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 an invoice has come through.
What is changing?
The new 90-day timeframe is counted from the day your support was delivered. It does not start from the date the invoice was created or received.
So, if a provider delivers support on 10 December, the 90 days begin on 10 December.
The change comes from the Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Act 2026. Parliament passed the Bill on 19 August 2026, and it became law the following day.
This affects the time available to submit a claim. Other NDIS changes have their own start dates.
What does this mean for you?
If you have a plan manager, you will not usually submit claims yourself.
Here is how it normally works:
Your provider delivers a support.
A provider sends the invoice to your plan manager.
Your plan manager checks the invoice.
Your plan manager submits the claim.
Your provider is paid once the NDIA processes it.
The 90 days cover that whole process, not just the invoice arriving. So, an invoice that reaches us late in the window leaves less time for checking, any corrections, and submitting the claim.
This is why providers will need to send invoices soon after delivering supports.
If you pay for a support yourself and claim it back, the same 90 days apply. Sending us your receipt or invoice soon after the support is delivered gives us time to process it. The same goes for any invoice a provider hand to you directly.
Managing each invoice is your plan manager's job. Looking over your processed invoices every month or so can help you see which supports have been claimed.
One step you can take now
Think about the support you have received recently.
If a provider delivered a support but has not sent an invoice, you can ask them to send it to your plan manager. This is worth doing for supports delivered several weeks or months ago.
You can also ask your plan manager which invoices have arrived from your providers in recent weeks.
What we do when an invoice arrives
We check and correct invoices within 1 to 2 business days. This is our internal processing aim. The NDIA then process the claim, which adds to the overall payment timeframe.
We check details such as:
date the support was delivered
the support item
the rate charged
your details as the participant
the funding currently available
If an invoice needs more information, we will contact the provider and explain what is required. The provider can then update the invoice for further review. If we need to follow up, it may take longer to process the invoice.
Older NDIS claims may already need more time
Since 16 July 2026, the NDIA began applying extra checks to older claims. A claim that reaches them 6 months or more after the support was delivered goes through an additional round of checking.
Those checks can take up to 28 days, and the NDIA may ask for more information. The same applies to claims from self-managed participants, plan managers, and providers.
This is separate from the new 90-day claiming timeframe. Both point in the same direction: the sooner an invoice arrives, the more time there is to process it.
For more information, refer to the NDIS update Increasing integrity check on older claims.
How to check for an outstanding invoice
Your First2Care Plan Magic portal shows the invoices we have received and processed.
Look for:
providers you have used recently
supports you expected to see listed
services you receive regularly
invoices still being checked
Your Monthly Budget Statement also shows information about processed invoices and your plan-managed budget sits.
If you would like help checking this information, contact your First2Care team. We can confirm which invoices we have received and follow up with a provider where appropriate.
How First2Care can help
The new 90-day timeframe changes how long providers and plan managers have to complete the claiming process. It does not change your funding or your supports.
We will keep checking invoices and submitting claims for you, and we will let you know if something needs your attention.
Plan management is funded separately by the NDIA under Improved Life Choices in the Capacity Building Budget. It does not come out of the funding for your other supports, and it costs you nothing out of pocket.
If you would like us to check whether an invoice has arrived, call 1300 322 273 or email accounts@first2care.com.au. We are happy to look into it with you.
Frequently asked questions about the 90-day claiming timeframe
When does the 90-day claiming timeframe start?
It applies from December 2026.
What date does the 90 days count from?
The date the support was delivered. It does not count from the day the invoice was written or received.
Does the 90 days include the time it takes to process my invoice?
Yes. The 90 days cover the whole process, from the support being delivered through to the claim being submitted. This is why it helps for invoices to arrive soon after a support.
Do I need to submit claims myself?
Not if you have a plan manager. Your provider sends the invoice to them, and they check it and submit the claim.
What if I paid for a support myself
The same 90 days apply. Send your receipt or invoice to your plan manager soon after the support is delivered so there is time to process it.
Does this change my plan funding?
No. Your funding, your supports and your choice of providers all stay the same.
Can I still choose my own providers?
Yes. Who you work with and who manages your plan do not change.
