From 1 October 2026, funding for two groups of NDIS supports is being reset. If you, or someone you support, uses community participation or daily living skills supports, it's worth understanding what's changing, when it will apply to your plan, and what stays the same. This guide sets out the key points in plain language, based on the Australian Government's published information.
What is changing
The Government announced in the 2026-27 Budget that it would reset funding for:
- Social, economic and community participation supports (previously called "social, civic and community participation"), and
- Improved daily living skills supports (previously called "capacity building daily activities").
When the change is applied to a plan, the budget for these supports is reduced. The NDIA says the impact will be different for each participant, so the best guide to your own situation is your new plan when it arrives.
When it applies to your plan
The change doesn't happen to every plan on 1 October. It's applied gradually over 12 months, when a plan is created, reassessed or renewed:
- From 1 October 2026, it applies to new plans and to plan reassessments.
- From 1 February 2027, it also applies to plan renewals. Participants who haven't had a new or reassessed plan by then will have their plan renewed by 30 September 2027, and the NDIA says it will contact people 60 days before a renewal.
Until your plan is reassessed or renewed, you can keep using your current plan and supports as normal. You'll be told how much your funding for these supports has changed when you receive your new plan.
What isn't affected
Only these two categories are affected. Other parts of a plan, including supports in the home (like help with personal care, meals and medication), home and vehicle modifications, mobility equipment, continence products and Specialist Disability Accommodation, are not affected.
Within the two categories, some supports are also excluded from the reduction, including supports in employment, disability-related health supports, high intensity supports, intensive and complex behaviour supports, customised and wearable technology, and hearing services. The NDIA checks for these itself, and you don't need to provide anything extra.
Safeguards for people with high support needs
A new plan variation pathway has been created for eligible participants with 24-hour disability support needs, so that a reduction doesn't affect the funding they need to stay safe. All participants can also still ask for a plan variation or reassessment if there's a significant and ongoing change in their circumstances or support needs.
It's worth knowing that the funding change itself can't be reviewed, and a reduction on its own isn't treated as a change in circumstances. If your needs have genuinely changed, for example a change in living arrangements, work, study or the informal support you get from family, that is something you can raise.
How to plan ahead
Every plan is different, and many people don't spend their whole budget, so the practical impact will vary. A few steps can help:
- Look at what you actually use. Check how much of your community participation and daily living skills funding you've been using, not just what's allocated.
- Talk to your providers early. Ask how your current supports could be arranged within a smaller budget, for example group-based programs alongside one-to-one support.
- Keep your goals clear. Being clear about what matters most to you makes it easier to prioritise supports when your new plan arrives.
- Use your Support Coordinator. If you have support coordination in your plan, they can help you understand your new budget and connect you with supports that fit.
How Tenax Supports can help
Tenax Supports is a registered NDIS provider in Tarneit, supporting participants across Melbourne and Victoria. Our community access, day programs and life skills teams can talk you through how your supports could look under your new plan, with no obligation. For the official details, see the NDIA's Changes to support budgets from 1 October page and the Government's Funding changes for NDIS supports factsheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the NDIS funding changes start?
The changes begin from 1 October 2026 and are applied gradually over 12 months as plans are created, reassessed or renewed. Plan renewals start to be affected from 1 February 2027.
Which NDIS supports are affected?
Budgets for Social, Economic and Community Participation and Improved Daily Living Skills supports are reduced when the change is applied to a plan. The impact is different for each participant, and other parts of a plan are not affected.
Are employment supports affected?
No. Supports in employment are one of the subgroups excluded from the reduction, along with disability-related health supports, high intensity supports, intensive and complex behaviour supports, customised and wearable technology, and hearing services.
Will my current plan change on 1 October?
No. You can keep using your current plan and supports until your plan is reassessed or renewed. You'll be told how your funding has changed when you receive your new plan.
Can I ask for a review of the reduction?
The funding change itself can't be reviewed. However, you can still request a plan variation or reassessment if there's a significant and ongoing change in your circumstances or support needs, and eligible participants with 24-hour support needs have a dedicated variation pathway.
Want to talk through how your supports could look under your next plan? Contact Tenax Supports on 03 7018 8666 or through our enquiry page.