Funding periods in NDIS plans

The contents of this document are OFFICIAL.

This document is an accessible version of the Funding periods in NDIS plans presentation.

The information contained in this document is correct as of July 2025.

For the latest information please visit our website.

ndis.gov.au

Contents …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
Slide 1. Funding periods in NDIS plans (presentation title) …………………………………. 4
Slide 2. Acknowledgement of Country …………………………………………………………… 4
Slide 3. Accessibility features slide ……………………………………………………………….. 4
Slide 4. Privacy statement ………………………………………………………………………… 4
Slide 5. Contents ………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
Slide 6. What are funding periods? (section title) ……………………………………………… 5
- Slide 7. What are funding periods? (slide title) ……………………………………………….. 5
Slide 8. Changes to funding periods (section title) ……………………………………………… 5
- Slide 9. What is changing? ………………………………………………………………………… 5
- Slide 10. Why have we made this change? …………………………………………………… 5
- Slide 11. When will the change apply to me? ………………………………………………….. 6
Slide 12. How funding periods work (section title) ……………………………………………… 7
- Slide 13. How funding periods work (slide title) …………………………………………………. 7
- Slide 14. How we decide on funding periods …………………………………………………… 7
- Slide 15. How you can help us decide on funding periods …………………………………. 7
- Slide 16. Some supports might be different ……………………………………………………. 8
- Slide 17. Funding periods for early childhood plans (slide 1 of 2) ………………………. 8
- Slide 18. Finding periods for early childhood plans (slide 2 of 2) ………………………. 8
- Slide 19. Where to see funding period information ……………………………………………. 8
- Slide 20. What information you will see ………………………………………………………….. 9
- Slide 21. Who can help you ………………………………………………………………………… 9
Slide 22. Working with providers (section title) …………………………………………………….. 9
- Slide 23. Working with your providers (slide title) ……………………………………………….. 9
- Slide 24. Provider responsibilities …………………………………………………………………. 10
Slide 24. Frequently asked questions (section title) ……………………………………………….. 10
- Slide 25. What happens to unspent funds in a funding period? ……………………………… 10
- Slide 26. What if I need to change my funding periods? ………………………………………….. 10
- Slide 27. What happens if I run out of funding? …………………………………………………… 11
- Slide 28. What if my circumstances change? …………………………………………………. 11

Slide 29. Further information (section title) …………………………………………………….. 12
- Slide 30. Supports for participants …………………………………………………………. 12
- Slide 31. Further information on funding periods ………………………………………………. 12
- Slide 32. Further information on NDIS funding ……………………………………………….. 13

Slide 1. Funding periods in NDIS plans (presentation title)

Slide 2. Acknowledgement of Country

Before we begin, I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Country on which we meet today, and their continuing connection to land, sea, and community. I pay my respects to their Elders, past present and emerging.

I would like to extend that acknowledgement and respect to any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.

Slide 3. Accessibility features slide

Slide detailing the accessibility features available during the live presentation, determined by the presenter.

Slide 4. Privacy statement

The NDIS Act governs the collection, recording, disclosure and use of protected Agency information by all people, including contractors, partners and others who deal with protected Agency information. The unauthorised collection, use, accessing or recording of protected Agency information is a criminal offence.
The Privacy Act also contains penalties for the misuse of personal information.
During this session, please do not:
- share any personal information or protected Agency information; or
- record or share the session without the consent of all attendees.
During this session, only UNCLASSIFIED information (such as details published on the NDIA website, or general matters not containing personal information or protected Agency information) may be discussed.

If you wish to discuss a scenario involving a particular person, please contact the NDIA on: 1800 800 110 or email enquiries@ndis.gov.au for assistance.

Slide 5. Contents

What are funding periods?
Changes to funding periods
How funding periods work
Working with providers
Frequently asked questions
Further information

Slide 6. What are funding periods? (section title)

Slide 7. What are funding periods? (slide title)

A funding period is:

the length of time parts of your NDIS funding are made available
how long your funding needs to last.

Slide 8. Changes to funding periods (section title)

Slide 9. What is changing?

Funding periods used to be 12 months. Now plans may have shorter funding periods.

Right now, most participants get all their funding at once, soon you will get funding for the supports you need at the right time.

Slide 10. Why have we made this change?

We have made this change to:

help you plan better and avoid running out of funds too early
make sure funding for supports is there when you need it
support a stronger, fairer NDIS for everyone.

Slide 11. When will the change apply to me?

Funding period changes will apply:

if your plan is reassessed
when you receive a new plan
to new NDIS participants.

These changes won’t apply to your current plan.

