Top 5 Things Providers Need to Know about the 2026 NDIS Changes

Five NDIS changes that affect how providers deliver, claim and keep records. The next big deadline is 1 December 2026.

In this resource

1. Funding periods: what if a client runs out?
2. 90-day claiming from 1 December
3. New allied health line items
4. SIL mandatory registration
5. 7-year record keeping

1. Funding periods: what if a client runs out?

New to funding periods? Start with our guide: NDIS Funding Periods – What Providers Need to Know.

What's changed: if a client runs out of funds in the current period, you can keep delivering supports and claim them from the next funding period, as long as the participant agrees.

• The support must fall within the same plan dates.
• The next period must have enough funds to cover it.
• You can only lodge the claim once the next period opens.
• From 1 December, the claim must still be within 90 days of delivery.

What to do: get funding period dates at intake (only plan managers and support coordinators can see them), and agree in writing before delivering into the next period.

2. 90-day claiming from 1 December 2026

What's changed: for supports delivered on or after 1 December 2026, claims must be lodged within 90 days of delivery, down from 2 years. Late claims are rejected automatically, and the rule covers agency, plan and self-managed clients.

What to do:

• Invoice weekly, and send plan-managed invoices within days. Their 90 days start at delivery, not when they receive your invoice.
• Clear any backlog of older claims now. Since 15 October, claims lodged more than 90 days after delivery can be held for up to 28 days for extra checks, and the NDIA hasn't confirmed a grace period.

For a full explainer, see Plan Hero's What is the NDIS 90 day claiming rule?

3. New allied health line items

What's changed: since 1 July 2026, therapy providers can't use a single line item for every part of their service. Delivery, travel, reports, cancellations and telehealth each have their own item number: the therapy item number plus a suffix.

What to do:

• Bill each part of your service (session, travel, report, cancellation) on its own line under the correct item. Plan managers won't pay invoices that bundle them.
• Update your software, invoice templates and service agreements to the new item numbers.
• Brief participants and plan managers so invoices aren't queried.

For the full list of 2026–27 changes, including prices and suffix rates, see New Update: NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits – July 2026.

4. SIL mandatory registration

What's changed: since 1 July 2026, every SIL provider must be registered with the NDIS Commission, regardless of size. The application deadline for unregistered providers was 1 October 2026. Existing SIL registrations were varied automatically to the new class, 0138.

What to do:

• Claim SIL delivered from 1 July 2026 under the 0138 items (0115 only for earlier supports).
• Prepare for audit against the new SIL Practice Standards.

5. 7-year record keeping

What's changed: since 27 August 2026, providers must keep records of NDIS supports and payments for 7 years. Civil penalties apply, and the NDIA now has stronger powers to check claims.

What to do: make sure case notes, timesheets, service agreements and invoices are linked to each claim and can be retrieved for 7 years.

For what each record must include, see Plan Hero's What records must I keep of my NDIS spending.

Also on the radar

These changes may affect your caseload and revenue over the next 12 months.

General information only, current at 28 October 2026. NDIS rules change often; check the NDIA and NDIS Commission for the latest guidance.