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From 1 October 2026, the NDIS is reducing funding in two specific support categories: Social, Economic and Community Participation by 50%, and Improved Daily Living Skills by 10%.
The changes do not mean your entire NDIS plan will be cut, and essential day-to-day supports such as personal care, continence products, nursing care, medication, mobility equipment, and home modifications are not affected by these reductions.
The changes will be phased in as plans are created, reassessed, or renewed, with all affected plans expected to have the reductions applied by 30 September 2027.
If your support needs or circumstances have changed significantly, you may still be able to request a plan reassessment or variation, and people with high support needs may have access to a specific plan variation pathway if they meet the eligibility requirements.
If you've heard that NDIS budgets are being cut, you may be wondering whether your whole plan is about to shrink.
It isn't.
From 1 October 2026, the NDIS is reducing funding allocations for two specific support categories: Social, Economic and Community Participation by 50%, and Improved Daily Living Skills by 10%. The changes are being introduced gradually as plans are created, reassessed or renewed.
That means the impact will look different from person to person. Some supports are protected entirely, and your current plan continues until it is reassessed or renewed.
Here's what's changing, what isn't, and what you can do if your support needs have changed.
How Much Are NDIS Budgets Being Reduced?
From 1 October 2026, the NDIA will start reducing funding for two support categories in participants' plans:
- Social, Economic and Community Participation, reduced by 50%
- Improved Daily Living Skills, reduced by 10%
These reductions were announced in the 2026 to 27 Federal Budget and are now part of the new NDIS laws. The legislation passed Parliament in August 2026.
The NDIA says the impact will be different for everyone, because every plan is built around individual goals, circumstances and support needs. Someone who uses a lot of community participation support will notice more change than someone who uses very little.
Does a 50% Budget Reduction Mean I'll Lose 50% of My Support?
Not necessarily.
The reduction applies to the funding allocation, not automatically to 50% of what you currently use.
For example, if your plan has $50,000 allocated to Social, Economic and Community Participation but you normally use $30,000, the new allocation would be $25,000. Your available budget has fallen by 50%, but your actual spending has only fallen by $5,000 based on your current use.
| Support | Change from October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Social, Economic and Community Participation | 50% reduction |
| Improved Daily Living Skills | 10% reduction |
| Consumables | Not affected |
| Help with eating, drinking, dressing and toileting | Not affected |
| Disability-related health supports | Not affected |
| Employment supports | Not affected |
| High intensity supports | Not affected |
| Home and vehicle modifications | Not affected |
| Personal mobility equipment | Not affected |
| Specialist Disability Accommodation | Not affected |
What Do the Two Affected NDIS Support Categories Cover?
The category names can feel abstract, so it helps to put them in everyday terms.
Social, Economic and Community Participation funds support to take part in community life. That can include a support worker helping someone get to a social group, attend an activity or spend time out in the community, as well as group and centre-based programs.
Improved Daily Living Skills funds support to build independence and learn to do more things for yourself. This category was previously called Capacity Building Daily Activities, and it's where many therapy and skill-building supports sit.
If you're not sure which of your current supports fall into these categories, your plan, your support coordinator or your plan manager can help you check.
Which NDIS Supports Are Protected From the Budget Cuts?
Even within these two categories, some supports are protected. The NDIA has confirmed that these won't be affected:
- Supports in employment
- Disability-related health supports
- High intensity supports
- Intensive and complex behaviour supports
- Customised and wearable technology
- Hearing services
Outside these two categories, the rest of your plan isn't affected by these reductions. The NDIA specifically names essential day-to-day supports as unchanged, including help with eating, drinking, dressing, toileting, laundry, cleaning, nursing care and medication. Home and vehicle modifications, personal mobility equipment and specialist disability accommodation are also protected.
The NDIA has published a full list of the supports that won't be affected, along with Easy Read guides, on its website.
When Will the NDIS Budget Reduction Apply to My Plan?
The reductions won't happen to everyone on 1 October. They'll be applied gradually over the next 12 months, as plans are created, reassessed or renewed.
- From 1 October 2026: new plans and reassessed plans will include the reduced funding.
- From 1 February 2027: if you haven't had a reassessment by then, the NDIA may contact you about renewing your plan with the new funding amounts.
