NDIS News & Updates

The NDIS is changing how long providers and plan managers have to claim for supports. From 1 December 2026, the claiming window will reduce from two years to 90 days. Any support delivered on or after this date must be claimed within 90 days, or the claim may not be processed.

This change is part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026, which commenced on 27 August 2026.

What this means

• This change doesn't affect a participant's plan or funding — it changes how quickly invoices need to be submitted and processed. 
• Supports delivered before 1 December 2026 remain subject to the current two-year claiming rule. 
• Supports delivered from 1 December 2026 onward must be claimed within 90 days of the support being delivered. 
• Faster invoicing should give participants a clearer, more up-to-date view of their remaining plan balance.

What providers and participants should do

1. Submit invoices promptly rather than batching or delaying them, as delays now carry a greater risk of a claim missing the window. 
2. Review any outstanding or aged invoices for supports already delivered, so they can be submitted well ahead of the 1 December 2026 change.
3. Build extra buffer time into invoicing schedules, especially where invoices are sent to a plan manager for processing rather than claimed directly.
4. Keep good records — providers, plan managers and participants will also need to retain records relating to the payment and receipt of NDIS funds for 7 years.

If you have questions about how this change affects your invoicing or claims, please get in touch with our team. 

From 27 August 2026, keeping accurate records of NDIS supports and payments is a specific legal requirement for participants, nominees and providers. Records need to be sufficient to show that a claim was correct and that the support was actually delivered. If records can't be produced when requested, the NDIA may seek repayment of funding, and providers who fail to meet their obligations may face civil penalties.

The length of time records must be kept depends on your role:

• Participants: must keep records for 3 years.
• Nominees: must keep records for 5 years.
• Providers: must keep records for 7 years.

It's a good idea to review how and where records are currently stored, and to make sure invoices, receipts and supporting documentation are kept somewhere secure and easy to access if they're ever requested. 

An unscheduled plan reassessment is a request to review a plan before its scheduled reassessment date. From 27 August 2026, new requirements apply to these requests.

A request for an unscheduled reassessment must show there has been a significant and ongoing change to:

• Functional capacity or support needs; or
• Living, education, work or informal support arrangements.

The request needs to clearly explain what has changed and include supporting evidence, which may include evidence from a GP or other health professional. Once the NDIA has the information it needs, it will generally make a decision within 90 days. If a decision isn't made within that period, the request is treated as refused.

This change relates to unscheduled reassessments only. If there is an emergency, crisis, or a short-term change in support needs, a plan variation may still be requested through the existing variation pathway rather than a full reassessment. 

From 27 August 2026, only the following people can request an unscheduled plan reassessment:

• The participant;
• The participant's plan nominee; or
• A child representative, where applicable.

Support coordinators and other providers are no longer able to request a plan reassessment on a participant's behalf. Providers and support coordinators can still support a participant or nominee to gather evidence and prepare a request, but the request itself must come from the participant, their nominee, or a child representative.

Plan variations for emergencies, crises or short-term changes continue to be available and are not affected by this change.