NDIS changes 2026: every change and when it starts

The Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Act 2026 became law on 20 August 2026. It changes budgets, planning, access, registration, plan management and support coordination over the next four years. Here is each change in plain English, with the date it reaches you.

Checked against health.gov.au, the NDIA and the NDIS Commission on 14 October 2026.

The most important thing to know

Your current plan did not change overnight. Most of the changes reach you at your next plan reassessment or renewal, and the NDIA will contact you before that happens. Supports in your home, such as personal care, cleaning and help with medication, are not affected by the October 2026 funding reset.

Coming up next

27 November 2026Ban on provider kickbacks and inducements
1 December 2026Claims must be made within 90 days of the service
1 December 2026SCHADS award changes take effect; pricing schedule to be updated

If you are a participant or family

In effect · 1 October 2026Community participation funding cut by 50%From 1 October 2026, funding for social, economic and community participation supports is reduced by 50%, and funding for improved daily living skills supports by 10%. It only happens when your plan is created, reassessed or renewed, and your current plan keeps working until then.In effect · 1 October 2026New plan variation for 24 hour supportIf you receive 24 hour disability support and your plan has $215,030 or more across daily life, home and living, and community participation before the reset, you can ask for a plan variation within 90 days of the reset being applied, so your 24 hour care stays safe.In effect · 27 August 2026 and 1 February 2027Plan renewals, rollovers and reassessmentsSince 27 August 2026 only you, your nominee or your guardian can ask for an unscheduled reassessment, and only for significant and ongoing changes. From 1 February 2027, when a plan reaches its reassessment date a renewed plan is created and unspent funds do not carry over.In effect · 1 October 2026Thriving Kids for children 8 and underFrom 1 October 2026 Thriving Kids supports start rolling out outside the NDIS for children 8 and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs. Nothing changes about NDIS access for children until 1 January 2028, and children already in the NDIS keep their plans.Coming · 1 April 2027New framework planning and support needs assessmentsFrom 1 April 2027 participants start moving to new framework planning, where your budget is set from a support needs assessment with a trained NDIS assessor. Everyone will have moved by 31 December 2030. The assessment sets your budget, it does not decide whether you can access the NDIS.Coming · 1 January 2028NDIS access and eligibility changesNothing changes about how people access the NDIS until 1 January 2028. From then, access is based on a standardised assessment of functional capacity, and current participants are reassessed against the new criteria over 3 years. People with permanent and significant disability will still be able to access the NDIS.Coming · 1 October 2027Panel of approved plan managersFrom 1 October 2027 the NDIA sets up a panel of approved plan management providers. If your plan manager is not on the list, you will have 6 months to move to one that is.

For participants and providers

In effect · 27 August 2026 and 1 December 202690 day claims and record keepingSince 27 August 2026 participants and plan managers must keep records of NDIS payments for 3 years, and providers for 7 years. From 1 December 2026 claims must be made within 90 days of the support being delivered.In effect · 1 July 2026SIL and NDIS platforms must be registeredSince 1 July 2026 Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers and NDIS digital platforms must be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Existing unregistered SIL providers had to apply by 1 October 2026 to keep delivering SIL while their application is assessed.Coming · 1 July 2028Support coordination redesignFrom 1 July 2028 a new support coordination and connection service begins. You will no longer pay for support coordination from your NDIS plan. Instead you will choose from providers funded directly to deliver it. Until then, support coordination works as it does now.In effect · 1 July 2026NDIS pricing 2026/27Since 27 August 2026 the Minister, not the NDIA, decides NDIS price limits. The 2026/27 limits were set on 24 September 2026. The government is consulting on lower prices for some supports from unregistered providers, recommended to start 1 January 2027, and the pricing schedule will be updated for the SCHADS award change on 1 December 2026.

If you are a provider

Coming · 1 July 2027Registration for personal care and daily livingFrom 1 July 2027 mandatory registration expands to providers of higher risk supports such as personal care, daily living supports and supports in closed settings, with all providers in scope registered by December 2030. A new enrolment system also starts, with most providers enrolled by December 2027.Coming · 27 November 2026Ban on kickbacks and inducementsFrom 27 November 2026 NDIS providers must not offer or give an inducement or kickback that is likely to encourage someone to start, keep or increase using their services. Penalties include fines, up to 2 years in prison, or both.

The full timeline

Green has started. Orange is still to come.

1 July 2026SIL providers and NDIS digital platforms must be registered
1 July 20262026/27 price limits start, support worker limits up with the wage increase
20 August 2026The Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Act 2026 becomes law
27 August 2026Tighter rules for unscheduled plan reassessments
27 August 2026New record keeping rules: 3 years for participants, 7 for providers
27 August 2026The Minister becomes the decision maker on NDIS pricing, and tougher fraud penalties start
1 October 2026Community participation budgets cut by 50% and daily living skills by 10%, as plans are reassessed or renewed
1 October 2026New plan variation pathway for people who need 24 hour support
1 October 2026Thriving Kids rollout begins for children 8 and under
1 October 2026Deadline for existing unregistered SIL providers to apply for registration
27 November 2026Ban on provider kickbacks and inducements
1 December 2026Claims must be made within 90 days of the service
1 December 2026SCHADS award changes take effect; pricing schedule to be updated
1 January 2027Proposed start of lower prices for some unregistered provider supports (under consultation)
1 February 2027Renewed plans no longer roll over unspent funds; the funding reset reaches plan renewals
27 February 2027New debt recovery safeguards
1 April 2027Participants start moving to new framework planning
1 July 2027Mandatory registration expands to personal care and daily living supports; provider enrolment begins
30 September 2027All affected plans renewed with the funding reset
1 October 2027Panel of approved plan managers begins, with 6 months to switch
1 January 2028New access rules based on functional capacity; current participants reassessed over 3 years
1 January 2028Thriving Kids fully operational; new access rules for children 8 and under
1 July 2028New support coordination and connection service begins
31 December 2030Everyone moved to new framework plans; registration rollout complete

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General information only. Sources: the official reform timeline, About the changes to the NDIS and the NDIS Commission reform hub. Each change page lists its own sources. For your own plan, contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110.