If you are a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant, the NDIS has recently introduced a major change to how your plan funding is released. From 19th May 2025, all new and reassessed NDIS plans will include funding periods. This means your plan funds will be distributed in smaller chunks at set times over the plan period, instead of being released all at once.

If your current plan was approved before 19th May 2025, these changes do not affect you – yet.  

What’s changed? 

Before, most NDIS participants got all their funding upfront for the whole year. Now, starting from 19th May 2025, funding is being split into smaller chunks called funding periods.

What are funding periods? 

A funding period is a set time (usually 3 months) during which part of your NDIS budget becomes available.

Funding components 

Your plan funding will continue to be divided into three main components: 

  • Core – for daily supports and services. 
  • Capacity Building – to help you gain skills and independence. 
  • Capital – for major purchases like equipment or home modifications. 

 Some plans may still have a single funding period across all categories, while others may have different funding period lengths for different support types. 

 Some supports have specific release cycles: 

  • Plans including Home and Living supports will have monthly funding periods (12 per year).
  • High-cost supports like Supported Independent Living (SIL) also follow a monthly release schedule.
  • Larger purchases like Assistive Technology or Home Modifications) might still be paid as a lump sum.
  • Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) – Budgets may be front-loaded, with higher amounts in early funding periods or possibly lump sum release.

How it works 

Your NDIS plan now includes a total funding amount. This is the full amount of funding allocated for all your supports over the life of your plan. 

  • You’ll get part of your funding at the start of each funding period. 
  • When one funding period ends, the next portion of funds is released. 
  • Unspent funds from the previous funding periods are rolled over into the next funding period (within the same plan). 
  • But leftover money at the end of your plan does not carry over to your next plan.

Can you move money around? 

  • You can’t transfer money between periods. 
  • You can’t access funds from a future funding period early.
  • In urgent situations, at their discretion, the NDIA may bring forward funds from a future period but this won’t increase your total plan budget. 

Who can see your funding periods? 

  • You and your plan manager or support coordinator can view your funding periods in the NDIS Participant Portal (PACE).
  • Other providers can’t see your full funding breakdown.

 Claims and payments 

  • Claims must match the funding period in which the support was delivered.
  • If a claim goes over the available funds it will be rejected.
  • You can’t borrow from future periods.

Why this change? 

The NDIS’ goal is to help participants: 

  • Manage budgets more easily
  • Avoid overspending or running out of funds
  • Ensure that funds are available at regular intervals, supporting consistent use of funding over the length of the plan 

We are here to help 

Once we receive a referral, our dedicated team will work with you, your Support Coordinator, and/or Plan Manager to deliver tailored support in line with your plan’s funding period.  

 Our full range of NDIS services include: