New NDIS Laws
New NDIS Laws: What's changing and what it means for your family
On 19 August 2026, Parliament passed new NDIS laws, and the first changes started on 27 August 2026.
If you're a parent, carer or autistic adult on the NDIS, you don't need to read the legislation to understand what's coming. You need someone to translate it. That's what this guide is for.
We'll keep updating you as more details are confirmed, and we've linked directly to the NDIS's own pages throughout so you can check anything for yourself.
Correct as of 3 September 2026.
The short version
- Parliament passed the Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Bill on 19 August 2026. It was signed by the Governor-General on 20 August.
- The first changes started on 27 August 2026. More changes will roll out gradually through to 2028.
- Over time, these laws will change how people access the NDIS, how plans are created, how funding is used, and how providers operate.
- Eligibility changes for new applicants will not start until 1 January 2028. People with permanent and significant disability will continue to be able to access the NDIS.
- Right now, you can keep using your plan and your supports as usual.
Nothing changes for your plan today
Keep using your plan and your supports as you normally would. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has said that if a change affects you, they'll tell you what's happening, when, and give you the information and support you need.
It's also worth knowing that plan budgets naturally go up and down over time as a participant's needs change. That's normal, and it isn't connected to these reforms.
What's changing right now
A handful of changes started straight away. These apply to everyone on the NDIS, including autistic adults and children.
Plan reassessment requests work differently
Only a participant, their plan nominee, or their child representative can now ask for an early plan reassessment.
To ask for one, you'll need to:
- fill in the correct reassessment form (available on the NDIS website)
- explain what's changed and why a reassessment is needed
- include evidence, which may need to come from a GP or another health professional.
You can still ask for a reassessment when there's a significant, ongoing change to functional capacity and support needs, or to living, education, work or informal support arrangements. Once the NDIA has what it needs, it has 90 days to decide whether to reassess your plan, not reassess it, or vary it instead.
If your situation is urgent, minor, or short-term, you don't need a full reassessment. A plan variation is still the right pathway, and you can also contact the NDIA directly to talk through what you need.
Record keeping rules are stricter
How long records of supports and payments need to be kept has changed:
- 3 years for participants
- 5 years for nominees
- 7 years for providers
If you can't show that funding was used correctly, you may be asked to pay some of it back. If you manage your own plan, it's worth getting into the habit of keeping receipts and invoices in a place where you can find them.
Stronger compliance powers
The NDIA now has stronger information-gathering and enforcement powers to deal with fraud and non-compliance. Participants and providers may need to give information when asked, and providers may face penalties if they don't.
Pricing decisions
The Minister can now set maximum prices for NDIS supports, advised by an Annual Pricing Review. There's no immediate change to prices.
Some admin gets automated
Claims and payment processing can now be automated, with oversight in place. Complex or discretionary decisions, the ones that need a human judgement call, will still be made by people.
What's changing over the next few months (October 2026 to February 2027)
Budgets can reset, and plans can be paused (from October 2026)
Budgets for social, civic and community participation, and for capacity building daily activities, will be progressively reset as plans are reassessed or renewed. This won't happen all at once. It happens as each individual plan comes up for review.
A new plan variation pathway is also opening for participants who need continuous 24-hour care.
Plans can be suspended if a participant doesn't respond to requests for information, but only after at least five attempts have been made to contact them.
Claims must be submitted within 90 days (from December 2026)
From December 2026, claims for a support must be submitted within 90 days of that support being delivered. If you're plan-managed or self-managed, this is a good one to flag with anyone submitting invoices on your behalf.
'Plan renewals' replace plan continuations (from February 2027)
From February 2027, 'plan renewals' will replace what used to be called plan continuations. Two things to know:
- Unspent funds from a previous plan won't carry over into the new one.
- There will be new criteria for what counts as a reasonable and necessary support, with clearer guidelines on what a parent is expected to provide themselves.
Still ahead (2027 to 2028)
These are further out, and some of the details are still being worked through with the disability community. Here's the timeline as it currently stands.
April 2027: A new way of planning starts being introduced.
July 2027: Mandatory registration expands to more providers.
October 2027: Plan management provider panels begin, with a 6-month transition period.
January 2028: Access changes for new applicants start, including a standardised, evidence-based functional capacity assessment. Existing participants will be reassessed over three years.
July 2028: A new commissioned support co-ordination and connection function begins.
Frequently asked questions
What does this mean for my family right now?
For most families, very little changes immediately. Your current plan continues to work as it does today. The changes that started on 27 August mainly affect how reassessment requests are made, how long records must be kept, and certain behind-the-scenes compliance and administrative processes.
The changes that will affect day-to-day budgets, like the reset of social and community participation funding, will apply from October 2026 onward, and only as each plan is reassessed or renewed.
What if my child is 8 or under?
From 1 October 2026, children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism, and with low to moderate support needs, will start to access support through Thriving Kids instead of the NDIS. This is a new, jointly funded program delivered through the states and territories, and it's expected to be fully rolled out by 1 January 2028. Source: NDIS, Thriving Kids
Importantly, children with permanent and significant disability, including autistic children with high support needs, will continue to be eligible for the NDIS under the usual arrangements. Being autistic doesn't automatically place a child in Thriving Kids. It depends on their individual level of support need, assessed on their usual reassessment or renewal.
If your child is already on the NDIS, no one will move them off it before Thriving Kids services are actually in place in your area.
I'm an autistic adult on the NDIS. Does the new changes to the NDIS affect me?
Yes, the changes to the NDIS will apply to you in the same way they apply to any other participant: the new plan reassessment process, the record-keeping rules, the 90-day claims window, and eventually the plan renewal and access changes from 2027 onward.
The access changes coming in January 2028 (the standardised functional capacity assessment) will apply to new applicants first, with existing participants reassessed over three years from that date. Right now, there's no change to how your eligibility or plan is assessed.
How do I ask for an early plan reassessment now?
Only you, your plan nominee, or your child representative can make the request. You'll need to use the correct form, explain what's changed, and provide evidence, which may include a letter or report from a GP or health professional. The NDIA then has 90 days to make a decision. Source: NDIS, Changes to plan reassessments
What if I need my NDIS plan changed urgently?
If your situation is urgent, minor or short-term, a full reassessment isn't the right tool. Ask for a plan variation instead, or speak with your my NDIS contact about what type of change fits your situation.
Where to check for updates
This is a fast-moving area, and some pages on the NDIS website are still being updated to reflect the new legislation. For the most current information, these are good places to check directly:
