You’ve looked at your new NDIS plan, or on the portal, but something doesn’t add up. You were told you had a full year of funding, but only part of it seems to be available? You try to pay a subscription or a one-off invoice and get told your funding has “run out,” even though the plan’s only just started.
This is one of the most common points of confusion right now: NDIS funding periods.
They don’t affect how much funding you’re given, but they absolutely affect how and when you can spend it.
Let’s break down what’s actually going on, what these funding periods are, how they’re applied, and what to do if your plan’s structure is stopping you from accessing supports you need.
What Are Funding Periods, and Why Have They Changed?
As of 19 May 2025, the NDIA began rolling out a change to how funding is displayed and released. Instead of giving participants access to their full 12-month budget upfront, many plans are now split into smaller funding periods. These may be:
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Monthly
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Quarterly (every 3 months)
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Six-monthly
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Or, in some cases, upfront in full (usually for one-off purchases)
The official purpose is to help participants manage budgets more safely and evenly across the plan. But underneath that, there’s a broader structural shift. The NDIA has received a clear directive from government to slow the growth of the Scheme. That pressure has filtered down to individual planners, policy settings, and system design.
When funding is split into smaller release windows, the NDIA can track usage earlier in the plan and intervene before the full budget is spent.
What Determines Which Period You Get?
There’s no single rule, and most plans include a mix.
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Core supports are often split quarterly
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Ongoing services like SIL or plan management may be funded monthly
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One-off purchases like Assistive Technology are often released in full at the start of the plan
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Therapy or assessments due early in the plan may be front-loaded
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Capacity Building supports may be split across six-month blocks, especially in longer plans
This means a single plan might include:
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$3,000 of OT funding available straight away
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$1,200 per quarter for community participation
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$850 per month for transport
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$10,000 upfront for Assistive Technology
It can look messy and inconsistent, because in many cases it is. And this detail is rarely explained clearly at planning meetings.
Real Examples From the Ground
Example 1: A blocked therapy subscription
Dean’s OT recommends a $720 therapy app billed annually. His plan has enough total funding, but only $500 is available in the first quarter. The payment is declined. His plan manager needs to submit a manual override request.
Example 2: SIL funded monthly
Fatima receives SIL supports through a shared living arrangement. Her provider bills monthly, and the NDIA releases funding on the same schedule. She never sees the full year's budget, only what becomes available each month.
Example 3: OT review front-loaded
Marcus is due for a functional assessment at the start of his plan. His Capacity Building budget includes a $2,400 chunk allocated right away for the OT report. The rest of his therapy budget is spread out over the rest of the year.
Example 4: Community camp blocked by quarterly funding
Amy books a supported community camp costing $1,800. Her quarterly allocation for community access is $1,300. Even though she has over $5,000 available across the year, the system blocks the claim.
What Happens if You Try to Invoice More Than the Period’s Budget?
If you submit an invoice during your first funding period that’s higher than the amount available for that period, the NDIS portal will reject it, even if your total annual budget covers the cost. You cannot “borrow” from future periods within the same claim.
Example:
Your Core budget is $1,400 per quarter, running January to March.
You book an STA that costs $1,600 and the service is provided in February.
Because the service dates fall within that first quarter, you cannot have invoices totalling more than $1,400 for that time period. The system will block it, even though your yearly budget is much higher.
Now, let’s say you only spent $1,000 during January to March. When April to June starts, your new $1,400 quarterly allocation is added to the $400 you didn’t spend in the first quarter. This means you could spend up to $1,800 during April to June, because unspent funds from earlier periods roll forward and combine with the next period’s funds.
In this STA example, the options would be:
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Revise the cost down to fit within $1,400 for the first quarter
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Reschedule so that some or all of the services occur after the first quarter ends, allowing the higher combined balance to cover the cost
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Have your plan manager request a manual override from the NDIA (note: approval is not guaranteed)
This is why understanding your funding periods matters, the timing of when services are delivered can be just as important as your total budget.
Can You Still Pay Big or Annual Invoices?
Yes, but it might take some extra steps.
1. Ask for a manual override
Plan managers or support coordinators can request the NDIA pay an invoice that exceeds the current period’s funding, as long as the total plan budget covers it. You’ll need:
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A copy of the invoice or quote
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A brief explanation of why it needs to be paid now
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Confirmation that it fits within your total annual budget
These requests are sometimes approved quickly, other times not at all. It depends on the item, the planner, and how clear the documentation is.
2. Ask your provider to break up the invoice
If your funding is split into quarters, a provider may be able to invoice quarterly instead of billing for the full year upfront. This is more likely with subscriptions or repeat services. But larger organisations might not have flexibility in how they bill.
3. Time the payment to line up with funding
Some participants choose to delay purchases until the next funding period unlocks. Others find ways to structure support agreements to match available funds. This only works when the timing is flexible, which isn’t always the case.
4. Self-manage and reimburse (if possible)
Self-managed participants can often pay upfront and then claim reimbursement across multiple periods. This requires the financial means to pay first and isn't allowed for NDIA-managed budgets.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
This isn't just a system issue, it's a policy one. The NDIA is under national pressure to contain costs. That has led to:
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Smaller funding periods
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More conservative planning decisions
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Early intervention if someone appears to be overspending
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Delays in large payments or one-off purchases
Your total funding amount might be fair. But the timing of your access to it is increasingly shaped by system-level priorities.
What You Can Do
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Ask your support coordinator or plan manager to explain your plan's funding periods
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Talk to providers early if you expect a large or time-sensitive expense
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Keep clear invoices and quotes
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If something gets blocked, request a manual override
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Track your plan calendar so you know when the next period begins
And even if you don’t have a coordinator or don’t work with us, you’re still welcome to reach out. We’re happy to help clarify things if you’re stuck.
Final Thoughts
NDIS funding periods don’t change your total plan value. But they can shape how smoothly your supports are delivered. If your plan feels like it’s working against you, it might be a structural issue, not a personal one.
You don’t have to navigate that alone.