If you have recently received a new NDIS plan, you may have noticed it looks quite different from previous versions. One of the most visible changes from the October 2024 reforms is the shift to a ‘total funded supports’ model. Here is what that means in practice.
How Plans Used to Work
Previously, NDIS plans listed individual line items under each support category, showing exactly how much was allocated to each type of support. While this gave a detailed breakdown, it could also be rigid — making it harder to use your funding flexibly across related supports.
What Has Changed?
Plans issued after 3 October 2024 now show a total budget amount for all supports combined, rather than individual line items. This is called ‘total funded supports’. The intention is to:
- Make it easier to understand how much funding you have in total
- Provide greater flexibility in how you use your funding across supports
- Reduce confusion about whether specific line items are exhausted
In practice, how flexibly you can move funding between categories depends on your plan management type (self-managed, plan-managed, or NDIA-managed) and the nature of the supports.
What About Budget Components?
While the overall plan shows a total, your funding is still organised into components linked to your goals. Under PACE, each funding component is connected to a specific goal in your plan, which makes it clearer how your supports are working towards meaningful outcomes.
Quarterly and Monthly Funding Release
From mid-2025, participants also have the option to receive their funding in instalments rather than as a single up-front lump sum. Options now include quarterly, monthly, or up-front release. This change gives participants more control over budgeting and makes it easier to pace spending over the life of a plan.
Unsure how your new plan structure works? Azalea Care’s support coordinators can walk you through your plan and help you get the most out of your funding. Contact us to book an appointment.