NDIS plan changes for 2026–27: budget resets, plan renewals and unspent funds

Here's what the Government and the NDIA have said about budget resets, what's protected, and how to get ready for your next plan.

Which NDIS budgets are being reduced?

In the 2026–27 Budget, the Government announced it would reset funding for some NDIS supports. The reset reduces the amount available in plans for:

• social, economic and community participation supports: by 50%
• improved daily living skills supports: by 10%.

(You may know these by their older names: social, civic and community participation, and capacity building daily activities.)

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing notes that this won't necessarily mean a 50% or 10% drop in what you spend, because many people don't use their whole allocation. Its own example: a participant with $50,000 a year for social and community participation who has been spending $30,000 would have $25,000 available after the change, so their actual spending is reduced by $5,000 a year.

What supports won't be affected?

The Department says other parts of your plan won't be impacted, including critical supports such as:

• supports in the home (for example help with eating, drinking, dressing, toileting, cleaning, community nursing care and medication)
• home and vehicle modifications
• personal mobility equipment and transport
• continence and menstrual consumables
• Specialist Disability Accommodation.

Some subgroups within the affected categories are also protected: supports in employment, disability-related health supports, high intensity supports, intensive and complex behaviour supports, customised and wearable technology, and hearing services.

When will my plan change?

It depends on when your plan is next created, reassessed or renewed:

• From 1 October 2026: the reset applies to new plans and to plans that are reassessed.
• From 1 February 2027: it applies when plans are renewed.
• By 30 September 2027: everyone with funding in these categories should have had the change applied.

Until then, you can keep using your current plan and supports. The Department says participants will be notified before their plan changes. For scheduled reassessments, the NDIA will contact you 2 to 3 months beforehand, and you can choose to meet by phone, video or face to face. For plan renewals, the NDIA will contact you 60 days before.

The reset doesn't apply to new framework plans, which start rolling out from 1 April 2027.

What is a plan renewal, and what happens to unspent funds?

From 1 February 2027, when a plan reaches its reassessment date, it will either be reassessed by an NDIA planner or a new plan will be created with the same supports as the old one. This is called a plan renewal, and it replaces the current "plan continuations".

Unspent funds from the previous plan won't be carried over. A renewed plan is a new plan with the same supports as your old plan.

Can I ask for a review or reassessment?

The Department says participants can't request a review of the budget reset itself. But you can still ask for an unscheduled plan reassessment if there's a significant and ongoing change in your circumstances or support needs.

Since 27 August 2026, the rules for unscheduled reassessments are tighter:

• only you, your plan nominee or your child representative can ask
• there must be a significant and ongoing change to your functional capacity and support needs, or to your living, education, work or informal support arrangements
• the NDIA has up to 90 days to decide whether to reassess your plan. If it doesn't decide in time, it's taken to have decided not to reassess, and you have review rights.

There's a new variation pathway for high support needs participants who need continuous 24-hour care, so that they can keep the supports that keep them safe at home.

What this means for you

1. Check your plan dates. Know when your plan is due for reassessment or renewal, so a change doesn't catch you by surprise.
2. Look at what you actually use. Compare your social and community participation and daily living skills spending with your allocation. Your plan manager's statements can help.
3. Talk to your providers early. If your budget in these categories will be lower, work with them on what matters most to you.
4. Don't count on unspent funds. From February 2027, unspent funds won't roll into a renewed plan.
5. Respond to the NDIA. From 1 October 2026, the NDIA can suspend a plan if a participant doesn't respond to requests for information, after at least 5 attempts over 3 to 4 months. Keep your contact details up to date.
6. Support coordinators: help participants prepare evidence of any significant changes in their needs well before a reassessment.

See also Got an NDIS reassessment or renewal coming up? What to expect, and how to read your new plan.