For years, the NDIS allowed claims to be made up to two years after a support was delivered. That generous window is closing fast. From 15 October 2026, claims submitted more than 90 days after a support face extra integrity checks, and from 1 December, claims made more than 90 days late generally won’t be paid at all. If you self-manage, run a small provider business, or manage plans, this needs attention now. Here’s the plain-language guide.
How the Clock Has Shortened
The tightening has come in stages. The NDIA’s additional checks originally applied to claims more than 12 months old. From 16 July 2026, they expanded to claims six months or more after the support. From 15 October, they apply from the 90-day mark. And from 1 December, the new legislated 90-day claiming timeframe begins.
What the Extra Checks Mean
A claim caught by the checks can be held for up to 28 days while the NDIA reviews it. During that time, it may ask for evidence that the support was delivered, that it meets NDIS requirements, and that the claim was made correctly.
For a sole trader or small provider, a month’s delay on a batch of late invoices is a real cash flow problem. For a self-managed participant, it can mean waiting weeks for reimbursement of money already paid out.
What Changes on 1 December
From 1 December 2026, claims generally need to be made within 90 days of the date the support was delivered. Claims made after that won’t be paid unless exceptional circumstances apply.
There’s one question official guidance hasn’t fully settled: whether supports delivered before 1 December keep the old two-year window. Until that’s clarified, the safe assumption is that anything sitting unclaimed should be claimed now, not later.
Who This Affects Most
Self-managed participants, who submit their own claims and reimbursements. Plan managers, who process claims on behalf of participants and depend on providers invoicing them promptly. And registered and unregistered providers, particularly sole traders and small businesses who tend to batch invoicing when life gets busy.
Agency-managed participants won’t notice much directly, since providers claim from the NDIA, but slow-invoicing providers may start chasing more paperwork.
What to Do Now
Run an outstanding claims check. Go back through every support delivered in recent months and submit anything not yet claimed before 15 October if you can.
Shorten your invoicing cycle. Weekly or fortnightly claiming keeps everything comfortably inside 90 days and avoids the extra checks entirely.
Keep evidence with every claim. Service records, dates, times and what was delivered make any check quick to clear. Remember the new record-keeping requirements that started in August also apply.
If you use a plan manager, ask your providers to invoice promptly, because the plan manager can only claim once they’ve received the invoice. The official detail is on the NDIS website, and People with Disability Australia has a plain-language summary of the 2026 law changes.
The Bottom Line
The NDIS claiming window is shrinking from two years to 90 days. From 15 October, late claims face checks that can hold payment for up to 28 days, and from 1 December, claims more than 90 days late generally won’t be paid. Clear any backlog now, move to weekly or fortnightly claiming, and keep records with every claim. This is general information, not legal, financial or business advice.
Epik Wire covers the NDIS in plain language for participants, families and providers. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed.
