From 1 October 2026, the NDIS began reducing two budget categories in participant plans. The reductions do not apply to every plan on 1 October. They apply when your plan is created, reassessed or renewed. We want to hear from you if this affects you, if you didn’t know your plan was changing after a ‘check-in’ with NDIS, etc. 

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What is changing

Budget category Name in the new law Reduction
Social, civic and community participation Assistance with social, economic and community participation 50%
Capacity building daily activities Improved daily living skills 10%

These are not cuts to your whole plan. The reductions apply only to affected budget allocations in these two categories. The effect on you depends on your plan and how much of the budget you currently use.

Why the changes are happening

Parliament passed the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026 in August 2026. The Government says the changes make the NDIS more consistent with other support programs. The Minister made legal instruments that start on 1 October to reduce these two categories (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, 2026).

Supports that are not reduced

The reductions do not apply to:

  • Supports in the home, such as help with dressing, toileting, medication and community nursing
  • Home and vehicle modifications
  • Personal mobility equipment and transport
  • Specialist Disability Accommodation
  • Employment supports
  • Disability-related health supports
  • High intensity supports
  • Intensive and complex behaviour supports
  • Customised and wearable technology
  • Hearing services

The NDIA checks your plan for these supports. You do not need to send extra information.

When the reductions reach your plan

  • From 1 October 2026: new plans, scheduled reassessments, reassessments started by the NDIA, and approved requests for reassessment.
  • From 1 February 2027: plan renewals.
  • By 30 September 2027: the Government says plans with affected funding will have been renewed by this date.

The NDIA says it will contact you 60 days before a plan renewal. Until your plan is reassessed or renewed, you can keep using your current plan.

What matters is the date your new plan starts.

If it starts on or after 1 October 2026, the reductions can apply, even if the reassessment began earlier. The reductions can also apply if the NDIA decides your support needs have not changed (People with Disability Australia [PWDA], 2026).

Reviews & reassessments

You cannot ask for a review of the 50% or 10% reduction itself. Other NDIA decisions about your plan may still have review rights, so check each decision letter.

A reduction on its own is not a reason to request a reassessment or plan variation. If your needs have changed in a significant and ongoing way, you can still ask for a reassessment. If the NDIA agrees, the reductions can apply to the new plan. Consider getting advocacy support before you decide.

Support for 24-hour disability supports

If a reduction leaves you without enough funding for 24-hour disability supports, you may qualify for a plan variation. You need NDIS-funded support throughout the day and night. You also need at least $215,030 across specified support budgets before the reduction. You generally must ask within 90 days of the reduction being applied. The NDIA has up to 21 days to decide if you are eligible and up to 21 more days to decide on the variation (PWDA, 2026).

What this means for people with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s symptoms can change from day to day and hour to hour. We know this, but a plan reassessment or renewal looks at your evidence of support needs. Evidence that only names a diagnosis does not show what you need to help complete your daily activities.

When you prepare for a reassessment or renewal, record:

  • What support you need, how much and how often
  • What happens when you do not have that support
  • How your symptoms change across the day, including off periods
  • What you can do safely and reliably over time, not only on a good day, what you can do off your meds or on your worse day

What you can do now

  • Keep your current plan, NDIA decisions and any health-related reports
  • Note your plan end date
  • When the NDIA contacts you, ask whether it is a reassessment, renewal or variation, and ask for these details in writing (n.b. if they contact you and you are not prepared, ask them to call at a later time when you can have a support person or advocate with you and your information at hand)
  • Read your new plan carefully and check what changed
  • Contact the Disability Gateway on 1800 643 787 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm AEDT/AEST) for advocacy services.

Links

References

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. (2026, September). Funding changes for NDIS supports [Fact sheet]. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-09/funding-changes-for-ndis-supports.pdf

People with Disability Australia. (2026, October 1). More NDIS changes from 1 October: What you need to know. https://pwd.org.au/more-ndis-changes-from-1-october-what-you-need-to-know/

 

This information is best available to this date but always check with NDIS to confirm your specific situation.

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