in force at the time.
Providers, claims and record keeping
More providers are expected to move into registration or enrolment pathways over time, particularly for higher-risk supports. You still have choice of provider, but registration status can matter for some supports and funding arrangements.
The NDIA is also strengthening checks on claims and payments. Participants, nominees, plan managers and providers all have record-keeping responsibilities, and some claims may need supporting documents. From 1 December 2026, claims are expected to be submitted within 90 days of the support being delivered.
A short readiness checklist
- Check your current plan dates, budgets and funding periods.
- Record any meaningful change in needs, risk, living situation or informal support.
- Check that key people have the information they need and permission to access it.
- Save copies of important reports, decisions, requests and correspondence.
- Write down questions for your NDIS contact, planner or provider team.
Where to check
This article is general information, not legal, financial, clinical or individual NDIS advice. Rules, dates and implementation details change. For the current position, see Securing the NDIS for future generations (opens in a new tab) or call the NDIS on 1800 800 110 before making a significant decision about access, funding or supports.