NDIS Changes 2026–2028 Explained Simply: What Participants, Families and Providers Need to Know
If you have been searching for NDIS changes 2026, new NDIS rules, NDIS Support Coordination changes, or wondering what is changing with the NDIS, this guide explains the main reforms in simple terms.
There has been a lot of information released about upcoming NDIS reforms, and it can be difficult to work out what is happening now, what is changing later and what it means for participants.
The most important point is: your current NDIS plan and supports continue as normal unless the NDIA tells you that something is changing for you.
Major NDIS reform legislation passed Parliament on 19 August 2026. At the time of the latest briefing, the legislation was awaiting Royal Assent. Many of the changes will be introduced gradually between 2026 and 2030, rather than all at once.
What are the main NDIS changes in 2026?
Several NDIS changes are either already in place or are expected to begin from late 2026. These include changes to:
- NDIS plan budgets
- Plan reassessments and renewals
- Claiming timeframes
- Provider record keeping
- NDIS eligibility
- Support Coordination
- Provider registration and enrolment
- How future NDIS plans are created
The NDIA has advised that participants should continue with their current arrangements and that participants will be contacted before an individual change affects them.
Are NDIS plans changing from October 2026?
From 1 October 2026, the Government intends to begin changing some budget allocations when a participant receives a new plan or goes through a reassessment. The two areas identified are:
- Social, Economic and Community Participation — allocations are expected to reduce by approximately 50 per cent
- Improved Daily Living — allocations are expected to reduce by approximately 10 per cent
However, this does not automatically mean every NDIS participant will lose 50 per cent of their community participation supports. The change relates to allocated budgets, and some participants currently do not use their full allocation. Individual circumstances, actual support needs, goals, commitments and risks still need to be considered.
The Government has also identified a number of critical supports that are intended to be outside these reductions, including certain in-home daily living supports, disability-related health supports, employment supports, home and vehicle modifications, mobility equipment and transport, certain consumables, Specialist Disability Accommodation and continuous 24-hour care for participants with high support needs.
Are NDIS plan reassessments changing?
Yes. The rules around requesting an unscheduled NDIS plan reassessment are expected to become tighter. Generally, a request will need to relate to a significant and ongoing change involving areas such as:
- Functional capacity
- Disability support needs
- Living arrangements
- Work
- Education
- Informal supports
Crisis, emergency and fraud-related plan variation pathways are still expected to remain available. For participants, this means having clear and current evidence about changes in circumstances may become even more important.
What happens to unused NDIS funding?
From 1 February 2027, when an NDIS plan reaches its reassessment date and a renewed plan is created, unused money from the previous plan is generally expected not to roll over into the new plan.
This does not mean participants should spend funding unnecessarily before their plan ends. NDIS funding should continue to be used for appropriate disability-related supports in line with the participant’s plan and the NDIS rules.
What are new framework NDIS plans?
From 1 April 2027, the Government intends to progressively introduce new framework plans. Under this new NDIS planning process, a trained assessor will undertake a support needs assessment. The assessment may consider:
- Functional capacity
- Disability support needs
- The person’s stage of life
- Environmental factors
- Everyday support requirements
The information gathered will be used to help determine the participant’s NDIS plan budget. Participants are expected to receive a report explaining how their budget was developed. The Government says these new framework plans are intended to make NDIS plans simpler, more flexible and more consistent.
Is NDIS eligibility changing in 2028?
From 1 January 2028, NDIS access is expected to move towards a more standardised functional capacity assessment. People applying for the NDIS will still need to meet disability and permanence requirements.
Existing NDIS participants are expected to be progressively reassessed over approximately three years. The Government has stated that people with permanent and significant disability will continue to be eligible for the NDIS, and participants who disagree with an access decision will continue to have review rights.
What are the NDIS changes for children with autism or developmental delay?
From 1 January 2028, children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low-to-moderate support needs are intended to receive support through Thriving Kids rather than entering the NDIS.
Children with permanent and significant disability, substantially reduced functional capacity or high support needs are intended to remain within the NDIS access group. Children already participating in the NDIS before the changes commence are expected to have transitional arrangements.
Is Support Coordination being removed from the NDIS?
This is one of the most common questions being asked about the NDIS reforms. Support Coordination is not ending now. The major change is currently planned for 1 July 2028.
At the moment, Support Coordination can be funded within an individual participant’s NDIS plan. Under the announced future model, the NDIA intends to directly commission selected organisations to provide a new Support Coordination and Connection service. This means Support Coordination would no longer be purchased from an individual participant’s plan in the same way it is today.
Will I still be able to choose my NDIS Support Coordinator?
