The NDIS is in the middle of some of the biggest changes since it began, and 2025 is a turning point. If you’re an NDIS participant, family member, carer, or support coordinator, you’ve probably heard about the new NDIS planning framework being introduced. But with so many updates, delays, and reform proposals floating around, it can be hard to know what’s real, what’s changing, and what actually affects you.
In this guide, we break down the NDIS planning reforms expected in 2025 and beyond: what’s already happening, what’s coming soon, and how to prepare.
Why Is the NDIS Changing Its Planning Framework?
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is rolling out a new way of building NDIS plans. One that’s more focused on a person’s actual support needs instead of their diagnosis or history.
At the heart of this change is the Support Needs Assessment. This assessment looks at how your disability impacts your daily life (not just your medical diagnosis) to help build an NDIS plan that allows you to live as independently as possible.
For many people, this will feel like a fairer and more accurate way to receive NDIS supports. Instead of relying on what you’ve had before, your new plan will be based on what you truly need now.
NDIS Reforms Already in Effect (2024–2025)
Before we dive into what’s coming in 2026, let’s look at the NDIS changes already introduced or confirmed to start soon.
1. New Definition of “NDIS Supports” (October 2024)
From 3 October 2024, the NDIS Act changed the legal definition of what counts as an NDIS-funded support.
Only supports that are directly related to your impairments, which meet the disability requirement or early intervention requirement, can now be funded. This helps draw a clearer line between what the NDIS will cover vs. what’s the responsibility of mainstream services like health or education.
2. Introduction of Impairment Notices (January 2025)
From 1 January 2025, every NDIS participant will start receiving an impairment notice.
This notice outlines which of your impairments have been formally accepted by the NDIA under the scheme’s eligibility rules. These impairments will become the basis for your NDIS plan and funding going forward.
If you’re already a participant, you’ll get your impairment notice during your next plan reassessment. If you want to know how to access your impairment notice, book a free consultation with our team and we’ll help arrange it for you.
3. NDIS Funding Periods (May 2025)
Starting 19 May 2025, NDIS funding periods were introduced. Instead of receiving your entire NDIS plan budget all at once, your funding will be released in scheduled instalments. Either monthly or quarterly.
This change is designed to:
- Make NDIS budgeting easier
- Reduce underspending or overspending
- Ensure supports are used when you need them most
Don’t worry, this doesn’t reduce your overall budget. It simply changes how your funds are made available.
4. Legal, Eligibility and Rule Changes (Ongoing)
Several legal and administrative reforms are also now in place:
- When you apply for the NDIS, you’ll be told clearly whether you meet the disability requirement, early intervention requirement, or both.
- The NDIA now has clearer powers to:
- Define excluded supports
- Substitute supports where needed
- Reassess eligibility when circumstances change (e.g., at age 9)
- Lay out smoother transitions between plans
These changes set the legal groundwork for future NDIS planning reforms in 2026.
What’s Coming in 2026: The Big NDIS Planning Reforms
The biggest planning reforms, including new framework plans and needs-based budgets, were originally planned for 2025. However, they’ve now been delayed to mid-2026 to allow more time for consultation, co-design, and smoother rollout.
Here’s what to expect:
1. New Framework Plans & Support Needs Assessments
Under the new planning framework, every NDIS plan will be built using a Support Needs Assessment. Your plan will be based on:
- Your functional needs (not just diagnosis)
- Your accepted impairments (listed in your impairment notice)
- A flexible, whole-of-life approach to funding
Instead of fixed line items, you’ll get a more adaptable budget tailored to your needs. The transition to this new format will begin gradually from mid-2026.
2. Flexible Budgets Based on Your Goals
No more overly rigid budgets split into dozens of line items.
The new system allows you to allocate funds more flexibly between supports (within guidelines), depending on your goals and what matters most to you at different times.
More control. More choice. Same safeguards.
3. Supports Must Link to Accepted Impairments
From 2026, any support included in your plan must clearly relate to an impairment listed on your impairment notice.
If it doesn’t, the NDIA may:
- Exclude that support
- Ask for a substitution
- Require further evidence
That’s why understanding your impairment notice and documenting your needs will be more important than ever.
4. Gradual Rollout and Participant Protections
The NDIA has confirmed that the rollout will be staged to avoid confusion or disruption.
- Your current plan will remain active
- You can keep accessing supports
- You won’t be forced to change overnight
There will also be co-design sessions and clear information shared ahead of rollout to help participants, carers and providers adjust.
Frequently Asked Questions About NDIS Planning Reforms
Q1: When does the new NDIS planning framework start?
The new framework plans were delayed from late 2025 to mid-2026. You’ll stay on your current plan until your next reassessment, then transition when ready.
Q2: Will my current NDIS plan change right away?
No. Your current plan stays the same until it ends or is reassessed. The changes apply when you enter a new planning cycle from 2026 onward.
Q3: What’s the difference between funding periods and flexible budgets?
- Funding periods = how often your money is released (monthly, quarterly)
- Flexible budgets = how your money can be used (more choice across supports)
They work together, not against each other.
Q4: Will I lose any supports?
You might, if a support can’t be clearly linked to an accepted impairment. But the NDIA has promised transition support and safeguards to help you adjust. If you’d like to understand the NDIS impairment eligibility, book a free 15-minute consultation. Our team will answer any of your questions.
Q5: How can I get ready for the NDIS reforms?
Here are 5 practical steps to take:
- Request and read your impairment notice
- Track how you use your current supports
- Write down your goals and day-to-day challenges
- Work with a support coordinator or planner
- Plan your spending under funding periods
Stay Informed, Stay Empowered
The NDIS planning reforms of 2025–2026 represent a huge shift. But they’re designed to work for you by creating a fairer, clearer and more flexible system for everyone. We’re here to help you navigate these changes with clarity and confidence. If you need help reviewing your current NDIS plan or impairment notice, book a free consultation with a Support Coordinator.