NDIS Changes 2026: What the New NDIS Legislation Means for Participants and Providers

Updated: 29 August 2026

Major NDIS changes in 2026 have now begun following the passage of new legislation designed to reform the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 20 August 2026, with the first major changes commencing on 27 August 2026.

However, not all of the changes start at once.

The reforms will be introduced progressively through 2026, 2027 and 2028 and will affect NDIS participants, families, nominees, Plan Managers, Support Coordinators and providers.

If you’re unsure how your existing funding works, our guide to understanding your NDIS plan is a useful place to start.

This guide explains the new NDIS legislation, what has already changed, what’s coming next and what participants and providers need to know.

What Are the New NDIS Changes in 2026?

The NDIS changes in 2026 introduce new rules covering plan reassessments, record keeping, fraud and compliance, NDIS claims, participant funding, provider registration and Plan Management.

The first changes commenced on 27 August 2026, with further reforms scheduled progressively through 2027 and 2028.

Key NDIS changes include:

New requirements for requesting plan reassessments
Stronger NDIS record-keeping requirements
Greater fraud and compliance powers
Increased automated claim and payment processing
A new 90-day claiming timeframe
Changes to Social and Community Participation funding
New NDIS plan renewal arrangements
New framework planning
Expanded provider registration and enrolment
Major changes to NDIS Plan Management
New functional capacity assessments for NDIS access
Changes to Support Coordination

Participants and providers can also follow the official Australian Government NDIS legislation changes for future updates.

What NDIS Changes Started on 27 August 2026?

Several important provisions of the new legislation commenced on 27 August 2026.

These include changes to plan reassessments, record keeping, compliance and administrative processes.

Changes to NDIS Plan Reassessments

One of the first changes affects how participants can request an unscheduled reassessment of their NDIS plan.

From 27 August 2026, only:

The participant
Their nominee
Their child representative

can request a plan reassessment.

A reassessment request needs to explain what has changed and why a reassessment is required.

Participants must also provide supporting evidence, which may include evidence from a GP or other health professional.

Once the NDIA has the information it requires, it will generally make a decision within 90 days.

The NDIA may decide to:

Reassess the participant’s plan
Refuse the reassessment
Vary the existing plan

Participants can read the official NDIS plan reassessment requirements.

You can also read our guide to understanding your NDIS plan for more information about how NDIS plans and funding work.

New NDIS Record-Keeping Requirements

The legislation introduces stronger requirements around records relating to NDIS supports and payments.

Depending on the circumstances, participants, nominees, Plan Managers and providers will need to retain relevant records for specified periods.

For providers, records relating to the payment and receipt of NDIS funds may need to be retained for 7 years.

This makes accurate record keeping increasingly important.

Records may include:

Provider invoices
Evidence that supports were delivered
Service agreements
Payment records
Claim information
Supporting documentation
Communications relating to disputed invoices
Participant approvals where relevant

For NDIS Plan Managers, maintaining a comprehensive and secure audit trail will become increasingly important as the NDIA increases its focus on payment integrity.

Stronger NDIS Fraud and Compliance Powers

Fraud prevention is one of the central elements of the Government’s NDIS reform program.

The Government has identified four major reform priorities:

Fighting fraud and stopping inappropriate claiming
Slowing rapid NDIS cost growth
Creating clearer eligibility requirements
Improving the quality of services delivered to participants

The new legislation strengthens the NDIA’s ability to monitor payments, obtain information and investigate potential misuse of NDIS funding.

For legitimate participants and providers, this makes accurate documentation more important than ever.

Providers should ensure invoices accurately reflect:

The support delivered
The date of service
The participant receiving the support
The amount charged
The relevant NDIS support
Any other information required to substantiate the claim

Automated NDIS Claims and Payments

The NDIS is also moving toward a more automated and data-driven payment system.

Computer systems may increasingly be used to undertake specified administrative processes associated with claims and payments.

This could allow the NDIA to identify unusual claiming patterns more efficiently.

For participants, providers and Plan Managers, the message is increasingly clear:

Accurate invoices, supporting evidence and good record keeping will become essential parts of the NDIS payment system.

