NDIS 2026 Changes Explained

What participants and carers need to know right now

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and reflects publicly available information about the NDIS reform process as at April 2026. Changes are ongoing and implementation details may evolve as the NDIA finalises its rollout. This guide does not constitute professional disability support advice.

If you are an NDIS participant or carer, 2026 is not a year to be passive about your supports. The scheme is undergoing its most sweeping reform since it was established under the NDIS Act 2013 — and the changes are arriving across multiple fronts simultaneously. New assessment tools, revised funding criteria, updated planning processes, and a sharper focus on functional impact are all converging at once.

The challenge is that these reforms are densely interrelated. A change to how your support needs are assessed affects the planning process, which in turn affects what funding appears in your NDIS plan. Understanding any one change in isolation is not enough — you need to understand how they fit together, and what they mean for your next plan review.

This guide explains what is actually changing in 2026, why it is happening, and what you should do about it now.

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Why 2026 Is a Turning Point for the NDIS

The NDIS has always been a work in progress. Since launching in 2013, it has grown into one of the largest social programmes in Australia's history — supporting more than 650,000 Australians with disability at a cost of over $42 billion per year and rising.

That scale has brought both genuine achievement and structural challenge. While the scheme has transformed lives across the country, it has also accumulated problems that advocates, participants, and the NDIA itself have acknowledged: inconsistent funding decisions, widely varying assessor practices, unpredictable outcomes for participants with similar needs, and growing questions about long-term sustainability.

The 2023 NDIS Review — officially titled "Working Together to Deliver the NDIS" — provided the most thorough public examination of these problems in the scheme's history. It found that the NDIS was not consistently delivering on its foundational promise, and recommended fundamental changes to how participants are assessed, planned, and supported.

The response to that review is what is arriving in 2026. Multiple reforms — legislated through the NDIS Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Act 2024 and the broader NDIS Amendment Act 2024 — are now being implemented in sequence. For participants and carers, understanding this broader context explains why so much is changing at once, and why preparation has never been more important.

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The Background: Why Reform Was Needed

The 2023 NDIS Review examined a scheme that had grown significantly faster than projected. In 2013, the NDIS was forecast to serve around 460,000 Australians. By 2026, it supports more than 650,000 — and without structural change, costs were forecast to become unsustainable within a decade.

But the review's most important findings went beyond finances. It identified serious inconsistency in how the scheme was operating in practice:

• Participants with similar needs in different states were receiving markedly different funding levels.
• The quality and scope of functional assessments varied enormously between assessors and geographic regions.
• Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs), which had become the primary evidence tool, were inconsistently conducted — open to significant variation in quality, scope, and interpretation.
• Some participants were well-served; others with identical functional needs fell through the cracks depending on the quality of their documentation and their capacity to navigate the system.

The review also found that the scheme had drifted from its original intent. Supports that were never designed to fall within the NDIS were being funded because there was no clear, consistently applied framework for determining what was genuinely "reasonable and necessary."

The reforms that follow address all of these issues simultaneously — which is why 2026 is such a significant turning point.

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Change 1: A New Standardised Support Needs Assessment (I-CAN v6)

The most significant practical change for most participants is the introduction of the I-CAN v6 assessment as the new standardised tool for measuring support needs across the scheme.

From mid-2026, when you have a plan review, your support needs will be measured using the I-CAN v6 framework — conducted by an accredited allied health professional such as an occupational therapist, psychologist, physiotherapist, speech pathologist, or social worker. The assessment is funded by the NDIA and does not cost participants anything directly.

The I-CAN v6 assessment evaluates your functional capacity across 12 defined life domains: Self-Care, Daily Life Activities, Communication, Mobility, Interpersonal Interactions and Relationships, Learning and Education, Employment, Health and Wellbeing, Social and Community Participation, Home and Living, Support Coordination, and Positive Behaviour Support.

This structured approach replaces the previous patchwork of assessor-led FCAs, which varied widely in quality and scope. The key shift is from a clinician-directed, variable-format assessment to a standardised, domain-structured tool grounded in the internationally recognised WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. This change is designed to make outcomes more consistent and predictable — and to give participants a clearer, more transparent understanding of what will be examined.

For a detailed explanation of what the I-CAN v6 assessment involves, read: What is the NDIS I-CAN v6 Assessment?

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Change 2: Revised "Reasonable and Necessary" Criteria

The phrase "reasonable and necessary" sits at the heart of every NDIS funding decision. Section 34 of the NDIS Act 2013 sets out the criteria that a support must meet to be funded by the scheme. The NDIS Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Act 2024 introduced important changes to how this test is applied in practice.

