Will my NDIS plan change now?

Not automatically. Different reforms start at different times. The NDIA says it will let you know if a confirmed change affects you.

Has the 90-day claiming timeframe started?

Not yet. It is expected to begin in December 2026.

Can I change plan managers before the panel begins?

Yes. You can compare registered plan managers and change providers if your current service does not meet your needs. Check the notice and cancellation terms in your service agreement first.

Updated Oct 2026 • 8 min read

The Future of NDIS Plan Management in Australia

Q: Do I need to change plan managers now?

No. You can keep using your current registered plan manager under the current arrangements. If your plan manager is not selected for the panel, you will have a six-month transition period from October 2027 to move to a panel provider.

The NDIS is changing in stages through to 2028. Some reforms are already in effect. Others have confirmed start dates or are still being developed.

For participants, the practical questions are: what is changing, when will it happen, and do you need to do anything now?

You can keep using your current plan and supports while these reforms are introduced. This article explains the changes most relevant to plan management, including support budgets, claiming timeframes, pricing and the new plan management provider panel.

In this guide

01

Where is NDIS plan management now

02

The NDIS laws have passed: what is changing, and when

03

What these changes may mean for you

04

Claiming timeframes: what's changing

06

How technology supports plan management

07

What to check with your plan manager

08

How First2care can help

09

Frequently asked questions

05

Why independent plan management still matters

Where NDIS plan management is now

Plan management is still an established NDIS support. A registered plan manager handles the financial side of your plan. This can include checking and submitting claims, paying providers, keeping records and helping you understand your budget.

You still decide on your providers, supports and goals. You can learn more in First2Care’s complete guide to NDIS plan management.

Every plan manager must be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Services can still differ between plan managers, so clear communication, reliable invoice processing and useful budget information remain important.

What is changing, and when?

The Australian Parliament passed the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 on 19 August 2026. It became law the following day.

The changes are being introduced in stages. The dates most relevant to plan management are:

From 27 August 2026: Changes to plan reassessments, record keeping, pricing decisions, and some administrative actions.
From 1 October 2026: Reductions began applying to some supports within the Social, Economic, and Community Participation and Improved Daily Living Skills support categories.
From December 2026: Claims will generally need to be submitted within 90 days after a support is delivered.
From February 2027: Plan renewals begin replacing plan continuations. Unspent funding will not carry over when a plan is renewed.
From April 2027: The NDIA expects to begin introducing its new way of planning gradually.
From October 2027: The plan management provider panel is expected to begin, followed by a six-month transition period.
From January 2028: Changes to NDIS access will begin for new applicants. Existing participants will be reassessed over three years.
From April 2028: The transition to the plan management provider panel is expected to be complete.

The NDIA's information about the new NDIS laws provides the official reform timeline and current implementation information. The NDIA says participants can continue using their plans and supports and will receive information if a confirmed changed affects them.

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What the support budget changes may mean for you

From 1 October 2026, reductions began applying to some supports within:

Social, Economic and Community Participation
Improved Daily Living Skills

The reductions are being introduced over 12 months. They apply as plans are created or reassessed from 1 October 2027, and to plans renewed from 1 February 2027.

The effect will be different for each participant, because each plan is based on the person's goals, circumstances and support needs.

Some groups of supports in these categories are not included in the reductions. These include specified employment supports, disability-related health supports, high intensity supports, intensive and complex behaviour supports, customised and wearable technology, and hearing services. Other parts of participant plans are not affected by these reductions.

The budget reduction itself is not a reviewable decision. However, you can still ask for a plan variation or reassessment if your circumstances have changed in a significant and ongoing way.

If you receive a new, reassessed or renewed plan, check the funding amounts in each category so you know what is available for your supports.

What stays the same for now

You can keep using your current NDIS plan and supports. You do not need to ask for a new plan because of an announcement alone.

The NDIA expects to introduce its new way of planning gradually from April 2027, so not every participant will move to the new approach at the same time. If a confirm change applies to you, the NDIA says it will let you know what is changing and when.

Claiming timeframes: what is changing?

From December 2026, claims will generally need to be submitted within 90 days after a support is delivered.

This makes timely and accurate invoicing more important. Providers should send invoices soon after delivering a support. Invoices should clearly show the service, delivery date, cost and other details needed to process the claim.

Plan managers should keep clear records and identify missing or incorrect invoice information promptly.

The 90-day timeframe is separate from the NDIA's check on older claims that began in July 2026. The older-claim checks and the December 2026 claiming timeframe are different measures.

Provider can refer to practical guide to NDIS payment timeframes and guide to NDIS support categories and accurate invoicing.

What is happening with NDIS price limits

Under the new laws, the Minister for Disability and the NDIS now sets NDIS price limits, with advice from the NDIA. The first price limits under the new laws were set on 24 December 2026, and they match the pricing guidance the NDIA had already published.

