National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2139
Please note: I use speech-to-text due to an energy-limiting disability, so please bear with me as there may be errors.
Section 34A — Minister Can Cut Your Plan (% Off Whole Categories)
Cutting supports such as therapy and accessing communities is terrible; each participant had shown they needed this level but it’s now cut by half under social/community categories without justification from government amendments that allow arbitrary cuts whenever convenient—making budget planning impossible! Emergencies happen unexpectedly leaving no funding available within their support periods, forcing many disabled people into unpredictable situations requiring funerals, weddings, emergency health appointments, or preventive care. Cutting access to therapies reduces mobility which increases costs over time since more assistance becomes necessary! Disabled individuals often live lower socioeconomic areas making them prone environmental emergencies like flooding fires cyclones etc., least able utilize evacuation centers effectively. Support workers also at risk during these events living in close proximity meaning we cannot rely on them evacuating themselves/families too. Currently have enough funds only once a week on weekdays severely limiting independence significantly. The moment requires careful budgeting even basic daily activities most take granted become unfeasible. Shopping online for all needs means missing cheaper products e.g Aldi Op Shops very hard low-income earners face. Purchasing items like shoes bras via internet difficult best done personally ensuring proper fitting trying keep funded hours strictly essential community member still.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2139
Like many disabled people, who have to budget their ability to leave home due to general health-care requirements having been deferred because funding was needed elsewhere. I’ve cut out non-essential appointments online where feasible; breast cancer screening isn’t an absolute necessity with limited funds available otherwise than necessities alone; as well as church attendance which requires additional costs beyond weekday support once per week, specifically Easter & Christmas being public holidays making them unaffordable at current rates without sufficient weekly coverage. The annual event ‘Sorry Day’ remains one accessible occasion among few attended annually but this year’s participation has been postponed in favoring attending August’s family member’s wedding instead of community services.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Submission
My partner is already at significant risk of losing his job which is the major income for a family of five. He has been formally warned in the past that he has taken too much time off for attending appointments with our children or myself.He has already taken a lower-paying job closer home reducing work day attendance times.We cannot attend online such as taking daughter (not-NDIS participant) local hospital regular specialist clinic visits.NB this child also non-participant no other funding sources available.If those cuts go through we’ll face carers pension disability support pensions loss retirement savings abandonment idea fund own retirements government financially responsible health, disabilities supports daily living costs.Or relationship breakdown further discussions lawyer divorce bed-based person nursing care 35+ years unless plan disabled people die neglect Anne Marie Smith level care required suicide People’s lives should worth submarines.Section Minister can cap any support cohort if values sit referenced documents Agency update without ParliamentAs seen above these arbitrary cuts do not consider personal circumstances my child NDIS speech pathology hours barely cover AAC assessment definitely insufficient implement therapy needed use system effectively.Cutting her speech pathology hours will mean NDIS pays for an unimplemented and full benefit from.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2139
Cutting support services across the board to a child in the city and the child in a remote area does not evenly distribute the burden. There are significantly higher costs in providing supports to rural and remote communities. Cutting or capping supports disproportionately affects those that need it most.
It is not ok to cost shift to disabled people. It is not ok to have budgets that do not accurately reflect the money available for any particular support. If a budget is stated in writing then it should not be allowed to be changed without prior warning in writing
As seen above, I very carefully budget both my own and my child’s NDIS supports. I work hard to make sure there is both therapy and self-care within our family’s financial plan as part of an emergency fund covering emergencies. If funding cuts occur but this information isn’t communicated via written notice before these changes take effect how can we manage our finances appropriately? How will service providers provide necessary care if they don’t know what funds exist under their clients’ individual plans? This puts participants at significant risk of accruing personal debt due to disability-related expenses covered by NDIS.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment
Submission:2139 The idea that any organisation including NDIs could decide what one disability alone causing ridiculous. Disability affects life regardless impairment category placed.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment
Submission: Submission-2026
Section 48A — Reassessment locked down
Many things can change over life, affecting what kind of help someone might need. The new rules don’t have any set times where people’s plans should be checked again so all checks will happen without warning—no every year or even once after five years! This makes planning hard because we never know if our plan still fits well enough now, effectively meaning: a child could stay on exactly same plan from age three until twenty-three and not ever being given an unscheduled reassessment; evolve as children grow up (that’s predictable), going through puberty when hormones are changing which affects how they use their disability differently; needs shifting between early intervention support needed at first stages like learning basic skills such making CVs and answering interview questions later in life; taking jobs for grown-ups regardless whether much extra support is necessary to do this job successfully; or needing public transport services too soon.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment
Submission: Submission-2139
I had surgery which meant going home without Assistive technology wasn’t possible due to safety concerns. The hospital failed its duty and couldn’t send me back safely with equipment needed post-surgery, as they deemed there weren’t urgent circumstances for getting new assistive tech quickly despite knowing about decline previously but having never reviewed funding since then. The occupational therapy report confirmed expected decline yet still didn’t deem timely acquisition of necessary equipment appropriate even though I could afford second-hand options costing significantly less than original quotes. This allowed me return after six months at most; many cannot do so when denied access initially until quote expired.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment
Submission: Submission-2139
not something I expected to need anytime soon and core funding could be used flexibly as required if there was an emergency.
