New NDIS Bill Could Fund You Below What You Actually Need

You could be found to need a support — and still not get enough money to pay for it. This is not a hypothetical risk. A new Bill in Federal Parliament would make it legally possible under the NDIS Act. (The NDIS is the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It funds supports for people with disability.)

Key takeaways

• A new Bill would add section 34A to the NDIS Act. This would let the Minister cut funding for whole groups of supports — even supports still agreed as needed.
• The Bill would change the aims of the NDIS Act. Supports would only be provided "so far as is consistent with the financial sustainability of the scheme."
• Every Australian Counts, the campaign that helped create the NDIS, wants the Bill sent to a full parliamentary inquiry before any vote.
• Worried about your plan? Now is the time to write down your needs and talk with a support coordinator.

Why is this so hard to spot?

The NDIS has always rested on one promise. If a support is reasonable and necessary — the NDIS term for a support that meets your disability needs and helps you live an ordinary life — you get funding for it. This has been the foundation of the Scheme since it began.

The new Bill would change that foundation. It is easy to miss unless you read the law closely.

Here is what makes it hard to navigate your NDIS plan under these changes:

• The change is buried in legal language. Most people will not hear about it until it hits their plan.
• The Bill does not remove any support outright. It lets the Minister fund those supports below the real cost. The support still exists on paper. But you cannot afford to use it.
• Worry about cuts is already high. Every Australian Counts says people with disability are "already deeply anxious about cuts to support." This Bill gives those fears a legal mechanism.
• The Bill also brings tighter access rules and limits on reassessments. This could affect you at many points, not just at plan review.

The hardest cases are not the ones where a support is flatly refused. They are the ones where a need is agreed but funding falls short. Families then scramble to fill the gap themselves.

How does the NDIS work now — and what would change?

Right now, the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) runs the Scheme. When it approves a support as reasonable and necessary, your plan must include enough funding to use it. The cost of the support sets the floor for your funding.

The Bill would add a new section 34A to the NDIS Act. This would let the Minister cut funding for named groups of supports. The law says these cuts can apply even where the funding is less than the real cost of reasonable and necessary supports.

Every Australian Counts Chair Dr George Taleporos put it plainly: "A support could still be recognised as reasonable and necessary, but the person may not receive enough funding to actually access it. That is not a technical change. It is a profound shift in what the NDIS means for people with disability and our families."

The Bill would also change the objects of the NDIS Act — the core statement of what the Scheme is for. Under the change, the Scheme would provide reasonable and necessary supports only "so far as is consistent with the financial sustainability of the scheme."

This is a big legal shift. Scheme cost could legally override your individual need. This is true even where that need has already been assessed and accepted.

The Bill also includes:

• Tighter access rules for new participants
• Limits on reassessments
• More focus on Scheme cost over individual supports

How do you navigate NDIS plan changes? Your action plan

This Bill has not passed yet. Every Australian Counts wants a full parliamentary inquiry before any vote. But waiting is not the best move for participants. Here is what to do now.

1. Write down your current supports in detail. List every support you use. Say why you need it and what happens if you lose it. Use plain language. Include the impact on your safety, independence and daily life. This is your evidence base.

2. Get a copy of your current NDIS plan. Log into the myNDIS portal or call the NDIA on 1800 800 110. Confirm exactly what supports are funded and at what level. Know your baseline before anything changes.

3. Talk to your support coordinator. A support coordinator is funded under Capacity Building. They help you understand and use your plan. Ask them: "How would my plan be affected if funding for [support type] was cut below cost?" No support coordination in your plan? Ask your LAC (Local Area Coordinator) the same question.

4. Contact Every Australian Counts. Visit everyaustraliancounts.com.au to stay informed. Add your voice to the campaign calling for a parliamentary inquiry. Your lived experience matters.

5. Write to your local Member of Parliament. Every Australian Counts is asking all MPs and Senators to protect the original promise of the NDIS. A short, personal letter from a constituent carries real weight. Describe what your supports mean to your daily life.