The Government is also consulting the disability community about whether price limits should differ for registered and unregistered providers. Plan management lets you use both, so this may affect how far your budget goes if it goes ahead. No decision has been made yet.

What is the plan management provider panel

The NDIA plans to set up a trusted panel for plan management providers by 1 October 2027. After that, participants who use plan management will need to use a provider from the panel. The NDIA has also said it is changing how plan management services are priced, designed and delivered.

The published timeline is:

From October 2026: the NDIA will ask the plan managers for feedback through a Request for Information on AusTender.
From April 2027: the Request for Tender is expected to open.
From June 2027: the tender is expected to close, followed by assessment of applications.
From October 2027: the panel is expected to launch, with a six-month transition period.
From April 2028: the transition period is expected to end.

If your plan manager is not selected for the panel, the NDIA says it will support you to move to a panel provider during the transition period.

Many practical details are still being developed, including how participants will choose from providers on the panel and how individual transitions will work.

Why your choice of plan manager still matters

A plan manager should help you understand how your funding is being used. This includes giving you current budget information, explaining invoice issues and answering your questions.

Your plan manager should also keep accurate records and contact you when an invoice is missing information or cannot be claimed.

Until the panel begins, you can continue choosing from registered plan managers. If your current service does not meet your needs, First2Care's guide to switching NDIS plan managers explains what to check in your service agreement before you change.

What to check with your plan manager

Consider asking:

How can I check my current budget and recent spending?
Can I see which invoices have been received, processed and paid?
Will you contact me if an invoice is incomplete or cannot be claimed?
How are claim and payment records kept?
How are you preparing for the 90-day claiming timeframe?
Will you update me when more information about the provider panel is confirmed?

Clear answers can help you decide whether the service still meets your needs.

How First2Care can help

First2Care processes invoices, keeps accurate claim records and gives you a regular updates on your budget. If an invoice is missing details, we follow up so it can be processed within the new 90-day claiming timeframe.

As the NDIA confirms more about the plan management provider panel, we will let you know what it means for you and whether you need to do anything.

Plan management is funded separately by the NDIA under Improved Life Choices, within Capacity Building. It does not come out of your other supports and costs you nothing out of pocket. To learn more, refer to Is NDIS Plan Management Really Free? The Honest Answer.

FAQ About NDIS Plan Management

Talk to First2Care about plan management

The future of NDIS plan management is becoming clearer, and the changes are happening step by step rather than all at once.

You can keep using your current plan, supports and registered plan manager for now. Keep an eye on official updates, ask your plan manager clear questions, and take action when a confirmed change applies to you.

If you would like to understand what this changes mean for you, contact us on 1300 322 273. We can explain the available information and answer questions about plan management.

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NDIS Claims Will Have a New 90-Day Timeframe

From December 2026, there will be less time to claim the NDIS supports. A claim will need to be submitted within 90 days from the day the support was delivered. The current timeframe is 2 years. For most participants, this will be an administrative change. Your funding stays the same, so do your supports. Your providers and plan manager are the ones working on the new timeframe. This article explains what the change means to you, who submits claims, and how to check whether a

Payment Safeguards: How to Approve or Pause an Invoice with First2Care

Many of our clients will have noticed a change in how invoice notification emails from First2Care appear, with the option to quickly approve an invoice or pause it. We want those approvals to feel straightforward, and this is one of the ways we are making it easier to stay across what is being claimed against your plan. This article explains what you need to know about these changes and how they help protect your NDIS plan funds.

Illustration of two people beside a large wall calendar with days ticked, showing how NDIS funding periods work.

NDIS Funding Periods: When Your Funding Becomes Available

Your NDIS plan set out how much funding you have for the whole plan. If your plan uses funding periods, you get that funding a bit at a time rather than all at once. NDIS funding periods do not affect the total funding allocated for your plan. They only change when you access each part of it. This article explains how funding periods work, what happens to funding you do not use, and what to do if you need more support than expected. It also covers how we keep track of what is

First2Care is a registered NDIS plan management provider (ABN: 24 601 046 155), registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. This article is for general information purposes. For advice specific to your individual plan, please speak with your NDIA planner, Local Area Coordinator, or the First2Care team on 1300 322 273.

The Future of NDIS Plan Management in Australia

In this guide

01

02

03

04

06

07

08

09

05

Where NDIS plan management is now

What is changing, and when?

What the support budget changes may mean for you

What stays the same for now

Claiming timeframes: what is changing?

What is happening with NDIS price limits

What is the plan management provider panel

Why your choice of plan manager still matters

What to check with your plan manager

How First2Care can help

FAQ About NDIS Plan Management

Do I need to change plan managers now?

Will my NDIS plan change now?

Has the 90 day claiming timeframe started?

Can I change plan managers before the panel begins?

Talk to First2Care about plan management

Read more from First2Care

NDIS Claims Will Have a New 90-Day Timeframe

Payment Safeguards: How to Approve or Pause an Invoice with First2Care

NDIS Funding Periods: When Your Funding Becomes Available