NDIS Funding Changes From 1 October 2026

Another significant group of changes begins from 1 October 2026.

These reforms affect funding associated with areas including:

The changes are intended to address differences in funding levels between participants with similar support needs.

Participants should pay particular attention to these changes when receiving a new or reassessed plan.

If your plan contains Capacity Building funding, read our detailed guide to NDIS Capacity Building Supports.

$200 Million Inclusive Communities Fund

The Government has also announced a $200 million Inclusive Communities Fund.

The intention is to expand opportunities for people with disability to participate in mainstream and community activities outside individually funded NDIS supports.

This forms part of a broader shift toward providing some disability supports through community and mainstream systems alongside the NDIS.

90-Day NDIS Claiming Rule From 1 December 2026

One of the most important practical changes for providers and Plan Managers begins on 1 December 2026.

What Is the New NDIS 90-Day Claiming Rule?

Participants or their Plan Managers will generally need to submit NDIS claims within 90 days of the support being delivered.

This is a major reduction from the previous claiming timeframe.

What Does This Mean for NDIS Providers?

Providers should:

Submit invoices promptly
Avoid allowing invoices to accumulate
Ensure invoices contain accurate information
Correct rejected invoices quickly
Maintain appropriate service records
Monitor outstanding accounts
Respond promptly to Plan Manager invoice queries

Waiting several months before sending invoices could create significant payment problems once the new timeframe applies.

What Does This Mean for Plan Managers?

Plan Managers should consider implementing:

Invoice-age monitoring
Automated warnings for older invoices
Clear provider communication
Invoice validation processes
Processes for rejected or incomplete invoices
Comprehensive audit trails

The 90-day claiming requirement makes efficient invoice processing even more important.

NDIS Plan Changes From 1 February 2027

Another significant stage of the reforms begins on 1 February 2027.

New NDIS Plan Renewals

When a participant’s plan reaches its reassessment date, the NDIA may create a renewed plan.

Where appropriate, the renewed plan may maintain funding at the level for which the participant has been assessed, adjusted for current prices.

This may reduce the need to completely rebuild plans for participants whose support needs have remained stable.

What Happens to Unused NDIS Funding?

Under the new plan renewal arrangements, unspent funding from the previous plan will not roll over into the renewed plan.

This is an important change.

However, participants should never spend NDIS funding simply because a plan is approaching its end date.

NDIS funding must still be used for appropriate disability-related supports in accordance with the participant’s plan and applicable NDIS funding rules.

Good budget monitoring will therefore become increasingly important.

Changes to Reasonable and Necessary Supports

The reforms also change how the NDIA determines what supports are considered reasonable and necessary.

The intention is to create greater consistency between participants with similar circumstances and support needs.

For children, there will also be clearer guidance around what support a parent would ordinarily be expected to provide.

This may include consideration of:

Supervision
Personal care
Transport
Emotional support
Behavioural support

The important distinction will be between ordinary parental responsibility and additional support required because of the child’s disability.

New NDIS Planning System From April 2027

One of the biggest structural reforms is the introduction of a new approach to NDIS planning.

The Government describes this as new framework planning.

What Is NDIS Framework Planning?

Instead of determining a participant’s budget primarily by examining individual requested supports, the new system will place greater emphasis on assessing the participant’s overall support needs.

A support needs assessment may consider:

The types of support required
Frequency of support
Amount of assistance required
Functional capacity
Level of disability-related need
Relationship between the support and eligible impairment

The assessment will then contribute to determining the participant’s NDIS budget.

More Flexible NDIS Budgets

The new planning model is intended to provide participants with greater flexibility across parts of their overall budget.

Some supports may still be specifically stated or restricted.

The practical effect will depend heavily on the final NDIS Rules, assessment tools and budget methodology.

Participants should continue following the rules applying to their existing plans until advised that the new planning arrangements apply to them.

NDIS Provider Registration and Enrolment Changes

The Government is also significantly changing how providers operate within the NDIS.

Mandatory registration is being expanded progressively, particularly for higher-risk supports.

Examples identified by the Government include:

Personal care
Daily living supports
Supports provided in closed settings

The Government is also introducing broader provider enrolment.

