Funding periods may impact when and how you can spend your NDIS budget. Here’s everything you need to know.
We’ve received lots of questions about funding periods in NDIS Plans. So, we’ve gathered what we’ve learned from talking to Members, providers and support coordinators, along with answers to the most common questions.
A recap on funding periods.
Funding periods determine how funds are released in NDIS Plans. Instead of receiving all your funding at the start of your plan, you’ll get smaller portions in stages. Each portion is released at the beginning of a funding period. When one period ends, the next portion becomes available.
Do funding periods affect how much is in my NDIS Plan?
No. Funding periods don’t change your total NDIS budget. They divide it up to release funding gradually.
How do funding periods work?
Your NDIS Plan includes a total funding amount that is allocated to all of your supports over the life of your plan.
- At the start of each funding period, a portion of funds is released
- Unspent funds roll over from one funding period to the next within the same plan
- The date you receive a support determines which funding period you claim from
- You can’t access funds from a future funding period early, but in urgent situations, the NDIA may bring forward funds at its discretion (this won’t increase your total budget).
Top tip. Check out Funding periods in practice: What we’re seeing in new plans to see examples of funding periods in action and learn more about how funding periods are working in practice.
How long do funding periods last?
The default for most supports is three months. However, funding periods can also be:
- 1 month
- 6 months
- 12 months.
They can’t be more than 12 months, even in a two- or three-year plan.
Exceptions to the three-month default:
- Home and Living supports, Supported Disability Accommodation and plan management: 1 month
- Daily supports (like in-home care) consider the number of days in each period, including weekends and holidays
- Support coordination and recovery coaches: usually 3 months, sometimes 12 months
- For assistive technology, home/vehicle modification or medium-term accommodation, these may be fully funded at the start.
Why are there different amounts in some funding periods?
Some supports are ‘front-loaded’, meaning more funding is available in the first period to cover early or one-off costs such as:
- Assessments or reports
- Developing a behaviour support plan (within the NDIS-required 30 days)
- Irregular Supported Independent Living (SIL) supports
- Yearly supply of enteral feeding products
- Transition needs such as leaving hospital
- Initial set-up costs for a first plan
- Increased or intensive short-term supports
- Bulk purchase of consumables.
What if I run out of funds in my current funding period?
You can only use funds from your current funding period (plus any unspent funds from previous periods). You can’t use funds from future periods, even if you have money left in your total budget.
It’s a good idea to agree with providers at the start of each period what supports will be delivered. If funds are running low, talk to your providers early to work through options.
Can providers change the service date to the next funding period?
No. The service date on an invoice must match the date the service was delivered. This is a legal NDIS requirement.
My providers are asking about my funding periods. What should I do?
Providers may ask for this information to help them plan supports within your budget.
Only share information you’re comfortable with and make sure your providers understand your available budget before agreeing to supports.
With your consent, plan managers and support coordinators can see your funding period details in the provider portal. You can also share the PDF version of your plan, but keep in mind that it won’t show real-time funding balances.
Can I change the funding periods in my plan?
You can request longer funding periods via a plan variation. Longer funding periods may be considered if all of the following apply:
- You have a specific reason (such as a degenerative condition with changing support needs)
- You have a history of using NDIS funding appropriately
- There’s no identified risk to you in releasing the funds for a longer period
- You’re likely to continue spending the funding as intended.
Planners can approve non-standard funding periods during plan reassessments, but they need to justify the change so be ready to explain your reasons clearly.
Good to know: Under proposed NDIS reforms, unscheduled plan reassessments will only be allowed if there is a significant change in your circumstances or support needs.
Making your funding last.
Funding periods are designed to help you pace your spending so you have funds when you need them across the life of your plan. If you’re unsure how to manage your funds across periods, Leap in! plan management can help.
To contact us, please call our friendly crew on 1300 05 78 78, email [email protected] or chat with us online.
