If you’ve heard that the NDIS is changing in 2026 and you’re feeling uncertain about what it means for your plan, your funding, or your supports — you are absolutely not alone.

Across Australia, NDIS participants, families, and caregivers are asking the same questions: What exactly is changing? Will my funding be affected? Do I need to do anything right now?

The short answer is: your current plan is safe, and you don’t need to panic. But understanding what’s coming — and what it means for you — will put you in a much stronger position when the time comes.

At Velvet Care Community Services, we are a registered NDIS provider in Adelaide, and we’ve done the research so you don’t have to. Here’s everything you need to know about the biggest NDIS planning changes in a decade — explained in plain, simple language.

Why Is the NDIS Changing in 2026?

The Australian Government is not changing the NDIS because it isn’t working — it’s changing because thousands of participants, families, carers, and providers told the Independent Review of the NDIS that the planning process needed to improve.

Many participants reported that the current system needed to become fairer, more consistent, and easier to understand. The NDIS Review found that to make the scheme more person-centred, we need clearer assessment processes, more transparent funding decisions, and greater flexibility in how plans are structured and used.

The result is a brand new approach called New Framework Planning — the most significant reform to the NDIS since the scheme launched in 2013.

When Exactly Are the Changes Happening?

The new planning rules officially commence on 1 July 2026, with a gradual transition beginning from that date. The original start date was September 2025, but the government extended the timeline after listening to the disability community — more time means better delivery and less disruption for participants.

Here’s the most important thing to understand: this is a phased rollout. Most participants will not see these changes for a while. Your current NDIS plan and supports will continue as usual, and you will be contacted well in advance before anything changes for you personally.

What Is New Framework Planning?

New Framework Planning is a completely refreshed way of building NDIS plans. The core idea represents a powerful shift in focus — away from measuring what you can’t do, and towards understanding the real supports you need to live your life fully.

Rather than lengthy functional assessments based on limitations, the new approach centres on a structured, human conversation about your everyday life, your goals, and the support that genuinely helps you thrive. It is a strengths-based, person-centred model — and it’s long overdue.

The 5 Biggest Changes You Need to Understand

1. A New Way of Assessing Your Support Needs

One of the most significant changes is how your support needs will be assessed before your plan is built.

Instead of relying heavily on stacks of reports from multiple clinicians, a trained NDIA assessor will meet with you directly to understand your life, your circumstances, and your disability-related support needs.

The assessor will have a structured conversation with you about your daily life — what support you currently use, what you find difficult, and what goals you are working towards. Critically, you can bring your family, your support coordinator, a carer, or any trusted person to that assessment with you.

This is designed to be a genuinely human conversation — not a cold clinical checklist.

2. A Simpler, More Flexible Funding Structure

Currently, your NDIS plan funding is divided into three separate budgets: Core Supports, Capacity Building, and Capital Supports. Under the new framework, this changes to a much simpler two-category system:

• Flexible Funding — money you can use across a broad range of NDIS-approved supports, giving you greater choice and control over where your budget goes
• Stated Funding — money specifically designated for particular supports that require qualified providers, such as specialist therapies or Supported Independent Living

For many participants, flexible funding means more freedom to direct your budget where it matters most in your daily life — rather than being locked into rigid categories that don’t reflect how you actually live week to week.

3. Longer Plan Periods — Fewer Reviews

One of the most welcome changes for many participants and families will be longer plan durations.

Under the new framework, plans will last longer — meaning fewer reviews, less paperwork, and more time to simply get on with life and make use of your supports.

If you’ve ever found the plan review process exhausting, stressful, or disruptive to your routine — this change is directly aimed at improving your experience. The goal is to give you more stability and certainty in your day-to-day life.

4. Greater Transparency in How Your Budget Is Calculated

One of the most common frustrations participants and families raise about the current NDIS system is not understanding why their plan contains a certain funding amount — or why it sometimes changes unexpectedly between reviews.

Under the new framework, participants will receive a clear explanation alongside their plan showing exactly how their budget was calculated from the support needs assessment. You will be able to see the direct connection between what you told the assessor and what ended up in your plan — creating far greater transparency and trust in the entire process.

No more guessing. No more confusion. Just clarity.

5. Your Rights Are Not Changing

This point deserves its own section — because it matters deeply.

