Understanding NDIS Funding Periods: What It Means for You

carli215
Oct 23
4 min read

If you've recently received a new NDIS plan—or you're due for a reassessment soon—you might notice something different.

From 19 May 2025, all new and reassessed NDIS Plans now include something called funding periods.

But what are they? How do they work? And what does it mean for participants, families, and providers?

Here’s what you need to know.

What Are NDIS Funding Periods?

Funding periods are a new way of releasing your NDIS plan funds. Instead of giving you the entire budget upfront, the NDIA now releases smaller portions over time—usually every three months.

That means:

You can only use funding from the current or previous funding periods
You can’t access future funding early
Unused funds from one period do roll over to the next—but only within the same plan

So, your total plan budget doesn’t change, but when you can access your funding does.

How Long Do NDIS Funding Periods Last?

The most common setup right now is three-month (quarterly) funding periods, but some plans differ depending on the support type.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Support Type	Typical Funding Period
Most general supports	3 months
Home & Living supports (incl. SDA, SIL)	1 month
Support Coordination & Recovery Coaching	3 or 12 months
Assistive Technology	12 months (full budget released upfront)
Plan Management	1 month

👉 Funding periods can’t be longer than 12 months, even if your plan is 2 or 3 years long.

Why Is the NDIA Doing This?

According to the NDIA, funding periods are designed to:

Help participants manage their budgets more effectively
Prevent under- or over-spending
Make sure funding aligns with actual needs across time

But in practice, it’s been a bit confusing for everyone—especially when there are inconsistent funding period lengths across different supports in the same plan.

What If I Run Out of Funds?

If you run out of funds in your current period, unfortunately you can’t dip into your future budget. Even if your total plan balance is healthy, you can only use what’s been released so far.

You can:

Use any leftover funds from previous periods (they roll forward)
Talk to your providers about adjusting supports
Request a plan variation for longer funding periods (with good reason)

You can’t:

Backdate service dates to make a claim
Access future funds early (except in very limited urgent cases with NDIA approval)
Carry leftover funding into your next NDIS plan

Front-Loading and Uneven Funding Splits

Some plans have uneven allocations across periods. For example, you might see more money up front for:

Behaviour support plans (which must be completed within 30 days)
Assessments or transition support (like hospital discharge)
Equipment purchases
Intensive or short-term supports

This is called front-loading, and it’s common for new or complex plans.

A Quick Example: How It Works in Real Life

Let’s say Tom has a 12-month plan with quarterly funding periods. His plan looks like this:

Period 1: $1,000
Period 2: $500
Period 3: $0 (but he can use rolled-over funds)
Period 4: $0

In Period 1, Tom spends $400. The remaining $600 rolls into Period 2, giving him a total of $1,100.

He spends $700 in Period 2. $400 remains, which rolls into Period 3.

In Period 3, he spends $300. He now has $100 remaining for the rest of the plan.

Even though his total plan budget was $1,500, he could only spend it as it became available.

What It Means for Participants

You’ll need to:

Track your funding periods carefully
Plan supports with your provider ahead of time
Be aware that service claims must match the delivery date (not invoice date)
Use tools like the myplace portal or your plan manager’s app to view released and remaining funds

You can request a change to your funding period setup, but the NDIA will need to see:

A valid reason (e.g. fluctuating needs or degenerative condition)
That you’ve managed funding well in the past
That there’s no risk to you with releasing more funds at once

What It Means for Providers

Providers need to:

Understand how funding periods affect service delivery and claims
Align service dates with available funding
Avoid backdating claims (this will be rejected)
Build flexible service agreements that consider funding availability
Maintain regular communication with participants about budgets

Final Thoughts

Funding periods are here—and they’re one of the most significant changes to how the NDIS operates in recent years.

While they won’t reduce your overall budget, they do impact when and how you can use your funds.

If you’re feeling confused or overwhelmed, you’re not alone. The rollout is still evolving, and inconsistencies between plans are common.

Just remember:

🧠 Track your funding periods

🤝 Keep communication open with your providers

📅 Plan ahead where you can

📝 Reach out if something doesn’t feel right

We’ll keep watching how this plays out—and we’ll be sure to update you with any new changes as they come.

Want help navigating your plan or reviewing your funding setup?

Talk to your Plan Manager, Support Coordinator or LAC for information regarding your plan. If you need to find a Plan Manager or Support Coordinator, check out our NDIS Provider Directory here