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Slide 12. How funding periods work

(section title)

Slide 13. How funding periods work (slide title)

Funding periods:

• don’t change your total budget – only when parts of your funding are available • help spread your budget across your plan to make it easier to manage • could be 1, 3, 6 or 12 months, but will be based on your needs – in most cases they will be 3 months long.

Slide 14. How we decide on funding periods

Funding periods are based on your:

• preferences • support needs • identified risks • total plan funding • types and costs of supports • previous plans and how you have used funding

Slide 15. How you can help us decide on funding periods

You can ask for:

• shorter funding periods if that suits your needs better • longer periods if your support needs are uncertain or expected to change quickly • changes to your funding periods if your needs change.

You can give us information to tell us why a change is needed

We will work with you to change your plan.

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Slide 16. Some supports might be different

Some supports may have different funding periods based on how and when they’re delivered. You may:

• have a mix of funding periods • get more funding upfront for supports like: - assistive technology like a custom wheelchair - behaviour support planning or intensive capacity building - changing needs or situations - bulk-buying consumables.

Slide 17. Funding periods for early childhood plans (slide 1 of

In early childhood plans, funding may be allocated differently between planning periods to ensure availability when families need it most.

For example, we may allocate a larger portion of funding to the beginning of the plan, (the first funding period) to support specific milestones, like:

• starting early childhood education and care • preparing for school • setting up low-cost assistive technology.

Slide 18. Finding periods for early childhood plans (slide 2 of

Larger portions of funding may also be allocated to support things like holiday breaks when the child may need extra support, or informal carers need a short break.

Any unused funding will roll over to future funding periods to ensure access to the right supports at the right time.

Slide 19. Where to see funding period information

Your can see your funding periods in:

• the participant portal • the my NDIS app • your copy of your plan.

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Slide 20. What information you will see

You will be able to see:

• how much funding is available in each period • how much funding you have used • how much funding has been released in the plan so far • when the next amount will become available.

Plan managers and support coordinators (with your consent), can see funding period information in the my NDIS provider portal.

Slide 21. Who can help you

Your my NDIS contact can help you understand your plan and your funding periods.

To help you manage the funding in your plan, you can also work with your:

• support coordinator • plan manager.

Slide 22. Working with providers (section

title)

Slide 23. Working with your providers (slide title)

Providers should work with you to set up a plan for how you will use your funding.

• This should be done at the start of your plan. • This helps make sure you have access to supports through your whole plan.

Plan managers should help you spend your funding the way your plan describes, and within your funding periods.

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Slide 24. Provider responsibilities

We are working with providers to make sure they understand their responsibilities, such as:

• sending invoices on time • managing your funding properly. • to include clear payment terms in service agreements.

Your providers can tell you when they will make claims, and what they have already claimed from your plan.

Slide 24. Frequently asked questions

(section title)

Slide 25. What happens to unspent funds in a funding period?

• Unspent funds at the end of a funding period will roll over to the next funding period within the same NDIS plan, but will not roll over to a new plan. • The new funding period will include the rolled-over amount, plus the next amount of the allocated funds. • The total funding in the plan stays the same.

Slide 26. What if I need to change my funding periods?

If your overall support needs haven’t changed and you can still manage within your total plan budget, you may be able to adjust how your funds are used over time.

• This can be done through a plan variation. • Your total funding amount will not change.

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Slide 27. What happens if I run out of funding?

You can only use the funding available in your current funding period.

If you run out, you’ll need to wait until your next funding period begins.

Claims for supports that go over your available funding will not be paid.

In some urgent situations, we might bring forward funding from a future funding period.

This is why it’s important for participants to manage their budget carefully and spend in line with their plan.

Slide 28. What if my circumstances change?

If your situation changes and you need more or different supports, you can request a change to your plan.

You’ll need to provide information explaining why a change is necessary, and we will work with you to adjust your plan.

In some urgent situations, we might bring forward funding from a future funding period.

This is why it’s important for participants to manage their budget carefully and spend in line with their plan.

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Slide 29. Further information (section title)

Slide 30. Supports for participants

We’ll help you understand how funding periods work and how to manage your budget over time.

We will provide:

• clear information and guidance • updates in the participant portal and my NDIS app • tools to help track funding.

Slide 31. Further information on funding periods

Visit the NDIS website to learn more about funding periods:

• Changes to NDIS funding periods | NDIS website • Frequently asked questions about legislation | NDIS website • Creating your plan | Our Guidelines • Easy Read – A message from the CEO about supporting you to manage your NDIS funding • Auslan CEO Email May 2025: Spending in line with your plan and funding periods

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Slide 32. Further information on NDIS funding

• You can speak to your local area coordinator, early childhood partner or support coordinator. • You can call the NDIA on 1800 800 110. • You can use the Budget calculator to work out how much support you can buy for the duration of your NDIS plan.

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