If you’ve recently received a new NDIS plan or you're delivering services under one you might have noticed something different. The full budget isn’t there anymore. That’s because the NDIS has introduced funding periods, and it’s changing how plans are managed, how services are scheduled, and when providers get paid. This blog is for both participants and providers. If you use or deliver NDIS services, here’s what you need to know.

What Are Funding Periods?

Funding periods are a new way of managing NDIS budgets. Instead of giving participants access to the full plan amount upfront, the money is now released in stages across the life of the plan. Most funding periods run for about three months (90 days). At the start of each period, a portion of the budget becomes available. When that period ends, the next chunk is unlocked. If funds weren’t spent during a previous period, they usually carry over but only for the life of the plan.

Why It Matters for Participants

Before this change, your full annual budget was available from day one. Now, you might log in to the NDIS portal and see less money than expected. That doesn’t mean you’ve lost funding. It just means it’s being released in smaller blocks.

Here’s what this means for you:

• You can only spend what's available now or from earlier periods
• You can’t book services too far ahead if the money hasn’t been released yet
• You may need to check in with your provider regularly to plan supports around the release schedule

Why It Matters for Providers

For providers, funding periods mean you need to be more careful about when you deliver supports and when you invoice. You’ll only be paid if the service date falls within a funding period that has funds available. The NDIS pays based on the date of service, not the invoice date. If a support is delivered before a period starts or if invoicing is delayed too long claims may be rejected.

That means providers need to track:

• Service delivery dates
• Funding period schedules
• Plan reassessments and changes
• How much has already been used in each period

What We're Seeing in Real Plans

Plans are coming out in different formats. Some have:

• One funding period for the whole plan
• Multiple periods divided by support category (like Core or Capacity Building)
• Session-based allocations (e.g. “5 x OT sessions this quarter”)
• Monthly periods for Home and Living supports
• Each participant’s plan is a little different, so you can't assume they all work the same way

Examples by Support Type

We’ve noticed a few common trends across new plans:

• Support Coordination: Often front-loaded, meaning more funds are released early in the plan to help with setup
• Therapies: Some plans now list a specific number of sessions per period (e.g. 4 physio sessions per quarter)
• Capital Supports (e.g. equipment): Often fully available in the first period
• Home and Living Supports: Usually released monthly in 12 instalments over the year