The key shift is a clearer and more enforceable distinction between:

• NDIS-funded supports — those that directly address a participant's disability-related functional needs
• Mainstream and other service responsibilities — things that are properly the responsibility of the health system, education system, housing system, or aged care — or general costs of living that any Australian bears

The reform is intended to draw a cleaner line around what the NDIS is and is not meant to fund. In practice, this means:

• Some supports that have historically been funded by the NDIS may no longer qualify if they fall within mainstream service responsibility.
• Supports that directly and genuinely address disability-related functional needs remain the core business of the scheme.
• NDIS Support Lists — positive and negative lists of supports — are being formalised to provide greater clarity for participants, planners, and providers alike.

What does this mean for you? If your current plan includes supports that could be described as general living costs or mainstream service responsibilities, they may be reviewed at your next assessment. The best protection is ensuring your supports are clearly and specifically grounded in your disability-related functional needs — documented in terms of functional impact, not just diagnosis.

Important: The intention of these changes is to refocus the NDIS on its core purpose, not to strip supports from participants with genuine disability-related needs. Supports that directly address your functional support needs are expected to continue.

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Change 3: Changes to the Planning Process

The planning process — the structured conversation between a participant and the NDIA that results in a funded plan — is also changing in 2026.

Previously, planning conversations were relatively participant-led, with more scope for negotiation around support types and budgets. Under the reformed system, the NDIA is taking a more structured role in plan construction, with planning decisions more closely tied to the outcomes of the standardised I-CAN v6 assessment.

Key changes to the planning process include:

• Plan budgets will be more directly linked to assessment outcomes — the I-CAN v6 results feed more directly into what is included in your plan, reducing the previous reliance on negotiation and advocacy to achieve appropriate funding.
• Support categories may be more defined — the three broad budget types (Core Supports, Capital Supports, and Capacity Building) remain in place, but the allocation of funding within those categories is expected to become more structured and assessment-driven.
• Participant goals remain central — the NDIA has emphasised that participant goals continue to drive planning, and that the assessment informs rather than mechanically determines the plan.
• Greater transparency in decision-making — participants can expect clearer written reasons for planning decisions, supporting the right to request review.

For participants, the practical implication is straightforward: the I-CAN v6 assessment carries more weight than ever before. A well-prepared, well-evidenced assessment translates more directly into a plan that reflects your genuine needs.

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Change 4: Stronger Functional Focus Across the Whole System

Across all of the 2026 reforms, a single consistent theme emerges: the system is shifting from a diagnosis-led approach to a functional impact approach.

Previously, NDIS access and funding decisions often relied heavily on diagnosis — what condition a person had, and clinical reports confirming that diagnosis. A person with a well-documented diagnosis from a prominent specialist often fared better than a person with equivalent functional needs but less polished documentation.

Under the reformed system:

• What matters most is how your disability affects your day-to-day functioning — not just what it is called or which specialist manages it.
• OT reports and clinical assessments remain valuable, but they now serve as supporting evidence for a standardised assessment rather than as the primary driver of funding outcomes.
• The I-CAN v6 framework creates the same structure for everyone, regardless of diagnosis, postcode, or the quality of their treating team.
• Functional evidence — specific descriptions of daily impact, carer observations, support worker logs — becomes more central to a strong assessment outcome.

This shift is genuinely positive news for participants who have felt that their needs were not captured by a diagnostic label alone. It also means that clear, specific descriptions of functional impact are more important than they have ever been — whether provided by the participant, a carer, or a treating professional.

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A Timeline of Key 2026 Milestones

Note: These timelines are indicative based on publicly announced reform schedules as at April 2026. The NDIA may adjust implementation timing. Always check ndis.gov.au for the most current information.

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What This Means If You Have an Upcoming Plan Review

If your plan review is scheduled for mid-2026 or later, there is a strong likelihood it will fall under the new framework. Here is what to do now:

1. Don't wait until the letter arrives. Preparation takes time — gathering reports, keeping a functional journal, and building a clear picture of your needs across 12 domains is not something you can do in a week. Starting now gives you the best possible outcome.

2. Understand the 12 I-CAN domains. Your assessment will be structured around them. Knowing what each domain covers gives you a framework to think about your life and document your challenges systematically, rather than only answering questions as they arise on the day.

3. Focus on functional impact, not diagnosis. When talking to your treating professionals about what evidence to prepare, ask them to describe how your disability affects your day-to-day functioning — not just what your diagnosis is or how it is clinically classified.

4. Update your supporting reports. Assessment reports dated within the last two years carry the most weight. If your OT assessment, psychology report, or medical specialist letters are older than that, consider requesting updated reports before your review.

