The new NDIS laws, explained
In August 2026 Parliament passed the biggest changes to the NDIS in years. They arrive in stages until 2028. Here's what is changing, when, and what it means for the people we work with and for social workers.
One new law, rolled out over three years
On 19 August 2026, Parliament passed the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026. It changes who can access the NDIS, how plans are made and managed, how funding can be used, how providers deliver supports, how the NDIA tackles fraud, and how prices are set.
Participants can keep using their plan and supports as usual.
Some budgets start to be reset, as plans are reassessed or renewed.
Eligibility changes start. They do not start before then.
The NDIA says it will tell each participant what is changing for them, when, and where to get support.
Some things stay the same
Essential supports stay
- Personal care
- Assistive technology
- Home modifications
- Employment supports
- Specialist Disability Accommodation
Participants can still
- Ask for a plan reassessment or a plan variation
- Ask for a review of a decision
- Get into the NDIS if they have a permanent and significant disability
What changes, and when
Dates are the NDIA's own. Some reforms are still being designed with the community, so details may change.
- In effect now
Plan reassessments have a new process
From 27 August 2026
Only the participant, their plan nominee or child representative can ask for a plan reassessment, using the new request form. A participant can no longer give consent for someone else, such as a provider, to ask for them. A reassessment is for a significant and ongoing change in functional capacity, support needs, or living, education, work or informal support arrangements. Short-term or urgent changes still go through a plan variation.
- In effect now
The Minister sets NDIS prices
Now
Current prices continue. The Minister for Disability and the NDIS can now make a pricing determination that sets the maximum amounts for supports, with advice from the NDIA's Annual Pricing Review.
Records, compliance and automation
Coming soon
Participants must keep records of supports and payments for 3 years, nominees for 5 years and providers for 7 years. The NDIA gets stronger powers to ask for information, and can issue civil penalties to people who don't comply. Some admin tasks, like claims and payments, can be automated, with safeguards. NDIA staff still make decisions that need judgement, such as plans, and the NDIA must publish where automation is used.
Budgets reset, and plans can be suspended
From 1 October 2026
Budgets for social, civic and community participation and for capacity building daily activities will be reset as plans are reassessed or renewed. There will be a new variation pathway for people who need continuous 24-hour care. The NDIA may suspend a plan if a participant doesn't respond to requests for information, but only after at least 5 attempts to contact them, through their preferred method, spread over 3 to 4 months.
90 days to claim
From 1 December 2026
Claims must be submitted within 90 days of delivering a support.
Plan renewals and new "reasonable and necessary" rules
From February 2027
When a plan is due, it is either reassessed or renewed with the same supports. Renewals replace "plan continuations", and unspent funds won't carry over. New criteria decide which supports are reasonable and necessary, applied to current participants when their plans are reassessed.
A new way of planning
From April 2027
Plans will start to be based on a support needs assessment of functional capacity, life stage and environment, which is used to set plan budgets. It will not decide who can access the NDIS.
More providers must register
From July 2027
Providers of personal care, daily living supports and supports in closed settings will need to register. Participants getting higher-risk supports must use registered providers. Unregistered providers can still deliver lower-risk supports.
A panel of plan managers
From October 2027
Participants will choose a plan manager from an NDIA panel. Anyone using a plan manager not on the panel gets 6 months to move.
New access rules
From January 2028
New applicants are assessed with a new standardised, evidence-based assessment of functional capacity. It brings more consistent checks of whether an impairment is permanent or can be treated, and of access to other compensation schemes. Existing participants are reassessed over 3 years.
Support coordination moves out of plans
From July 2028
Support coordination will no longer be funded through plans. Instead, the NDIA will directly commission providers to deliver a new support coordination and connection service, and help participants move across.
How many of us will this affect? Help us count.
Many social workers do Level 2 and Level 3 support coordination or NDIS social work, the work these changes hit hardest. Nobody has counted how many of us, and the people we support, they will touch. Our 3-minute Pulse survey is the first step in Fair Go's campaign on the NDIS reforms. Answers in by Friday 25 September 2026 will shape our submission to the government. We'll publish the combined results here.
Take the PulseConsultation is still open on key details
The NDIA is consulting the community on:
- commissioning home and living supports for people who need 24/7 support
- expanding different pricing for unregistered providers
- market reforms for social and community participation and capacity building
- updated rules for the new way of planning
- a new eligibility process for access to the NDIS
Have your say on NDIS Engage. Participants, families and carers can also join Participant First there. The NDIA is paying participants to help test the new way of planning: see engage.ndis.gov.au/testplanning.
Sources and help
This summary is based on the NDIA presentation An overview of changes to the NDIS laws (National Disability Insurance Agency, 2026). It is general information, not legal or financial advice. Always check the latest details on ndis.gov.au, which also has the plan reassessment request form and Easy Read resources.
Contact the NDIA
Phone 1800 800 110 · Email enquiries@ndis.gov.au
TTY 1800 555 677 · Voice Relay 1800 555 727 · Translating and Interpreting Service 131 450
Fair Go for Social Work is independent. We are not part of the NDIA or the AASW. Updated 23 September 2026.
What this means in practice
Social workers work across the NDIS: as support coordinators, in hospitals and mental health, in child and family services, and alongside the people who fall through the gaps. These are the changes most likely to touch your practice.
Reassessment requests
Budgets being reset
Plan suspensions
Records and claims
Support needs assessments
Support coordination
Why this matters to Fair Go
Social workers see the whole person: the diagnosis, and the rent, the empty fridge and the loneliness. As these reforms roll out, we want to hear how they land in practice, so the profession can speak up with one clear voice. Share your story or tell us what you're seeing.