NDIS Funding Periods: What They Are & How to Make Them Work For You 

If you or someone you support has an NDIS plan approved after 9 October 2024, you may have noticed something new: funding periods. These changes have big implications for how you access and manage your supports—and understanding them is essential. 

What Are Funding Periods? 

Under the updated NDIS framework, your plan will include: 

• Funding component amounts – a set budget for specific supports or support categories. 

• Funding periods – the window of time during which certain funds become available and must be used. 

If your support claims exceed the budgeted amount for either the entire plan or a specific funding period, the NDIA will not pay for those supports—even if the services were delivered. 

This is a shift from previous years where overspending might have been quietly topped up. That’s no longer the case. By law, the NDIA can only pay for supports that fall within your approved plan and funding period. 

What Happens if You Overspend? 

Being blunt: once the money for a funding period is gone, it’s gone. You cannot access funds from future periods early, and supports delivered after funds run out will not be reimbursed. 

As our CEO and Founder Vickie puts it: 

“This is very helpful info that every participant—and especially their support coordinators—should know. But many don’t. The NDIA states pretty bluntly that if you overspend in a period and supports are still being delivered, they won’t be paid.” 

“But people’s lives don’t work neatly in periods. Support needs ebb and flow with life.” 

What You Can Do: Make the Plan Work for You 

Fortunately, there are ways to work within the rules and still keep your support flexible. Here’s what Vickie recommends you consider when speaking with your planner or NDIA representative: 

1. Unspent Funds Roll Forward

“What’s helpful to know is that any funds unspent from a particular period carry over to the next. So, if you underspend early on, you’ll have more flexibility later.” 

2. Request a Front-Loaded Budget

If you know your needs will fluctuate (e.g. report writing, sporadic therapy sessions), you can ask for your entire budget in key categories like Improved Daily Living (IDL) to be available in the first month of your plan. 

“Ask your planner to front-load all or some of your therapy or IDL budget. That way, you can manage your spending across the whole year—not just month to month.” 

This is especially helpful for: 

• Annual therapy reports 

• Ad-hoc therapy sessions 

• Strategic assessments 

3. Mid-Plan Adjustments Are Possible

Already started your plan? It’s not too late. 

“You can ask the NDIA at any time to move the remaining funds from a category into the next funding period, giving you more control.” 

4. Multi-Year Plans? Get Annual Funding in Advance

For participants receiving 2 to 5 year plans, you can request that each year’s worth of funding for a specific category be released in the anniversary month—or even all at once.

Final Thoughts 

Yes, the structure of funding periods can feel restrictive. But with knowledge and planning, you can make your NDIS plan more responsive to your actual needs.

“While the release of funds for each period is somewhat restrictive, you can request flexibility with reasonable grounds.” – Vickie, Founder of CSBS 

Need Support? 

If you think you’re at risk of overspending, or just want help navigating your plan: 

• Talk to your Support Coordinator, Local Area Coordinator, or Early Childhood Partner. 

• Call the NDIA on 1800 800 110. 

• Or contact our team at CSBS we’re here to help!