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What is Funding periods?

Also known as: NDIS funding periods

A funding period is the time in which part of a participant's NDIS plan funding becomes available to spend. From 19 May 2025, new and reassessed plans usually have three-month funding periods. Unspent funding rolls over within the same plan, but a claim cannot be paid if it exceeds the funding available in the current period.

Funding periods were introduced by changes to the NDIS Act in October 2024, when new and reassessed plans had 12-month periods. They change when funding becomes available, not the total amount of funding in the plan.

How funding periods work

A plan sets a total funding amount, funding component amounts and funding periods. A funding period can apply to the whole plan or to a single funding component. The plan states when each period starts and ends and how much is available in it.

Funding is not always split evenly. In an NDIA example, a participant's everyday supports are released in equal three-month amounts, while their assistive technology funding sits entirely in the first period so it can be bought straight away.

Rollover and limits

  • Funding not spent in one period rolls over into the next period of the same plan.
  • Unspent funding does not carry into a new plan after a reassessment.
  • A support cannot be claimed if it would mean spending more than is available in the funding period for that funding component.

How the NDIA sets them

The NDIA sets the length and amount of funding periods in line with NDIS law, taking into account the participant's preferences, any risk of overspending, and any risk of harm, fraud or financial exploitation. Participants are not affected until they receive a new or reassessed plan.

What providers should do

  • Check the period dates and amounts before rostering regular supports.
  • Avoid front-loading hours early in a period if it would leave the participant short later.
  • Claim promptly so balances stay accurate.
  • If funding looks likely to run out before the period ends, raise it early with the participant, their support coordinator or recovery coach.

How Rostery helps

Rostery checks a participant's funding before a shift is confirmed, which helps you spot a roster that would run past what the plan has available.

Questions people ask

How long are NDIS funding periods?

From 19 May 2025, new and reassessed plans usually have three-month funding periods. Earlier plans made since October 2024 had 12-month periods.

Does unspent NDIS funding roll over?

Yes, into the next funding period of the same plan. It does not carry over into a new plan after a reassessment.

What happens if a claim is more than the funding in the period?

The claim cannot be paid. A support cannot be claimed if it would mean spending more than the funding available in that funding period.

Do funding periods reduce a participant's total funding?

No. They only change when funding becomes available, not the total amount in the plan.

Checked against the official sources on 2 October 2026. Rules change: confirm the current position with the agency before you rely on it.

Related terms

NDISThe NDIS is Australia’s national scheme for funding supports for people with permanent and significant disability. Each participant receives an individual plan with funded budgets, and chooses the providers who deliver their supports. It is administered by the National Disability Insurance Agency and funds around 700,000 Australians.Plan managementPlan management is where a registered plan manager holds and pays a participant’s NDIS funding on their behalf. The plan manager receives provider invoices, checks them against the participant’s budget and the price guide, claims from the NDIA, and pays the provider — while the participant keeps full choice of provider.Self-managementSelf-management is where an NDIS participant, or their nominee, manages their own plan funding. They choose and pay providers directly, claim payment from the NDIA, and keep records and receipts. Self-managing participants can use registered or unregistered providers, and the NDIS price limits do not apply to self-managed funding.Bulk payment requestA bulk payment request is the CSV file a registered NDIS provider uploads to the myplace portal to claim for many supports at once. Each row carries the participant’s NDIS number, the support item number, service dates, quantity and price. The NDIA validates the file and returns a result per line.Core SupportsCore Supports is the NDIS budget category funding everyday assistance: personal care, help with household tasks, community participation, transport, and consumables. It is the most flexible category — funding generally moves freely between most Core support items — and it is where the majority of a typical participant’s plan sits.Capital SupportsCapital Supports is the NDIS budget category funding one-off, higher-cost items: assistive technology, home and vehicle modifications, and Specialist Disability Accommodation. Funding is tied to specific approved items, usually requires a quote and often an allied health assessment, and cannot be spent on anything else.

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