Will I Lose My NDIS Funding Under the New Rules? What Participants Need to Know in 2026

Published on April 30, 2026 | Updated on May 1, 2026

One of the biggest questions many participants, families, carers, and Support Coordinators are asking right now is: “Will I lose my NDIS funding under the new rules?” With major NDIS reforms rolling out from mid-2026, including new planning frameworks, support needs assessments, tighter eligibility reviews, and stronger evidence requirements, it’s understandable that many people feel uncertain. The good news is this: Most current participants will not suddenly lose support overnight. However, the way the NDIS assesses funding, plans, and eligibility is changing — and being prepared is more important than ever. At Openhearted Support, we’re helping participants across Melbourne understand these changes and strengthen their evidence so they can continue receiving the supports they genuinely need.

Why Is the NDIS Changing?

The Government has announced reforms to make the NDIS:

✔ fairer

✔ more transparent

✔ more consistent

✔ financially sustainable

✔ focused on genuine functional need

The NDIS is shifting away from simply looking at diagnosis and placing greater focus on how disability impacts a person’s everyday life.

This means future decisions may rely more heavily on:

daily living support needs

• mobility limitations

• communication challenges

• mental health impacts

• behavioural support needs

• home safety risks

• social and community participation barriers

• long-term functional capacity

This is a major shift toward needs-based planning.

Could Funding Change?

For some participants, yes — funding may change, but not necessarily in a negative way.

Funding may:

📈 Increase

If strong evidence shows higher support needs.

➖ Stay Similar

If current supports clearly align with assessed needs.

📉 Be Adjusted

If the NDIA determines some supports are no longer considered reasonable and necessary, or if evidence is weak or outdated.

The biggest risk is not the reform itself — it’s going into reassessment without strong supporting evidence.

What Will Matter More in 2026?

Under the new rules, documentation becomes extremely important.

Participants should be able to clearly demonstrate:

✔ what daily tasks they cannot do independently ✔ where support is needed ✔ safety risks in the home or community ✔ impact on carers and families ✔ therapeutic needs ✔ equipment and home modification requirements ✔ community access barriers ✔ long-term disability impact on independence

The stronger the evidence, the stronger the case for continued supports.

How Occupational Therapy Can Help Protect Funding

This is where Occupational Therapy (OT) becomes incredibly valuable.

An experienced OT can provide:

✔ Functional Capacity Assessments

Detailed reports explaining how disability impacts day-to-day living.

✔ Home Safety Assessments

Evidence around mobility, falls risk, bathroom access, manual handling concerns, and environmental barriers.

✔ Assistive Technology Recommendations

Supporting evidence for mobility aids, adaptive equipment, seating systems, and home modifications.

✔ Daily Living Assessments

Documenting personal care needs, household assistance, community participation barriers, and independence challenges.

At Openhearted Support, our qualified Occupational Therapists create detailed participant-centred assessments that provide clear, professional evidence to support funding needs.

Why Support Coordination Is More Important Than Ever

With major NDIS changes coming, Support Coordinators will play a crucial role in helping participants navigate reviews and reassessments.

At Openhearted Support, our Support Coordination team helps participants:

✔ understand upcoming NDIS changes

✔ prepare for reassessments

✔ gather reports and evidence

✔ connect with therapists and allied health professionals

✔ strengthen goal-setting

✔ build clear funding justifications

✔ understand budgets and plan categories

✔ advocate during planning meetings

Good coordination can make a major difference in how prepared a participant is.

Allied Health Reports Also Matter

Strong evidence doesn’t come from OT alone.

Participants may benefit from:

✔ Physiotherapy reports

✔ Behaviour Support assessments

✔ Psychology reports

✔ Speech pathology evidence

✔ Community nursing assessments

✔ Specialist medical reports

✔ Carer impact statements

✔ Risk assessments

The NDIA increasingly looks at the full picture of support need — not just one report.

At Openhearted Support, our multidisciplinary team works together to provide holistic participant evidence and coordinated support planning.

How Openhearted Support Helps Participants Prepare

As an NDIS Registered Provider supporting Melbourne and surrounding communities, Openhearted Support is ready for the new framework.

We help through:

🏡 Daily Living Supports

Evidence of real day-to-day care needs.

🩺 Occupational Therapy

Functional assessments, home modifications, assistive technology recommendations.

🧠 Therapeutic Supports

Building participant capacity and documenting functional impact.

🤝 Support Coordination

Planning, advocacy, provider coordination, review preparation.

🚗 Community Participation

Supporting social connection, independence, and skill-building outcomes.

👩‍⚕️ Nursing & High Care Support

Documenting complex care and high-intensity support needs.

Our goal is simple:

help participants understand the new rules — and ensure their genuine support needs are properly recognised.

What Should Participants Do Now?

Here are practical steps:

✅ Update OT assessments ✅ Keep therapy reports current ✅ Document daily challenges ✅ Record safety risks at home ✅ Strengthen goal planning ✅ Gather carer statements ✅ Work with experienced Support Coordinators ✅ Choose providers who understand NDIS reform

Preparation now can make future reviews much easier.

Final Thoughts

The question shouldn’t simply be:

“Will I lose my NDIS funding?”

The better question is:

“Am I prepared to clearly show the supports I genuinely need?”

The new NDIS framework is moving toward stronger evidence, clearer planning, and more consistent decisions.

At Openhearted Support, we’re here to help participants navigate every step — with expert Occupational Therapy, Support Coordination, Allied Health, and compassionate disability support services designed to protect independence, dignity, and wellbeing.

Contact Openhearted Support

📞1800 976 186

📧admin@ohsupport.com.au

🌐www.openheartedsupport.com.au