Funding periods change when you can access your NDIS funding. Here’s how they work and what they mean for managing your budget.
If you’ve recently received a new NDIS Plan or had your plan reassessed, you may have noticed that your funding is now available in smaller amounts over time, rather than all at once.
This can take a little getting used to. How much can you spend now? When will more funding become available? And how do you make sure there’s enough for the supports you need?
We’ve received lots of questions about funding periods. So, we’ve gathered what we’ve learned from talking to Members, providers and support coordinators, along with answers to the most common questions.
What are NDIS 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.
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
- You can’t access funds from a future funding period early.
How long do funding periods last?
For most supports, funding periods are usually three months. They can also be one, 6 or 12 months, depending on your plan.
Different supports in your plan may have different funding periods.
- Supported Independent Living (SIL), Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) and plan management generally have one-month funding periods
- Home and Living or Assistance with Daily Living funding above $200,000 a year generally has one-month funding periods
- Plans with total funding below $15,000 a year usually have six-month funding periods
- Longer funding periods may be considered based on your preferences, support needs and how you’ve managed your funding previously.
What about supports with larger upfront costs?
For some supports with three-month funding periods, the full amount allocated to that support may become available in one period, rather than being spread across your plan. This may be your first funding period or the period before you need to buy the support.
These supports include:
- Assistive technology
- Vehicle modifications
- Home modifications
- Assistive technology repairs and maintenance
- Therapy related to these supports, such as an assessment to help work out which equipment you need
- Medium-term accommodation.
If you don’t use this funding, it will roll over to the next funding period within the same plan.
Why are there different amounts in some funding periods?
There are other supports where you may receive a larger amount at the start and smaller amounts later. This is sometimes called ‘front-loading’. It can help cover extra costs when you first get your supports in place, such as:
- Assessments or reports
- Developing a behaviour support plan
- Transition needs such as leaving hospital
- Initial set-up costs for a first plan
- Increased or intensive short-term supports
- Bulk purchase of consumables.
With enteral feeding products, 12 months of funding becomes available in the first funding period of each year of your plan.
Using funding flexibly over funding periods.
Any funding you don’t use will roll over to the next funding period within the same plan. If you need more supports than expected during a funding period, such as an emergency or change in your condition, you may be able to claim for them in the next period, provided:
- You and your providers agree to submit the claims in the next funding period
- Your providers agree to wait until then for payment
- You have enough funding to cover those claims and the supports you need for the rest of your plan.
Claims paid from the next funding period will leave less funding available for other supports. If you do need to claim from the next funding period, you need to review your service agreements and support schedules with your providers and make any adjustments needed to help your funding last.
If you’re plan managed, it’s a good idea to reach out to discuss this with your plan manager before engaging the services. They can also help you manage your budget to last the life of your plan.
Keep in mind that you can’t claim more than the total funding amount in your plan. If funds are running low, talk to your providers early to work through your 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 your supports within your budget.
You can choose what information to share. Before agreeing to supports, make sure you and your providers understand how much funding is available and how long it needs to last.
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 if your plan already includes funding periods.
When considering your request, the NDIS looks at:
- Your preferences and support needs, such as a degenerative condition with changing support needs
- Your history of using NDIS funding appropriately
- Any risks to you from making funding available over a longer period.
- Whether you’re likely to continue using the funding for NDIS supports and in line with your plan.
You can also discuss funding periods during your plan reassessment. Be ready to explain how a different funding schedule would help you access the supports you need.
Good to know: The NDIS has introduced new rules for requesting a plan reassessment before your scheduled reassessment date. Less significant or short-term changes to your support needs are now unlikely to be enough to qualify for a new plan. You must now show that your disability support needs have changed significantly and that the change is ongoing.
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.