The Government has indicated that participants will still have choice, but that choice is expected to be from a list of Support Coordination providers appointed by the NDIA. A number of important details have not yet been finalised. These include:
- How many Support Coordination providers will be appointed
- Whether providers will be selected nationally or regionally
- How small and local NDIS providers will participate
- What will happen to Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Support Coordination
- How Specialist Support Coordination will operate
- What happens to Psychosocial Recovery Coaching
- Payment rates and payment methods
- Provider qualifications and registration requirements
- How participants will change Support Coordinators
These matters were still unresolved in the current reform briefing.
When will NDIS Support Coordination change?
The announced commencement date for the new commissioned Support Coordination model is currently 1 July 2028.
Until then, existing Support Coordination arrangements continue unless the NDIA advises an individual participant otherwise. Participants should not assume that they are suddenly losing their Support Coordinator.
Are all Support Coordinators becoming registered NDIS providers?
No. The previously proposed mandatory registration requirement for all Support Coordination providers remains paused. Under current arrangements:
- Registered Support Coordinators can generally work with NDIA-managed, plan-managed and self-managed participants within their registration scope
- Unregistered Support Coordinators can generally work with plan-managed and self-managed participants
- Unregistered providers cannot provide Support Coordination to NDIA-managed participants
All providers must continue to comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct. Future commissioning arrangements may introduce different requirements, but these have not yet been finalised.
Are NDIS providers getting new claiming rules?
Yes. From 1 December 2026, claims for NDIS supports will generally need to be lodged within 90 days of the service being delivered. The existing two-year claiming window will no longer apply to new service claims covered by the change.
This is primarily a provider and plan-management change, but it makes accurate invoices and timely records increasingly important.
How long do NDIS providers need to keep records?
Providers will be required to keep certain records relating to the payment and receipt of NDIS funds for seven years. The reform information also warns that failing to retain required records may result in penalties.
This means participants may notice providers asking for more complete documentation, agreements and records as the new requirements are implemented.
Will NDIS providers need to enrol with the NDIA?
From 1 July 2027, most providers are expected to need to enrol with the NDIA and provide identifying information and validated bank account details. This is called NDIA provider enrolment.
Importantly, NDIA enrolment is different from becoming a registered NDIS provider with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
What should NDIS participants do now?
For most NDIS participants, there is no reason to panic or suddenly change supports. A sensible approach is to:
- Continue using your current NDIS plan
- Keep copies of important reports and assessments
- Make sure your disability-related support needs are properly documented
- Monitor your NDIS budget
- Prepare early for plan renewals and reassessments
- Keep your contact details current with the NDIA
- Speak with your Support Coordinator if you receive an NDIS letter or notice that you do not understand
If your plan is due for renewal from late 2026 onwards, it may be especially helpful to begin reviewing your current supports, spending and outcomes early.
What do the NDIS changes mean for Support Coordination?
Support Coordinators are likely to continue playing an important role throughout the transition. They can help participants:
- Understand NDIS changes
- Prepare for support needs assessments
- Understand new plan budgets
- Organise disability evidence and reports
- Monitor plan spending
- Connect with appropriate providers
- Identify gaps in supports
- Respond to NDIA requests
- Prepare for reassessments and reviews
NDIS changes explained simply — the key dates
The NDIS is going through one of its largest periods of reform since the Scheme began. However, many changes being discussed online are future changes, rather than things happening immediately. The key dates currently include:
- 1 October 2026: Some participant budget allocation changes are intended to begin
- 1 December 2026: The 90-day provider claiming limit is expected to begin
- 1 February 2027: Changes relating to renewed plans and unspent funding are expected
- 1 April 2027: New framework NDIS planning is intended to begin progressively
- 1 July 2027: NDIA provider enrolment is expected to begin for most providers
- 1 January 2028: New functional-capacity-based eligibility processes are expected to begin progressively
- 1 July 2028: The new commissioned Support Coordination and Connection model is intended to commence
Need help understanding the NDIS changes?
It is understandable to feel confused when there are so many NDIS announcements, proposed changes and implementation dates. The most important thing is to get information from reliable sources and understand how a change applies to your individual NDIS plan, rather than assuming that every announcement affects everyone in the same way.
We will continue sharing updates about NDIS changes, NDIS Support Coordination reforms, new NDIS planning rules and participant funding changes as more information becomes available. For now, your existing NDIS plan and Support Coordination arrangements continue unless the NDIA contacts you about a change.
This article provides general information about announced NDIS reforms and is not legal or individual NDIS advice. Information is current as at August 2026. Some future reforms remain subject to Royal Assent, final rules, consultation, procurement and implementation guidance, so dates and details may change.
