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From 1 December 2026, the NDIS maximum prices for four support items go up by about 7.5%: House or Yard Maintenance, House Cleaning and Other Household Activities, Assistance with Personal Domestic Activities, and Specialised Home-Based Assistance for a Child.
The increase follows a Fair Work Commission wage decision for home care workers. There's been no official statement that existing plans will be increased, so the same hours of support may use more of your budget.
The maximum prices apply to NDIA-managed and plan-managed participants, and providers need your agreement before changing an existing service agreement.
An email lands from the agency that sends your dad's cleaner each week. From 1 December, it says, the hourly rate is going up. You open the NDIS portal, look at what's left in the budget and start doing sums in your head. Will the funding last until the plan ends? Will you need to cut back on visits?
The NDIA has confirmed that maximum prices for four common household and personal support items will rise from 1 December 2026. This post explains which supports are affected, what the change could mean for your budget, how it works for self-managed, plan-managed and NDIA-managed participants, and what you can do now.
Which NDIS Prices Are Changing on 1 December 2026?
Four support items in the Assistance with Daily Life category will have higher maximum prices for supports delivered on or after 1 December 2026. At the national rate, the changes are:
- House or Yard Maintenance (01_019_0120_1_1): $59.01 to $63.42 an hour
- House Cleaning and Other Household Activities (01_020_0120_1_1): $60.10 to $64.59 an hour
- Assistance with Personal Domestic Activities (01_004_0107_1_1): $61.16 to $65.73 an hour
- Specialised Home-Based Assistance for a Child (01_016_0104_1_1): $61.16 to $65.73 an hour
Each price rises by about 7.5%. The support item numbers and the claiming process aren't changing. The NDIA's announcement lists national rates only, so if you live in a remote or very remote area, check the updated NDIS Pricing Schedule, which the NDIA will publish on 1 December 2026.
Why Are These Prices Going Up?
The prices are going up because the Fair Work Commission has increased wages for home care workers covered by Schedule E of the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award, usually called the SCHADS award. These are the workers who provide domestic assistance and home maintenance for people with disability.
Through its Gender-Based Undervaluation Priority Awards Review, the Commission found that this work had been undervalued because of gender. The wage increase starts from the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2026, and the higher NDIS prices allow providers to cover it.
How Will the Price Increase Affect My NDIS Budget?
If your provider charges the new maximum price, the same hours of support will use more of your budget from 1 December. There's been no official statement that existing plans will be increased to cover the change, so it's worth working out what it means for you now.
Here's a simple example. If your plan pays for three hours of house cleaning a week at the maximum price, that's $180.30 a week now and $193.77 from 1 December. The difference is $13.47 a week, or about $700 over a full year. Two hours of gardening once a fortnight would go from $118.02 to $126.84 a visit.
Not every provider charges the maximum, and some may not raise their rates by the full amount. Your actual increase depends on your provider's prices and your service agreement. If your plan was also affected by the changes that began in October, our post on the NDIS budget changes from 1 October 2026 explains those separately.
Does It Matter How My Plan Is Managed?
Yes. The NDIS maximum prices only apply to NDIA-managed and plan-managed participants, and the way your plan is managed also affects who checks your invoices.
NDIA-managed: You use registered providers, who claim directly from the NDIA and can't charge more than the maximum price. From 1 December, they can charge up to the new maximum for these items, but only once you've agreed to any change to your service agreement.
Plan-managed: Your plan manager pays your invoices and checks them against the maximum prices. Supports delivered from 1 December can be charged up to the new maximum. Supports delivered before then stay at the old maximum, even if the invoice arrives later.
Self-managed: The maximum prices don't apply to you, so you can negotiate rates with your providers, including unregistered ones. That flexibility works both ways, though. A higher hourly rate still means fewer hours from the same funding, so the budget sums matter just as much. It's also a good time to keep on top of claims, as claims made more than 90 days after a support is delivered now get extra checks. Our post on the NDIS 90 day claim rule explains how that works.
Can My Provider Change the Price Without Asking Me?
No. The NDIA says providers must discuss any proposed change to an existing service agreement with you, and you must agree before the change is made.