New Framework Planning changes how plans are built. It does not change your fundamental rights as an NDIS participant.

You still have the full right to:

• Request a plan review if your needs or circumstances change
• Challenge a funding decision through internal review or the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART)
• Choose your own provider — and change providers at any time
• Be treated with dignity and respect throughout every interaction with the NDIA
• Be fully informed about your plan, your funding, and your options

Choice, control, and fairness remain at the absolute heart of the NDIS — and that is not changing in 2026.

Who Will Be Affected First?

The new framework is designed for adult NDIS participants aged 18 and over. Children under 18 will not be part of these changes at this stage — separate planning processes for younger participants are being developed independently.

From 1 July 2026, the NDIA will begin transitioning a small number of participants to New Framework Planning. The rollout will be gradual and phased over a number of years, meaning the majority of participants will not experience changes immediately.

You will receive direct communication from the NDIA when it is your turn — your current plan stays fully in place until then.

What Does This Mean for Your SIL or Accommodation Support?

If you currently receive — or are actively exploring — Supported Independent Living (SIL), Short-Term Accommodation (STA), or other NDIS accommodation supports, the 2026 changes are particularly relevant to you.

Under the new framework, SIL funding will be classified as stated funding — meaning it remains specifically protected and purposefully allocated to your supported living arrangement. This actually provides greater stability for participants currently in SIL, as your housing and daily support funding cannot be redirected to other budget areas.

For participants considering SIL for the first time, the new support needs assessment process may make it easier to clearly and accurately demonstrate your daily living support requirements — which can strengthen your case for SIL inclusion in your plan.

This is exactly why working with an experienced, trusted local SIL provider in Adelaide now — before the new framework fully rolls out — puts you in the strongest possible position heading into 2026 and beyond.

What Should You Do Right Now?

The honest answer is: there is no urgent action required today. Your current plan remains in place, and nothing changes for you without advance notice from the NDIA.

But here is what we genuinely recommend to help you prepare:

Stay informed — Follow updates directly from the NDIA and look out for any correspondence addressed to you personally about your transition timeline.

Talk to your support coordinator — Now is an ideal time to have a conversation about how the 2026 changes might affect your specific goals, supports, and plan structure. Your coordinator is there to help you navigate this.

Document your support needs clearly — When your assessment time comes, having a detailed, honest picture of your day-to-day support needs will help your assessor understand your situation accurately. Start noting what support you use, how often, and why it matters.

Ask questions freely — You have every right to fully understand your plan, your funding, and what the changes mean for you. Never feel embarrassed to ask for plain-language explanations from your provider or coordinator.

Choose a provider you trust — The 2026 transition will be significantly smoother when you already have a stable, experienced, person-centred provider by your side before the changes begin.

Navigating the NDIS Changes with Velvet Care in Adelaide

At Velvet Care Community Services, we understand that change — even positive change — can feel overwhelming when you’re facing it without the right support around you.

That’s why we are committed to keeping every participant we support fully informed, clearly guided, and confidently prepared through every stage of the 2026 NDIS transition and beyond.

As a registered NDIS provider in Adelaide, we offer a complete range of supports:

• Supported Independent Living (SIL) — stable, person-centred home arrangements built entirely around your goals
• Short-Term & Medium-Term Accommodation — flexible, supported stays for respite and transition
• Daily Life & Personal Care — consistent, dignified support for everyday tasks
• Community Nursing — professional clinical care delivered in your home
• Community Participation — building connection, confidence, and independence
• Ongoing Plan Guidance — clear, honest communication about how NDIS changes affect your specific supports

We are proudly culturally inclusive, supporting participants from diverse CALD backgrounds across Adelaide and regional South Australia — because exceptional NDIS support should never be one-size-fits-all.

When the NDIS changes, we change with you — and we make sure you’re never left behind.

Have Questions About the 2026 NDIS Changes? We’re Here.

The 2026 NDIS reforms are designed to work better for you. And with the right registered provider already beside you in Adelaide, they absolutely will.

Call our friendly Adelaide team today
Visit velvetcare.com.au
Book your FREE consultation — no pressure, just clear and honest answers

Velvet Care Community Services is a registered NDIS provider in Adelaide delivering personalised, culturally inclusive disability support across South Australia.