The short answer
From 1 October 2026, two NDIS budget categories are being reduced: Social, Economic and Community Participation (by 50%) and Improved Daily Living Skills (by 10%). The change applies as plans are created or reassessed from 1 October 2026, or renewed from 1 February 2027, and all affected plans are to be renewed by 30 September 2027.
You'll be told before it applies to you, and you can keep using your current plan until then. Many supports aren't affected, including supports in the home and Specialist Disability Accommodation.
Supports that are not affected
The official examples of supports that don't change include:
- supports in the home, such as help with eating, drinking, dressing, toileting, laundry and cleaning
- home and vehicle modifications
- personal mobility equipment and transport
- continence and menstrual consumables
- Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Parts of the two categories that stay the same
Some sub-groups inside the two reduced categories are not affected: supports in employment, disability-related health supports, high intensity supports, intensive and complex behaviour supports, customised and wearable technology, and hearing services.
Psych Connect NDIS Support delivers standard supports and is not registered for high intensity daily personal activities.
When it will apply to you
Nothing changes in your current plan straight away. The reduction is applied when your plan is created or reassessed from 1 October 2026, or renewed from 1 February 2027. The NDIA will let you know ahead of time. The change doesn't apply to plans under the NDIS's new planning framework, which starts its transition from 1 April 2027.
Not sure how the changes affect your hours?
Text us and we'll go through your plan with you.
Can I ask for a review?
The reduction itself can't be reviewed. You can still ask for a plan reassessment or variation if your situation changes in a significant and ongoing way, but the reduction on its own doesn't count as that kind of change.
A new pathway for people with 24-hour supports
There is a new plan variation pathway for participants with high support needs who have 24-hour funded supports.
It applies if your Assistance with Daily Life, Home and Living and Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation funding added up to $215,030 or more before the reset, which the government says is about the same as 24-hour support shared between three people.
- You, or your nominee, ask for it within 90 days of the reset being applied. A support worker or advocate can help you ask.
- The NDIA decides whether you're eligible within 21 days, then has a further 21 days to decide the variation.
- Any increase is limited to what you need, can never be more than the reduction, and can only be to daily living or home and living funding.
- Decisions under this pathway can be reviewed.
The government's own worked example is a person living in Supported Independent Living, so if you have SIL with 24-hour support, this pathway is worth knowing about.
What it means for community access
Our community access support is usually funded from the Social, Economic and Community Participation category. If that budget is reduced at your next plan reassessment or renewal, it's worth planning early: which outings and activities matter most, and what can be built into routines or supports that aren't affected.
Your support coordinator can help you work through your new plan, and we're happy to talk through what's realistic within it. Within the funding you have, you keep choice and control: you still choose which supports to use and who provides them. Only the amount in the two reduced categories changes.
If you have SIL
SIL is funded from the Home and Living part of a plan, which is not one of the two reduced categories. If you have SIL with 24-hour support and your community participation funding is reduced, check whether you're eligible for the new variation pathway above. Read more about Supported Independent Living.
Common questions
Which NDIS budgets are reduced from October 2026?
Social, Economic and Community Participation is reduced by 50% and Improved Daily Living Skills by 10%, as plans are created or reassessed from 1 October 2026, or renewed from 1 February 2027.
Is SIL affected by the October 2026 changes?
SIL is funded from the Home and Living part of a plan, which is not one of the two reduced categories. Supports in the home and Specialist Disability Accommodation are among the supports not affected.
Can I ask for a review of the reduction?
The reduction itself can't be reviewed. You can still ask for a plan reassessment or variation if your situation changes in a significant and ongoing way.
What is the new pathway for people with 24-hour supports?
A plan variation pathway for participants with 24-hour funded supports whose daily life, home and living and community participation funding added up to $215,030 or more before the reset. You ask within 90 days of the reset being applied.
Sources
- NDIA news, Changes to support budgets from 1 October (1 Oct 2026). www.ndis.gov.au (checked 7 Nov 2026)
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Changes to support budgets for NDIS participants (22 Sep 2026). www.health.gov.au (checked 7 Nov 2026)
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Funding changes for NDIS supports (updated 24 Sep 2026). www.health.gov.au (checked 7 Nov 2026)