The NDIS, explained in plain English
If you, a family member or someone you support lives with disability, the NDIS can fund the supports you need to live the life you want. This guide covers who can get it, how to apply, how your plan and funding work, how to change providers, and what is changing next.
Last checked: October 2026 against NDIA and Department of Health, Disability and Ageing information. Rules change, so always confirm details for your own plan.
What is the NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds supports for Australians with a permanent and significant disability. It is run by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). Instead of a fixed service, each participant gets an individual plan with funding for the supports they need to live their life and work towards their goals.
It is not means tested and it is not welfare. You choose who provides your supports, when, and how.
Key facts
| Age | You must be under 65 on the day your application is received. If you join before 65, you can stay on the NDIS after you turn 65. |
|---|---|
| Residency | Australian citizen, permanent resident or Protected Special Category Visa holder, living in Australia. |
| Disability | A permanent impairment that means you usually need disability-specific supports for daily life, or early supports that will reduce your need for support later. |
| Children under 9 | Supported first through an early childhood partner, who can help before and during an application. |
| Cost to apply | Free. |
| NDIA contact | 1800 800 110 or ndis.gov.au |
Who is eligible?
To be eligible, you need to meet the age and residence requirements, and then either the disability or early intervention requirements, or both.
- Disability requirements: your impairment is likely to be permanent and you usually need disability-specific supports to do daily life activities.
- Early intervention requirements: getting supports now is likely to reduce the support you will need in future.
The NDIA has a short eligibility checklist you can work through in a few minutes.
65 or older? The NDIS is not open to new applicants aged 65 and over. Support at home comes through the aged care system instead. See our aged care services.
How to apply
- Check you are likely to be eligibleUse the NDIA checklist, or talk to a local area coordinator (ages 9 to 64) or an early childhood partner (under 9).
- Gather your evidenceProof of identity, age and residence, plus evidence about your disability, such as reports or letters from your doctor or specialists.
- Make an access requestCall the NDIA on 1800 800 110, complete the access request form, or ask a local area coordinator to help you submit it.
- Get a decisionThe NDIA tells you whether you are eligible. If you are not, they explain why and how to ask for a review.
- Plan and start supportsYou meet with the NDIA or a partner to build your first plan. Then you choose providers and start your supports.
Watch: the NDIS in short videos
Playlist3 videos
Official videos from NDIS Australia.
Turning 65 soon? Your application must be complete and received before your 65th birthday. Contact the NDIA early if your birthday is close.
Your plan and funding
Your NDIS plan sets out your goals and the funding the NDIA has approved to pursue them. Funding is grouped into three main types:
| Funding type | What it covers | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Everyday supports for daily living and getting out in the community | Personal care, domestic help, community access, transport |
| Capacity Building | Building skills and independence over time | Support coordination, therapy, daily living skills |
| Capital | One-off or larger investments | Assistive technology, home modifications, specialist disability accommodation |
Funding periods: your budget is released in instalments
Since 19 May 2025, new and reassessed plans release funding in instalments called funding periods, usually every three months, rather than all at once. Your total funding does not change, but you cannot draw on a future period early. If you need more in a period, you can ask the NDIA for a plan change.
This makes it more important to pace your supports through each quarter. A good provider will help you plan hours so you do not run short before the next release. Try our NDIS budget calculator to see what your hours cost in each funding period.
Managing your plan
You choose how the funding in your plan is managed. Many people use a mix, for example plan-managed for most supports and self-managed for one or two.
| NDIA-managed | Plan-managed | Self-managed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who pays providers | The NDIA | Your plan manager | You or your nominee |
| Providers you can use | NDIS-registered only | Registered or unregistered | Registered or unregistered |
| NDIS price limits | Apply | Apply | Do not apply; you agree prices |
| Paperwork for you | Least | Low | Most: invoices, claims and records |
| Best for | People who want it simple | Most people who want flexibility without the admin | People who want full control |
If you choose plan management, the NDIA adds funding for it to your plan, so it does not come out of your support budget. Not sure how plan management differs from support coordination? Read plan management vs support coordination.
Choosing and changing providers
Choice and control is built into the NDIS. You can choose your providers and change them at any time. Many families move to a smaller, local provider for consistent workers and faster responses. Here is why families switch.
What to look for
- Consistent workers you get to know, not a new face every week.
- A real local contact who answers the phone and responds quickly.
- A clear written service agreement covering your supports, prices, and how either side can end it.
- Registration if your plan is NDIA-managed, as only registered providers can be paid.
How to change providers
- Check your service agreementIt sets out how much notice you need to give, sometimes called a notice or cancellation period. Giving less notice can mean a fee.
- Tell your current provider in writingAsk them to confirm the end date in writing too.
- Update your “my providers” listIf your plan is NDIA-managed or plan-managed, your chosen providers are recorded as “my providers”. You can update this in the my NDIS participant portal, through your my NDIS contact, or by calling 1800 800 110. Self-managed participants do not need to do this.
- Tell your support coordinator and plan managerSo invoices and bookings move across smoothly.
- Sign a new service agreementMeet your new provider first and agree start dates so there is no gap in support.
Thinking of switching?Get a dated timeline and a ready-to-send notice letter in two minutes, then let us line up your start date.
Use our switch assistantWhat is changing in the NDIS
New framework planning: now from 1 April 2027
The NDIS is moving to a new way of building plans, called new framework planning. Plans will be based on a structured support needs assessment with a trained NDIA assessor, rather than relying mainly on reports. The rollout was planned for mid-2026, but the government has delayed it to 1 April 2027 to allow more consultation and testing.
What it means for you now: your current plan keeps working as normal. The NDIA will contact participants before anything changes for them, and the move to new plans will be phased over several years.
Funding periods and the “my providers” list
Both are already in place for new and reassessed plans, as explained above. If your plan is due for reassessment, ask how your funding periods will be set.
Follow official updates on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
How iCare4U can help
We are a local, owner-operated NDIS provider supporting participants across Melbourne. We work with NDIA-managed, plan-managed and self-managed participants.
Getting started takes three steps
- Reach outCall 1300 422 730 or fill in our short form.
- Free consultationWe listen to your goals and look at your plan with you.
- Start your supportWe match you with consistent workers and adjust as your needs change.
Ready to get more from your plan?A friendly local team member will call you within 24 hours.
Get startedCall 1300 422 730Common questions
Does the NDIS cost anything to apply for?
No. Applying is free, and the NDIS is not means tested.
Can I stay on the NDIS after I turn 65?
Yes. If you became a participant before 65, you can keep your NDIS plan. You can choose to move to aged care instead if that suits you better.
Can I change providers in the middle of my plan?
Yes. Check the notice period in your service agreement, give notice in writing, and update your “my providers” list if your plan is NDIA-managed or plan-managed. Your funding stays the same.
Do I need a registered provider?
Only if your plan is NDIA-managed. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can use registered or unregistered providers.
What happens if I run out of funding before the next funding period?
You cannot draw on a future period early. Talk to your support coordinator or the NDIA about a plan change if your needs have changed, and plan your hours across each period.
Will the new NDIS planning changes affect my current plan?
Not yet. New framework planning now starts from 1 April 2027 and will be phased in. Your current plan continues as normal, and the NDIA will contact you before anything changes.
More answers on our FAQ page.
Sources: information on this page was checked against official sources in October 2026. This guide is general information, not advice about your plan.