If a provider contacts you about new rates, ask for the details in writing: which supports are changing, the new hourly rate and the date it starts. You're entitled to take time to think it over, compare it with other providers or talk it through with your support coordinator or plan manager before you agree.
What Can I Do Before 1 December?
Check what's left in your budget. Log in to the my NDIS portal or app and look at how much remains in the budget that pays for these supports, and how long your plan has to run.
Work out your weekly or fortnightly use. Multiply your usual hours by the new rate to see whether the funding will still stretch to the end of your plan. While you're looking at your budget, it can help to review your regular supplies too. Consumables aren't part of this price change, and our NDIS ordering guide explains how ordering continence and personal care products through your plan works.
Read letters from providers carefully. If your plan is NDIA-managed or plan-managed, make sure any new rate starts on or after 1 December and doesn't exceed the new maximum for your location.
Keep invoices tidy around the changeover. Invoices that cover late November and early December should show the dates each support was delivered, so the right price applies to each one.
Talk to the NDIA early if your budget won't stretch. The NDIA's guidelines don't treat a price increase on its own as a reason to add funding to a plan, and a plan variation can't be used just because funding is running low when your support needs haven't changed. If your needs or circumstances have changed significantly, you can request a plan reassessment with supporting evidence. If they haven't, the NDIA says it will talk through ways to manage your funding. Either way, calling 1800 800 110 sooner gives you more time to adjust. First Nations participants can call First Nations Connect on 1800 411 640, and your support coordinator can help you prepare.
Reviewing your NDIS budget before December? These pages can help with the supplies side of your plan.
Planning Ahead for a Busy December
A price change just before the holidays is one more thing on the list, but most of the work fits into a single sitting: check the budget, do the sums and reply to any provider letters. If you're stocking up on regular supplies at the same time, ordering a little earlier in December can help you avoid holiday delivery delays. You can browse daily living aids whenever you're ready.
This post is general information based on the NDIA announcement of 19 October 2026 and NDIA guidance available in early November 2026. Prices and rules can change, so check ndis.gov.au for the current Pricing Schedule, and contact the NDIA, your plan manager or your support coordinator for advice about your own plan.
NDIS Price Increase December 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
Which NDIS prices are increasing on 1 December 2026?
Four support items in the Assistance with Daily Life category are increasing: House or Yard Maintenance ($59.01 to $63.42 an hour), House Cleaning and Other Household Activities ($60.10 to $64.59), Assistance with Personal Domestic Activities ($61.16 to $65.73) and Specialised Home-Based Assistance for a Child ($61.16 to $65.73). These are national rates, and they apply to supports delivered on or after 1 December 2026.
Will my NDIS plan budget be increased to cover the new prices?
There's been no official statement that existing plans will be increased for this change. If your provider charges the new maximum price, the same hours of support will use more of your budget, so it's worth checking whether your funding will last until your plan ends.
Do NDIS price limits apply to self-managed participants?
No. The NDIS maximum prices only apply to NDIA-managed and plan-managed participants. Self-managed participants can negotiate rates with their providers, but a higher hourly rate still means fewer hours from the same funding.
Can my provider increase their prices without my agreement?
No. The NDIA says providers must discuss any proposed change to an existing service agreement with you, and you must agree before the change is made. Ask for the new rate and the date it starts in writing before you decide.
Which price applies to supports delivered around 1 December 2026?
The maximum price that applied on the date the support was delivered. Supports delivered before 1 December stay at the old maximum, even if the invoice arrives later, and supports delivered from 1 December can be charged up to the new maximum.
What can I do if my NDIS budget won't stretch after the price increase?
Contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 as early as you can. Its guidelines don't treat a price increase on its own as a reason to add funding to a plan, but if your support needs or circumstances have changed significantly, you can request a plan reassessment with supporting evidence. If they haven't, the NDIA says it will talk through ways to manage your funding.
Does the price increase affect NDIS consumables such as continence products?
No. The 1 December 2026 change only covers the four support items listed above. It doesn't apply to consumables such as continence and personal care products.
Reviewing your NDIS budget before December? If you have questions about ordering continence and personal care supplies through your plan, contact the Platinum Health Supply team on 1300 604 499 or at customercare@phsgroup.com.au.
