📆 What Are the New NDIS Funding Periods?

🕒 Approx. 4-minute read | 📣 Updated July 2025
📖 Part of our “NDIS Explained” series
🧩 Written for: NDIS participants, families & support coordinators

🔍 As of 19 May 2025, the NDIS has introduced funding periods — a new way to release your funding bit by bit, instead of all at once.

Don’t worry — your total funding hasn’t changed. You’re just getting it in smarter chunks.

Let’s break it down.

🗓️ So… What’s a Funding Period?

A funding period is a mini time block inside your plan.

Instead of getting your full year’s budget on day one, the NDIA now gives it to you in scheduled portions throughout the year — kind of like paydays for your plan!

It’s all about:

• 🧠 Better budgeting

• 💡 Avoiding blowouts

• ⏳ Making your supports last the full plan

📅 How Often Will I Get My Funds?

There are three ways your funding might be released:

📦 Monthly
Perfect for people who use regular supports like Supported Independent Living (SIL). You’ll get a fresh drop of funding each month — like a refill!

📦 Quarterly
The most common option. Your plan releases funding every 3 months. If you don’t use it all in one quarter, it rolls into the next one (but not into your next plan).

📦 Annual
In some cases (like a one-off item or if your needs are stable), you might get the whole year upfront. This is handy for big things like assistive tech or home modifications.

💬 Can you request a certain option?
Yes! At your planning meeting or reassessment, you can ask for a release style that suits how you use supports.

🧭 Why Did This Change?

The NDIA wants to:

• Help you budget steadily

• Avoid supports running out too early

• Make support more predictable throughout the year

They’re not trying to make life harder — they’re trying to make funding last longer and work better.

🔄 Real-Life Example (Made Simple)

Imagine you get $12,000 in Core Supports, and your plan starts 1 July 2025.

With quarterly release, that’s:

• 🗓️ July–Sept: $3,000

• 🗓️ Oct–Dec: $3,000

• 🗓️ Jan–Mar: $3,000

• 🗓️ Apr–Jun: $3,000

Didn’t use all of it in Quarter 1?
✅ Great — it rolls into Quarter 2.

Didn’t use it by the end of your plan?
❌ Sadly, it doesn’t carry over into your next plan. Use it or lose it!

⚠️ What If I Spend Too Much or Too Little?

Overspend?
You’ll have to wait until your next funding release.

Underspend?
Your unspent amount rolls into the next period, but not the next plan year.

Think of it like phone data — you can carry it forward for a bit, but not forever!

📌 Quick Facts to Know

• You still get your full plan amount — just not all at once.

• This only applies after your plan is reassessed.

• Your Core, Capacity Building, and Capital budgets might each have different funding periods.

• You can request front-loaded funding if you know you need supports early (like big therapy blocks or urgent equipment).

🧠 How to Stay On Top of It

✔️ Talk to your Support Coordinator about your preferred release method
✔️ Use the My NDIS app or portal to check what’s available
✔️ Budget weekly or monthly so you’re not caught short
✔️ Keep an eye on any support changes — they might affect your funding needs
✔️ Don’t wait until your plan ends — prepare for reviews early!

👥 How We Can Help at MySupport Co.

🛠️ We’ll help build a funding plan that suits you
🔍 We’ll check in before each new funding period drops
🔄 We’ll help request changes if your needs change mid-plan

✅ Final Thoughts

Funding periods might be new, but they’re here to help:

• ⏱️ Spread supports evenly

• 💰 Prevent mid-year blowouts

• 💪 Give you more control and structure

And don’t stress — if your plan hasn’t been reassessed yet, your funding is still working the same as always.

Got questions? That’s what we’re here for.

📞 Need Help or Have Questions?

Whether you're unsure how funding periods affect you, want help planning your supports, or just need a second pair of eyes on your budget — we're here to support you.

Contact MySupport Co. today and let’s make your plan work smarter, not harder.