Most providers that receive NDIS payments are expected eventually to provide identifying and business information to the NDIA, giving the Agency greater visibility over who is receiving NDIS funding.

Providers should continue checking current requirements through the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Major NDIS Plan Manager Changes From October 2027

For participants who choose to have their funding plan-managed, one of the most significant reforms relates directly to the Plan Management industry.

What Is the Trusted Plan Manager Panel?

The Government intends to introduce a trusted panel of Plan Management providers.

This represents a significant change to the existing Plan Management market.

Rather than registration alone determining which businesses can operate as Plan Managers, providers may need to satisfy additional requirements to participate in the new arrangements.

The detailed selection criteria and implementation requirements will be particularly important for existing Plan Management providers.

Likely areas of increased scrutiny include:

Financial governance
Fraud prevention
Invoice verification
Participant safeguards
Cybersecurity
Complaints management
Conflict-of-interest management
Record keeping
Compliance history
Service quality
Financial controls
Data and reporting capability

Participants currently using the PACE system can also read our guide explaining how to endorse your NDIS providers.

Are NDIS Plan Managers Being Removed?

No. NDIS Plan Management is not being abolished.

However, the Government is making significant changes to how Plan Management providers will operate.

The proposed trusted-provider arrangements are intended to improve:

Quality
Financial integrity
Participant safeguards
Fraud prevention
Oversight of NDIS payments

Participants using Plan Management should continue using their existing arrangements unless advised otherwise by the NDIA.

New NDIS Eligibility Rules From 1 January 2028

Another major reform begins from 1 January 2028.

The NDIS will move toward a more standardised approach to determining whether a person’s disability substantially reduces their functional capacity.

What Is an NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment?

A functional capacity assessment examines how a person’s impairment affects their ability to undertake everyday activities.

Areas considered may include:

Mobility
Communication
Social interaction
Learning
Self-care
Self-management

Under the reforms, access to the NDIS will increasingly be based on a standardised, evidence-based assessment of functional capacity.

Is the NDIS Moving Away From Diagnosis-Based Access?

Yes, to an extent.

The reforms place substantially greater emphasis on functional impact rather than relying principally on a particular diagnosis.

This means having a particular diagnosis will not necessarily determine whether someone qualifies for the NDIS.

Instead, the assessment will consider how significantly the person’s permanent impairment affects their everyday functional capacity.

Changes to the NDIS Permanence Test

The reforms also strengthen the consideration of whether an impairment is permanent or likely to be permanent.

For new applicants from 2028, the NDIA may consider:

Whether appropriate treatment has occurred
Whether other treatment is likely to substantially improve the impairment
Whether the impairment is permanent or likely to be lifelong

This makes good medical and functional evidence increasingly important when applying for NDIS access.

What Happens to Existing NDIS Participants?

Existing participants will not all suddenly be reassessed on 1 January 2028.

The Government intends to progressively reassess existing participants under the new arrangements over approximately three years.

There are also specific transitional arrangements affecting some groups.

Participants should therefore rely on information provided by the NDIA about when the new arrangements apply to them.

For the latest official information, visit the NDIS Changes hub.

Changes Affecting Children With Developmental Delay and Autism

The Government has also announced significant changes affecting children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism.

Under the proposed future arrangements, children with low to moderate support needs are intended to receive support through the Thriving Kids system rather than the NDIS.

Children with permanent and significant disability or substantially reduced functional capacity and high support needs may remain eligible for the NDIS.

These arrangements are still being developed with states and territories, so families should monitor future Government announcements carefully.

NDIS Support Coordination Changes

Support Coordination is also expected to change under the broader NDIS reform program.

The Government intends to move toward new commissioned support coordination and connection functions.

This could substantially change how Support Coordination is funded and delivered.

Further implementation details will be required before the full impact on existing Support Coordinators and participants is known.