6. Keep records of all NDIS contacts. Got letters, plan reviews or verbal advice about funding changes? Record them with dates. This protects you if you need to appeal later.

7. Know your review rights. If your plan is changed and the funding is too low, you can request an internal review with the NDIA. You can then seek an external review with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). Your support coordinator can help you start this.

What could this look like in real life?

Here is an illustrative scenario. Maya has cerebral palsy. She relies on personal care funded under Core Supports in her NDIS plan. The NDIA has assessed these as reasonable and necessary. Her plan funds 14 hours of personal care each week at the NDIS price limit.

Under the Bill, the Minister could name personal care as a "specified group of supports." The Minister could then set a funding cap below the current price limit. Maya's supports would still be listed. They would still be reasonable and necessary. But the funding would no longer cover the real cost. Her provider could not deliver the full 14 hours. Or Maya would pay the gap herself.

What would Maya do? Using the steps above, she would already have written proof that 14 hours is her minimum for safe daily living. She would ask her support coordinator to request an internal review, citing the gap between funded and actual cost. She would also share her experience with Every Australian Counts to support the push for a parliamentary inquiry.

The lesson: participants with clear, written proof of their needs are in a far stronger position than those who rely on verbal agreements or assume their plan will not change.

How can you get help in Melbourne?

Participants in Melbourne can reach the NDIA through the national line on 1800 800 110. The NDIS website at ndis.gov.au has up-to-date information on plan reviews and appeal rights.

Looking for experienced NDIS support coordination in Victoria? Lumincare's support coordination team works with participants across Melbourne. They help ensure plans genuinely reflect your needs. This includes people who use SIL accommodation in Melbourne — SIL means Supported Independent Living, which funds help with daily tasks in your home. Reach out at lumincare.com.au to start a conversation.

The original promise of the NDIS was simple and powerful. People with disability would receive the supports they need to live safely, independently and with dignity. That promise is worth protecting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new NDIS Bill and why does it matter for participants?

The Bill proposes to insert a new section 34A into the NDIS Act, giving the Minister power to reduce funding for whole categories of supports — even where those supports are still recognised as reasonable and necessary. It also proposes to change the objects of the NDIS Act so supports are only provided 'so far as is consistent with the financial sustainability of the scheme.' This means a participant could be assessed as needing a support but still not receive enough funding to actually pay for it.

Has the Bill passed yet?

As of the date this article was published, the Bill has been introduced into Federal Parliament but has not passed. Every Australian Counts is calling for the Bill to be referred to a full parliamentary inquiry and for genuine consultation with people with disability before any vote proceeds. Participants should stay informed and contact their local Member of Parliament.

What does 'reasonable and necessary' mean under the NDIS?

'Reasonable and necessary' is the NDIS term for a support that meets your disability-related needs, helps you live an ordinary life, and represents value for money. Currently, if a support is assessed as reasonable and necessary, your plan must include enough funding to access it. The proposed Bill would allow the Minister to fund these supports below their actual cost, weakening this protection.

What can participants do right now to protect their NDIS funding?

Document your current supports in writing, including why you need them and what happens if they are cut. Request a copy of your current NDIS plan from the myNDIS portal or by calling 1800 800 110. Speak with your Support Coordinator about how proposed changes could affect your plan. Contact Every Australian Counts at everyaustraliancounts.com.au and write to your local Member of Parliament to share your experience.

What is Every Australian Counts and what are they calling for?

Every Australian Counts is the grassroots campaign that originally campaigned to establish the NDIS. The campaign's Independent Chair, Dr George Taleporos, has warned that the new Bill risks breaking the original promise of the NDIS. Every Australian Counts is calling for the Bill to be referred to a full parliamentary inquiry, genuine co-design with people with disability, and for all Members of Parliament and Senators to protect the rights, safety, dignity and inclusion of people with disability.

Written and reviewed by the LuminCare team — a registered NDIS provider supporting participants across Australia. Last updated 31 July 2026. This article is general information, not personal advice; for decisions about your plan, speak with your support coordinator or the NDIA.