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NDIS Funding Periods Explained: How They Work
Your NDIS plan may have funding periods. These control when different parts of your funding become available.
Think of your NDIS plan like a book. Your total budget is the whole story, but your funding is made available one chapter at a time.
Here's what you need to know.
What is an NDIS funding period?
A funding period is a set amount of time when part of your NDIS funding is available to use. Funding periods were introduced gradually from 19 May 2025.
Many funding periods are three months long, but yours may be different.
Your plan will show:
- When each funding period starts and ends.
- How much funding is available in each period.
- Which supports the funding covers.
Different parts of your plan may have different funding periods.
Read the NDIS guide to funding periods.
How do NDIS funding periods work?
Imagine you have $12,000 for a support over 12 months. Your plan might divide this into four equal funding periods.
That would mean:
- First three months: $3,000 becomes available.
- Next three months: Another $3,000 becomes available.
- Third three months: Another $3,000 becomes available.
- Final three months: Another $3,000 becomes available.
This is only an example. Your plan may use different amounts or dates.
Funding periods don't reduce your total plan budget. They control when you can use it.
What happens if I don't spend all my funding?
Unused funding generally carries forward into your next funding period within the same plan.
Think of it like carrying money left over from one month's household budget into the next.
For example:
- You have $3,000 available in your first period.
- You spend $2,200.
- You have $800 left.
- Your next period adds another $3,000.
You would then have $3,800 available for that part of your plan, assuming no other claims or restrictions affect the balance.
Important: Unused funding does not carry over into a new NDIS plan.
What happens if I run out of funding early?
If you use all the funding available for a period, you generally need to wait until the next period before more becomes available.
You can't simply bring future funding forward yourself.
In some cases, a provider may agree to wait and claim a support in a later funding period, where the NDIS claiming rules allow it.
This isn't automatic. You should check the rules and your available funding before making an agreement.
If your funding no longer meets your needs, contact the NDIA to discuss your options.
How do I check my funding periods?
You can check your funding periods by:
- Reading the funding information in your NDIS plan.
- Using the my NDIS app or participant portal.
- Asking your plan manager to explain your available balances and dates.
It's also worth checking whether any invoices are still waiting to be paid.
Need help keeping track of your NDIS funding?
Kismet Healthcare helps plan-managed participants track their budgets and manage eligible provider invoices.
Learn more about Kismet Plan Management.