- By 30 September 2027: all participants with funding in these categories are expected to have the reductions applied.
Your existing plan won't change partway through because of this. When your new plan arrives, it will show the funding changes if a reduction has been applied.
Will This Affect My Continence and Personal Care Supplies?
For most participants, the answer is no.
The Consumables category is not one of the two categories being reduced. The Australian Government specifically lists consumable products for incontinence and menstruation among the supports that won't be affected. Help with toileting is also listed as a protected day-to-day support.
However, it's still worth checking how your own plan is structured. Some Core funding is flexible, but the flexibility available to you depends on your plan and how your funding is managed. You shouldn't assume that money can always be moved freely between every Core support category.
If you regularly use NDIS funding for continence products, this is a good time to check your usual monthly spending and make sure you understand how much funding is available for the rest of your plan period.
Need help planning your regular continence supplies?
Platinum Health Supply can help you review your usual product quantities and ordering patterns so you can keep track of your supplies and budget. Call us at 1300 60 44 99 or email customercare@phsgroup.com.au
Can I Challenge or Ask for a Change to My NDIS Budget?
You cannot request a review of the funding reduction itself. The reduction comes from the new legislative framework rather than an individual decision about your circumstances.
However, you can still request a plan variation or unscheduled plan reassessment if you have experienced a significant and ongoing change in your functional capacity, support needs or circumstances.
This can include changes to:
- your ability to complete daily activities
- your living arrangements
- your education or employment circumstances
- the informal support available from family, carers or others.
Changes like these happen often. A parent who provided daily help may no longer be able to, or a health condition may have changed what someone can manage at home. If something like this applies to you, it's worth raising it, and gathering evidence such as reports from your GP or therapists will help.
What Is the New High Support Needs Plan Variation Pathway?
The NDIA has created a new way for people with high support needs to ask for a plan change if the budget reductions put their safety or wellbeing at risk.
You can use this pathway if:
- your combined budget for Assistance with Daily Life, Home and Living, and Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation is $215,030 or more, and
- you receive 24-hour funded NDIS supports for needs arising directly from your disability
Meeting both conditions doesn't automatically mean your plan will be increased. The NDIA also needs to find that the funding reduction has left a gap, so that your 24-hour disability supports can no longer be safely maintained at the support ratio you need.
Timing is important. You can apply within 90 days of the funding reset being applied to your plan, once your plan has been created, reassessed or renewed. In exceptional circumstances, the NDIA may extend this period by giving you written notice.
You or your nominee can make the request. If you don't have a nominee, another person, such as a support worker or advocate, can help you with the application.
The decision happens in two stages. First, the NDIA has 21 days to decide whether you meet the high support needs definition. If you do, it then has a further 21 days to decide whether to vary your plan, or to tell you it needs more time.
If your plan is varied, the NDIA can increase funding for Assistance with Daily Life or Home and Living so your 24-hour supports can continue. The increase can't be more than the amount your budget was reduced by.
Who Will Be Most Affected by the NDIS Budget Changes?
The impact will depend on how much funding you currently have in the affected categories and how much of it you actually use.
You may notice a bigger difference if you rely heavily on:
- social and community participation supports
- support workers to participate in community activities
- group or centre-based participation supports
- therapy or other supports funded through Improved Daily Living Skills.
You may notice less direct impact if you use little or none of these supports, or if the supports you rely on fall within one of the protected groups.
The reduction also doesn't automatically mean your entire NDIS plan will fall by 50% or 10%. Only the affected funding allocations are being reset.
How Can I Prepare for the NDIS Budget Changes?
You don't have to wait for your new plan to arrive before taking action. A few steps now will give you a clearer picture of where you stand and make the process smoother when your plan changes.
1. Check your current plan.
Look at how much funding you have in Social, Economic and Community Participation, Improved Daily Living Skills and Consumables, along with any other Core support categories you use regularly. This shows you how much of your plan sits in the categories being reduced, and how much doesn't.
2. Look at what you actually spend.
The amount allocated in your plan doesn't always match what you use. Check your spending over the last few months, either through the my NDIS app or portal, or by asking your plan manager for a statement. If you regularly use less than your full allocation in an affected category, a reduction may make less difference to your day-to-day supports than you'd expect. If you use all of it, you'll know to plan ahead.
