Funding changes for NDIS supports: Safeguards for high support needs participants.
In the 2026-27 Budget, the Australian Government announced it would reset funding for some NDIS supports from 1 October 2026.
This will reduce the amount available in participant’s plans for:
- social, economic and community participation supports by 50%,
- improved daily living skills supports by 10%.
These changes will be introduced gradually over 12 months from 1 October 2026.
Changes to funding will impact all participants who receive funding for these kinds of supports.
A separate guide explains how this change will be implemented.
A new plan variation pathway has been created for high support needs participants with 24-hour disability support needs.
This variation pathway makes sure participants continue to have sufficient funding to safely meet their 24-hour disability support needs.
Who is eligible to apply for a plan variation.
The new plan variation pathway will be open to high support needs participants who receive 24-hour funded NDIS supports.
This means they receive NDIS funding for supports available throughout the day and night to meet their needs.
This might include shared supports, individual supports and overnight assistance.
A participant has high support needs if:
- Their total plan budget for Assistance with Daily Life, Home and Living, and Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation is $215,030 or more, and
- They receive 24-hour funded NDIS supports.
If a participant is not eligible, they can still request a variation or unscheduled plan reassessment at any time if they experience a significant and ongoing change in their circumstances, support needs or functional capacity.
How plan variations will be implemented.
High support needs participants can apply for a plan variation within 90 days of their social, economic and community participation and improved daily living skills supports funding being reduced.
A plan variation can only be requested by the participant or their nominee.
If a participant does not have a nominee, they can be assisted by another person, such as a support worker or advocate.
A participant may receive a plan variation if:
- the funding available in their plan is no longer enough to maintain safe 24-hour disability supports; and
- the funding available in the participant's plan is not enough to maintain the support ratio required to meet their disability support needs.
The NDIA will have 21 days to decide if a participant meets the criteria for a high support needs participant or notify them if more time is needed.
If the participant is eligible, the NDIA will have 21 days to decide whether to vary the plan or advise that more time is required.
If the participant’s plan is varied, the NDIA may increase funding for specific supports to ensure their 24-hour disability supports are safely maintained.
The increase will not be more than the amount their funding was reduced by.
Review rights.
Participants can request a review of decisions made under the high support needs plan variation pathway.
This includes decisions about whether they meet the definition of a high support needs participant and whether a plan variation is approved.
This is the summary of Funding changes for NDIS supports: Safeguards for high support needs participants.