This email is also available in:
Funding periods to help manage your budget
We've heard that receiving all your funding at the start of your plan can make budgeting hard.
Different funding periods are being introduced from 19 May 2025 to:
- help make sure supports are available when you need them
- reduce the risk of running out of funds early.
This change will be rolled out gradually. Participants will not be impacted until they receive a new or reassessed plan following discussion with them to understand their circumstances. We will support you with information to understand what this change means for you.
Funding periods will usually be set at 3-months on the basis this gives you flexibility, but also helps you manage your budget so your funding lasts the full length of your plan.
Funding periods won't change your total funding amount, they only change when you can access your funds.
You'll see your funding periods in your NDIS plan document, the participant portal and my NDIS app. You'll be able to see:
- how much funding you have
- how much you've spent
- when the next amount becomes available.
If you don't use all your funds in one funding period, they will roll over to the next funding period, within the same plan.
Unused funds won't roll over into a new plan, so it's important to manage your budget carefully.
You can only use the funding made available during each funding period. If funding runs out early, you won't be able to use more funds until the next funding period starts.
If this happens you should talk to the NDIA or your plan manager about what support may be available.
If your situation changes and you need more or different supports, you can also request a change to your plan.
If your current plan continues, funding periods won't apply. You'll only see funding periods if you have a new or reassessed plan.
What the NDIS can fund
We've heard it can be hard to understand what the NDIS can and can't fund. This can make managing your plan more difficult.
That's why there are now rules about what participants, nominees and plan managers can use NDIS funding for.
Last year, the Government introduced a new definition of NDIS supports. Under the new definition, there are 2 lists:
- supports the NDIS can fund
- supports the NDIS cannot fund.
You can view both lists at What does NDIS fund?
It's your responsibility to make sure you spend NDIS funding in line with your plan. This means only purchasing supports that are included in your plan.
Most people are doing the right thing, but we know mistakes can happen.
We are still seeing claims for non-NDIS supports. These cannot be funded.
