NDIS Funding Periods: Understanding the New Changes
NDIS Funding Periods Change
On May 19, 2025, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) introduced a new approach to how participant funding is made available during the life of a plan. While the total amount of funding hasn’t changed, the timing of when you can access those funds might look a little different going forward.
What’s New?
Instead of receiving your full 12-month budget all at once, funding may now be made available in stages. This is called a "funding period," and it aims to help participants make their budgets last the full length of their plan. Depending on your support needs, your funding might be released:
Every 3 months (quarterly) – This will be the standard option for most supports.
Monthly – Often used for higher-cost, ongoing supports like Supported Independent Living (SIL).
Up Front – For some one-off items or large purchases, like Assistive Technology.
This new structure applies to anyone starting a new plan or having their plan reassessed after May 19, 2025. If your current plan started before this date, nothing changes until your next plan begins.
Why the Change?
Many participants have shared that receiving their full budget upfront can make it hard to manage their money across the whole plan period. The NDIA is addressing this by breaking funding into more manageable portions, which can help reduce the risk of running out of funds too soon.
This change is also in line with how other government programs work – delivering support in smaller increments to encourage consistent use and better long-term outcomes.
What Happens If I Don’t Use All My Funds?
Good news – if you don’t spend all the funding available during a specific period, those funds will carry over to the next period within the same plan. For example:
Let’s say you have $16,000 in therapy funding and it’s broken down into $4,000 per quarter. If you only spend $2,000 in the first quarter, the remaining $2,000 will roll into your second quarter, giving you $6,000 to use.
But keep in mind: any unspent funds won’t roll into your new NDIS plan once the current one ends.
Can I Access Future Funds Early?
No – you can only use what’s available during the current funding period, plus any leftover from a previous period. You won’t be able to tap into future instalments ahead of time.
If you find yourself running low on funds or your needs change, it’s important to speak with your NDIS Planner or Support Coordinator. You can also request a plan review if needed.
How Will This Affect My Providers?
Providers will need to be aware of your funding period so they can ensure their invoices match what’s available in your plan. This may mean they’ll need to check in with you or your Support Coordinator before delivering supports, especially for services that span more than one funding period.
Having open communication about your plan and budget will be more important than ever to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Staying Informed
You can check your funding periods and see how much funding is available:
· In your NDIS plan document
· If you're with Pacific Plan Management: via our online portal, where you can view your budget in real time.
To help you stay on top of your spending, Pacific Plan Management also send monthly budget summaries. These reports show:
· How much you’ve spent
· What you’ve spent it on
· How much funding you have remaining
Need Help Navigating the Changes?
At Pacific Plan Management, we understand the ins and outs of the NDIS and stay up to date with all the latest changes—so you don’t have to. Our team is here to help you feel confident using your plan and managing your funding in a way that works for you.
If you have questions about funding periods or anything else related to your plans budget, get in touch—we’re always happy to help.
Getting started is easy:
👉 Register online: https://www.pacificplan.com.au/registration
📧 Email: accounts@pacificplan.com.au
📞 Call: 1800 861 112