5. Seek independent guidance if needed. Your Support Coordinator, Local Area Coordinator (LAC), or a disability advocacy organisation can help you understand how the changes apply to your situation and what to expect from the new process.

For a step-by-step guide to preparing specifically for the I-CAN v6 assessment, read: How to Prepare for Your I-CAN v6 Assessment

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What Carers Need to Know

Carers play an important and often underrecognised role in the NDIS system. The 2026 reforms bring specific implications for families and informal supporters that are worth understanding clearly.

Informal supports are now formally recognised differently. Under the reformed framework, the NDIA is applying a more structured approach to understanding the role of informal supports — what family members and carers already do, and what the NDIS is needed to supplement or replace. This means the assessment process will include questions about your involvement, your capacity, and your sustainability as a carer over time.

This is not about reducing support — it is about accurately mapping the full picture of a participant's support needs. But it does mean that carers need to think carefully and honestly about what they currently provide and what they genuinely cannot sustain long-term.

Key points for carers ahead of an assessment:

• Be honest about your capacity and limits. If you are approaching carer burnout, or if there are tasks you perform that are not genuinely sustainable over the long term, these need to be documented and communicated. An honest account of carer capacity directly affects the participant's assessed support needs.
• Your observations are evidence. As someone who provides day-to-day support, your accounts of the participant's daily challenges across each domain are some of the most specific and valuable evidence an assessor can receive.
• Carer wellbeing is a recognised factor. The 2023 NDIS Review explicitly acknowledged the wellbeing of informal supporters as relevant to planning. If your capacity to provide care is limited by your own health, work, or family responsibilities, that directly affects what the NDIS is needed to provide.
• You are allowed to attend the assessment. Carers and family members are permitted — and often encouraged — to be present during the I-CAN v6 assessment to provide context and add information.

If you support a participant who has difficulty self-reporting their needs accurately, your participation in the assessment is especially important. A written account of the support you provide — including how often, for how long, and what would happen without it — can be provided to the assessor as supporting documentation.

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Prepare for Your I-CAN v6 Assessment with ICANReady

Understanding the NDIS 2026 changes is the first step — but preparation for the assessment itself is where the difference is made. With a standardised, domain-structured framework, participants who understand what is being assessed and who prepare specific evidence will arrive in a far stronger position than those who don't.

ICANReady is a document preparation tool built specifically for NDIS participants and carers preparing for the I-CAN v6 assessment. It guides you through all 12 I-CAN domains in plain language and generates a structured preparation document you can bring to your assessment — available at launch for AUD $29.

Join the ICANReady waitlist — it's free →

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Frequently Asked Questions

When exactly do the NDIS 2026 changes take effect?

The NDIS 2026 changes are rolling out in stages from mid-2026. Not all participants will transition at the same time — the NDIA will provide advance notice before any changes affect your plan. Your existing plan remains valid and active until your next scheduled review. If you have received no communication from the NDIA yet, check ndis.gov.au for the latest information and timelines.

Will existing participants be affected by the NDIS 2026 changes?

Yes, but not immediately. Existing participants will encounter the new framework at their next scheduled plan review — the changes do not automatically cancel or modify plans that are currently active. How the changes affect you will depend on when your review is scheduled and how your support needs are assessed under the new I-CAN v6 framework.

Can I keep my current support arrangements under the new system?

Supports that continue to meet the "reasonable and necessary" criteria under section 34 of the NDIS Act are expected to continue. However, some arrangements may change depending on how your needs are assessed under the new framework — particularly where supports have historically been funded in areas now designated as mainstream service responsibilities. Thorough preparation and clear functional documentation are the best way to protect your supports.

What if my NDIS funding decreases under the new framework?

If you believe a funding decision does not accurately reflect your support needs, you can request an internal review from the NDIA. This must be requested within 3 months of receiving the decision. If you remain unsatisfied with the internal review outcome, you can apply for review by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Throughout this process, organisations such as the Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) can provide free guidance and independent support.

Where can I get help understanding the NDIS 2026 changes?

The best primary source of information is ndis.gov.au, which publishes the most current details about the reform process. Your Support Coordinator or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) can explain how changes apply to your individual situation. For independent advice — particularly if you are concerned about your funding — disability advocacy organisations in your state or territory provide free support, including DANA at the national level.

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Sources: NDIS Review Final Report 2023 — Working Together to Deliver the NDIS, NDIA Reform — ndis.gov.au, NDIS Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Act 2024 — Parliament of Australia, Disability Advocacy Network Australia