NDIS Changes 2026–2028 Timeline

Date	Key NDIS Change
27 August 2026	First new legislative changes commence, including plan reassessment and compliance measures
1 October 2026	Changes affecting specified Social and Community Participation and Capacity Building funding
1 December 2026	New 90-day claiming timeframe
1 February 2027	Plan renewal and unused funding rollover changes
2027	Progressive introduction and development of new framework planning
1 July 2027	Broader provider enrolment changes begin
1 October 2027	Plan Management reforms/trusted panel arrangements scheduled
1 January 2028	New functional capacity-based access arrangements commence
2028	Progressive implementation of further planning and support reforms

What Do the NDIS Changes Mean for Participants?

The new legislation makes understanding your NDIS plan increasingly important.

Participants should:

Understand their NDIS budget
Monitor funding regularly
Keep appropriate records
Maintain supporting evidence
Ensure providers invoice promptly
Review plan reassessment requirements
Understand applicable funding periods
Check whether providers need to be registered
Monitor future eligibility and planning changes

If you’re unsure where to start, read our guide to understanding your NDIS plan.

What Do the NDIS Changes Mean for Providers?

Providers should prepare for greater scrutiny of NDIS claims and transactions.

Good practice includes:

Issuing invoices promptly
Maintaining accurate service records
Keeping required documentation
Reviewing registration and enrolment requirements
Maintaining appropriate service agreements
Ensuring claims accurately represent services delivered
Strengthening fraud and compliance controls
Preparing for greater digital verification

The 90-day claiming rule should be a particular operational priority before December 2026.

What Do the Changes Mean for Plan-Managed Participants?

Plan Management continues to provide participants with assistance managing the financial administration of their NDIS funding.

A Plan Manager can help with:

Processing provider invoices
Monitoring NDIS budgets
Providing financial reports
Tracking available funding
Identifying potential overspending
Maintaining financial records
Working with providers
Working alongside Support Coordinators
Helping participants understand their expenditure

The proposed Plan Management reforms make choosing a Plan Manager with strong financial controls, compliance systems and participant service increasingly important.

Frequently Asked Questions About the NDIS Changes

What are the new NDIS changes in 2026?

The new NDIS legislation introduces changes covering plan reassessments, record keeping, compliance, claiming, participant funding, planning, provider registration, Plan Management, eligibility and Support Coordination. The reforms are being introduced progressively between 2026 and 2028.

When did the new NDIS legislation start?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 20 August 2026. The first major changes commenced on 27 August 2026.

What changed with NDIS plan reassessments?

From 27 August 2026, only a participant, their nominee or child representative can request a plan reassessment. The request needs to explain what has changed and include supporting evidence. Once the NDIA has the information it requires, it generally has 90 days to make a decision.

Is there a 90-day limit for NDIS claims?

Yes. From 1 December 2026, participants or their Plan Managers will generally need to make claims within 90 days of service delivery.

Are NDIS Plan Managers being removed?

No. NDIS Plan Management is not being abolished. However, significant reforms are being introduced to how Plan Management providers operate, including trusted-provider arrangements.

Are NDIS eligibility requirements changing?

Yes. From 2028, NDIS access will place greater emphasis on standardised assessment of functional capacity and the impact of permanent impairment on everyday life.

Does having an autism diagnosis automatically qualify someone for the NDIS?

No. A diagnosis alone does not automatically establish NDIS eligibility. Eligibility depends on the legislative access criteria, including the permanence and functional impact of an impairment.

Will unused NDIS funding roll over?

Under the new plan renewal arrangements commencing from February 2027, unspent funding from the previous plan will not roll over into the renewed plan. Different rules may apply to plans operating under existing arrangements before these provisions commence.

Will all NDIS providers have to register?

Provider registration is being progressively expanded for identified higher-risk supports. Broader provider enrolment requirements are also being introduced to improve NDIA oversight of providers receiving NDIS payments.

Need Help Understanding Your NDIS Funding?

The NDIS is undergoing some of the most significant changes since the Scheme was established.

Understanding your funding, invoices and available budgets is becoming more important than ever.

Complete Money Management provides NDIS Plan Management to help participants:

Process provider invoices
Monitor their NDIS budgets
Track available funding
Receive regular financial reporting
Work with providers and Support Coordinators
Better understand how their funding is being used

Contact Complete Money Management today to learn more about NDIS Plan Management and how we can help you manage your NDIS funding.

👉 Contact Complete Money Management