What the New NDIS Funding Periods Mean for You
If you or someone you know is accessing the NDIS, some important changes to funding periods have just been announced and they’re worth knowing about.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through what’s changing and what it could mean, whether you're an NDIS participant or supporting someone who is.
You can skip to a question by clicking on the links below:
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What’s changing with NDIS funding periods?
From 19 May 2025, the NDIS will begin gradually rolling out new funding periods for all new and reassessed plans.
These changes won’t affect how much funding NDIS participants receive but they will change how budgets are split and when you can access your funding.
The updates, announced by the NDIA (the government agency that runs the NDIS), are designed to make funding easier to manage, give participants more flexibility, and help people access the right supports when they need them.
Stay Up to Date
The NDIS regularly updates their Frequently Asked Questions page with the latest information on the changes. It’s a great place to check what’s new and what it means for you.
2. Why is it changing?
Back in October 2024, changes to the NDIS Act introduced a 12 month funding period for all new and reassessed plans.
Since then, many participants have shared that managing their full budget upfront was difficult. It made it harder to plan spending and increased the risk of overspending or running out of funds too early.
In response to that feedback, funding periods have now been updated. From 19 May 2025, new and reassessed NDIS plans will include more flexible funding arrangements.
In most cases, funding will now be released in quarterly (three month) periods, making it easier for participants to manage their budgets over time.
3. Who does this apply to?
From 19th May 2025, the changes to funding periods will only apply to:
New NDIS participants
At reassessment of your current NDIS Plan
If you currently access your NDIS plan, this change will not affect you until your plan is being reassessed.
For example, if your NDIS plan started in October 2024 and you received $20,000 in funding on a 12 month plan, you will still be able to access the full budget until your reassessment in October 2025.
After your reassessment, your funding periods will change and you may be accessing funds in quarterly instalments or monthly instalments depending on your supports.
4. What is a funding period?
A funding period means the time period that your NDIS funding will cover. In your plan, you will see a total funding amount for each funding period.
It is the set amount of time when a participant can use certain parts of their NDIS funding. This could apply to their whole plan or just specific areas, like supports or services.
For example, if John has $20,000 in funding for his NDIS plan that covers 12 months and starts in July 2025, he would now receive the following funding amounts every 3 months.
First Quarterly Budget - July to September ($5,000)
Second Quarterly Budget - October to December ($5,000)
Third Quarterly Budget - January to March ($5,000)
Fourth Quarterly Budget - April to June ($5,000)
Since October 2024, people with existing NDIS plans have received their full funding upfront at the start of their 12 month plans.
For example, if Amy’s plan started in October 2024 with $20,000 in funding, she would have been able to use that full amount straight away.
Under the new changes, when Amy’s plan is reassessed in October 2025, she’ll still receive her assessed funding amount but instead of getting it all at once, it will be released in instalments spread across her plan period.
For more information, visit the NDIS website for the latest updates.
5. Will any unspent funds roll over?
Each funding period will have a start date and end date. Any unspent funds will roll over to the next funding period. For example if John had $5,000 for the quarter and he only spent $2,000, this means he would have $7,000 to spend in the next quarter (because the unspent $2,000 was added to his next quarterly budget).
6. What will the new funding periods be?
The new NDIS funding periods will be more flexible. Depending on the types of supports, for most people, this will be in quarterly time periods (every 3 months).
Home & Living Supports - monthly budget instalments
All other Supports - quarterly budget instalment
NDIS funding can only be used for NDIS supports, for more information, read our NDIS guide.
7. Are there any changes to supports?
New NDIS plans will show total funding as a single amount for each NDIS support category level, rather than listing individual line items.
This change gives you greater flexibility in how they use their funding. For example, Core Supports will be shown as one total budget, which can be used across areas like assistance with daily living, social and community participation, and consumables.
NDIS funding can only be used for approved NDIS supports.
There are 37 different types of goods and services that are NDIS Supports including items like equipment, therapies, and support services. These are designed to help you live more independently and work towards your personal goals.
Visit the NDIS website for more details and information.
Need help?
If you're looking for support with managing your NDIS plan, we're here to help. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to learn more about our transition support services. Call the BCD team on 1800 275 223, we’re here to help you.
At BCD, our disability support services are all about helping individuals with disabilities achieve their goals, grow their independence, and enjoy a life full of possibilities.
Sources:
NDIS Website: https://www.ndis.gov.au/
NDIS Guidelines: https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/would-we-fund-it/what-does-ndis-fund
NDIS Funding – News Update https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10728-message-ceo-about-supporting-you-manage-your-ndis-funding
NDIS Funding Period Changes: https://improvements.ndis.gov.au/participants/understand-your-plan/your-funding
NDIS Support Lists: https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/would-we-fund-it/what-does-ndis-fund
Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal, financial, or professional advice. While we strive to ensure the accuracy of the content, we encourage you to visit the relevant government websites for the most up-to-date and official information.