I do not generally require respite and therefore it wasn’t something I thought I needed to update, till there was an emergency where my carer had to leave due to unforeseen circumstances making safe care impossible without minimal supports leading into dehydration and poor health state.I am very grateful that my support worker dropped everything including getting her husband home early from work to look for children which goes beyond what should expect from a support worker. Due to severe illness preventing communication about needs such as drinking water or finding cups/mugs, she checked on me immediately despite having no organized assistance.She worries deeply when I’m unwell and calls regularly just thinking how much worse things would have been otherwise.
After approximately three months after initially asking NDIS stated they can provide respite services.My carers father isn’t likely die again resulting in major rift within family because he has returned back caring for me since lacking access to respite.It’s nearly worst receiving this letter so late.Much of these issues might’ve avoided if answered 21 days post initial inquiry (when we first knew his condition) before turning into emergencies,before hospitalization,nearby causing rifts with families now meaning less informal support available.
This will become the norm rather than exception unless plans are scheduled regular reassessment disability people need show significant unexpected changes make unscheduled assessments My disability progressed slowly over time but plan reviews were not conducted clearly unfit supporting adequate needs keeping out dire situations. 90days is too long without ability move ART afterward knowing often extending longer based examples shown.
Putting disabled at risk being stuck abusive situation providers,family partners due duration getting needed supports.Royal Commission states twice age peers abuse both genders.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2139
This also puts disabled people at significant risk of not being able to access the supports they require to transition through life stages that could be seen as “anticipated”. Not receiving the supports required at these changes in function or education or informed supports, leaves disabled people at significant risk for physical, emotional harm and potentially death. It also means that the NDIS may end up paying more for supports because the needed supports have not been provided in the timely manner resulting in higher support needs long term.
Section 40A / 30(1A)—suspension & revocation
I cannot understand why this is even being proposed. David Harris.
David Harris died as a result of this policy in the past. Changes were made because people like David Harris died.
I am one of very many NDIS participants who have been told by NDIS that they haveeen unable to contact us even though they have made reasonable attempts.
I am house bound(in part due to how low my social and community funding is) have email as my preferred contact. So what constitutes a reasonable attempt?
I am unable to always answer the phone or get to a phone in time to answer it.As such Ihave made it clear with NDISthattheyneedtoemailmesothatInow know Ihavenoughtime torepondtotothemand willnot missthe communicationwith them.However therecan bealotofemails thate comein every single day.SometimesNDIS emails doendupinin junk emaillandasuchare notasen.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Submission
It is not ok to take a disabled person off the NDIS or suspend their NDIS funding just because NDIA is unable to contact them.
There should be clear structure on what ndia requires including in-person welfare checks as well as attempts made within reasonable timeframe (e.g., minimum attempt period) with multiple providers attempted if possible.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2139
I had the organisational skills to be able to organize all of the appointments and paperwork required to prove my eligibility for significantly and permanently disabled.
I was only able to do that because I was able to access services.
For many significantly disabled people, they do have this level of privilege. They might not have access to either the financial, physical, or organisational skills to be able to organise the evidence required.
There is a common saying within the disability field “you need to be so disabled that you are unable to fill out the disability related paperwork be able to access disability services. If you can fill out the paperwork you are not disabled enough and if you can’t you don’t have access because you can’t fill out the paperwork.”
While government relies on the expectation that there will be other support people in a person’s life to be able to organise this, it is simply not true for many disabled people, and particularly disabled women.
The changes to disability requirements ironically make it harder for the most disabled people to be able to prove their disabled enough.
This is compounded for people from diverse linguistic backgrounds, from our first Nations people who often speak multiple languages other than English, for people in rural and remote communities where they have very limited access to a general practitioner let alone specialists or therapists.
These changes put all disabled people at higher risk of not receiving the services that they need, and as a result ending up in hospital comma nursing homes or death, but particularly those from rural and remote communities and those without carers to pay for, transport them to, and organise the assessments and applications.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2139
Schedule 5 - Minister can change how the Act works for 12 months without Parliament
- We still have transitional rules in place two years after we were told they were transitional.
- Having a rule that basically allows the government to circumvent the law is dangerous.
Australia works by laws and any law that allows a government to work outside that lawexcept forexceptionalcircumstancesisproblematicforallAustralians. Thanks