3. Note any recent changes in your circumstances.
Think about whether there's been a significant and ongoing change to your ability to manage daily activities, your living arrangements, your work or study, or the informal support you get from family and friends. If there has, start gathering evidence now rather than waiting until your plan is reassessed.
4. Keep your evidence together.
Reports, assessments, invoices, support records and letters from your GP or therapists all help show what support you need and why. Keeping them in one folder, on paper or on your phone, means you're ready if you need to request a change.
5. Find out when your plan is likely to change.
If your plan is due for reassessment or renewal, find out roughly when that's expected to happen. The NDIA says it will contact participants before a reassessment or renewal, so keep your contact details up to date.
6. Mark the date if you might qualify for the high support needs pathway.
The 90 day window starts when the funding reset is applied to your plan, not at the end of your plan period. As soon as your new plan arrives, note the date and start looking into it straight away.
If any of this feels like a lot to work through, your support coordinator or plan manager can help you review your plan, track your spending and decide whether a variation or reassessment is worth pursuing.
Changes like these can feel unsettling, particularly when you rely on your supports to get through each day. It helps to remember the reductions apply to two specific categories, essential day-to-day supports are protected, and they'll be phased in over 12 months rather than all at once.
If you have questions about your own plan, you can call the NDIA on 1800 800 110, or First Nations Connect on 1800 411 640. You can also speak with your my NDIS contact or support coordinator.
Need Help Staying on Top of Your NDIS Consumables?
The October 2026 changes don't reduce funding for NDIS Consumables, including continence products. But keeping track of your usual orders can still help you understand where your budget is going and avoid running short on the products you rely on.
Platinum Health Supply can help you find the right continence and everyday health products for your needs.
This article is general information based on NDIA and Australian Government announcements as of October 2026. Details may change as the NDIA updates its guidance, so check the NDIS website or speak with the NDIA about your own plan.
FAQs About the New NDIS 90-Day Claim Rule
What is the new NDIS 90-day claim rule?
From 15 October 2026, NDIS claims submitted more than 90 days after a support was delivered may go through additional integrity checks before they are paid. The NDIA may hold these claims for up to 28 days and may ask for additional information or evidence. Claims submitted within 90 days continue to be processed as usual.
Does the 90-day NDIS claim rule affect self-managed participants?
Yes. Self-managed participants are likely to notice the change most because they are responsible for lodging their own claims. A claim submitted more than 90 days after a support was delivered may take longer to process, which can delay reimbursement if you have already paid for the support.
What happens if I submit an NDIS claim after 90 days?
A claim submitted more than 90 days after the support was delivered is not automatically rejected. It may be held for additional checks for up to 28 days, and the NDIA may ask you for evidence such as an invoice, receipt or proof of payment before making a decision.
How long do I have to submit an NDIS claim?
The NDIA's guidance allows claims to be made for up to two years from when a support was delivered. However, claims submitted more than 90 days after the support may be subject to additional checks and take longer to process. Lodging claims regularly can help you avoid these delays.
What documents do I need to keep for NDIS claims?
Self-managed participants should keep records such as tax invoices, receipts, payment records and information about the support being claimed. If a claim is selected for checking, the NDIA may ask for evidence of what was purchased and proof that it was paid for. Keeping invoices and bank records together makes this much easier.
Does the 90-day rule apply to NDIS consumables?
The new checks apply to claims submitted more than 90 days after a support was delivered. For products such as continence supplies and other consumables, the article notes that the NDIA has not specified whether the relevant date is the order date, invoice date or delivery date. To stay safely within the 90-day window, it's sensible to claim as soon as the order arrives and to keep your supporting paperwork.
Can I avoid paying for NDIS supports out of pocket while waiting for reimbursement?
Self-managed participants may be able to claim from the NDIA before paying the provider, rather than paying first and claiming reimbursement afterwards. This can help reduce the pressure of upfront costs, but you should check that the provider's payment terms allow enough time for the claim to be processed.
Managing NDIS consumables doesn't have to mean keeping track of a pile of paperwork. If you regularly order continence, personal care or other everyday supplies, the Platinum Health Supply team can help make the ordering side simpler.
