NDIS Support Budget Changes from 1 October 2026

Date: 21 September 2026

Introduction

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has announced changes to some NDIS support budgets from 1 October 2026.

Under the new NDIS laws, participant budgets for some supports will be reduced over the coming 12 months. The changes will apply as plans are created or reassessed from 1 October 2026, or renewed from 1 February 2027.

The effect of these changes will vary between participants, as NDIS plans are based on individual goals, circumstances and support needs.

Which support categories are changing?

The budget reductions will apply to supports within two categories:

Social, Economic and Community Participation
Improved Daily Living Skills

The changes will be introduced as relevant NDIS plans are created or reassessed from 1 October 2026, or renewed from 1 February 2027.

Some supports will not be affected

The NDIA has confirmed that some groups of supports within these categories will not be affected by the changes.

These include:

Employment supports
Disability-related health supports
High intensity supports
Intensive and complex behaviour supports

The NDIA also states that other parts of participant plans will not be affected by these changes.

Examples of essential day-to-day supports that will not be affected include assistance with:

Eating and drinking
Dressing
Toileting
Laundry
Cleaning
Nursing care
Medication
Home and vehicle modifications
Personal mobility equipment
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

The NDIA has advised that a full list of supports that will not be affected will be published shortly.

What if a participant's circumstances change?

The NDIA advises that these budget changes are not a reviewable decision. However, participants can still request changes to their plans, including a plan reassessment or plan variation, if their circumstances change.

A plan reassessment may be considered where there has been a significant and ongoing change in areas such as:

Ability to complete daily activities
Living arrangements
Education or employment circumstances
Available informal supports

A new pathway for some participants with high support needs

The NDIA also announced that a new plan variation pathway will be introduced for participants with high support needs who require 24-hour disability support.

Further information about this pathway will be provided by the NDIA.

What does this mean for NDIS participants?

These changes will not affect every participant or every support in the same way.

Participants and their families may wish to review their current NDIS plan, understand which supports are relevant to their circumstances, and refer to the latest information published by the NDIA as further details become available.

For individual circumstances, participants should refer to the official NDIS information and their plan arrangements.

Want to understand the NDIS better?

If you would like to learn more about your NDIS plan, supports or services, you can contact JPlus Care Australia to discuss your questions and explore the information relevant to your circumstances.

Source

Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), “Changes to support budgets from 1 October”, 17 September 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information published by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) at the time of writing. NDIS policies, legislation and guidance may change. Readers should refer to the official NDIS website for the latest and most accurate information.