Running Out of NDIS Funds? Here’s What You Can Do

Reaching the end of your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan period and realising your funds are running low can be a stressful experience. It’s a situation that can leave you worried about how you’ll continue to receive the essential support you rely on. If this sounds familiar, take a deep breath. You are not alone in facing this challenge, and there are practical steps you can take to manage the situation.

This guide is here to walk you through why you might be facing an NDIS budget shortfall and what you can do about it. Proactive planning is crucial, but even if you find yourself with a funding gap, solutions and support are available. We’ll explore immediate actions, long-term strategies, and budgeting tips to help you stay in control of your plan and ensure your support continues uninterrupted.

Common Reasons for an NDIS Budget Shortfall

Understanding why you might be running out of NDIS funding is the first step toward preventing it from happening again. An NDIS plan is designed to be flexible, but sometimes, even with the best intentions, a funding gap can occur.

Here are some common reasons why funds run out:

• Overspending or Miscalculating Budgets: It can be easy to lose track of spending, especially if you access multiple services from different providers. Without a clear budget, funds can be used up faster than anticipated.
• Increased or Unexpected Support Needs: Life is unpredictable. Your circumstances might change, leading to a need for more intensive or different types of support than originally planned. This could be due to a change in your health, living situation, or personal goals.
• Lack of Regular Plan Monitoring: Not regularly checking your spending against your budget can lead to surprises. Your NDIS plan is divided into three main categories—Core, Capacity Building, and Capital Supports—and it’s important to monitor spending in each one.
• Changes in Participant Circumstances: Significant life events, like moving to a new house, starting a new job, or changes in your informal support network (like family and friends), can impact the level of formal support you need, leading to an NDIS overspend.

What to Do Immediately If Funds Are Running Low

If you’ve noticed your NDIS plan funds are dwindling, it’s important to act quickly. Taking immediate steps can help you manage the remainder of your budget and ensure your most critical needs are met.

Contact Your Support Coordinator or Plan Manager

Your first call should be to your support coordinator or plan manager. These professionals are there to help you navigate your NDIS plan. They can:

• Analyse your spending to understand where the funds have gone.
• Help you identify any potential errors in invoicing.
• Guide you on how to prioritise your remaining funds.

If you don’t have a support coordinator, your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or an NDIS plan manager can also provide guidance. Engaging with Support Coordination services can be invaluable in these situations.

Prioritise Essential Services

With a limited budget, you’ll need to focus on what’s most important. Review your supports and identify which ones are essential for your health, safety, and daily living. You may need to temporarily pause or reduce non-essential services to make sure your critical needs are covered until your plan is reviewed or rolls over.

Review Invoices and Spending Patterns

Take a close look at your spending history through the NDIS myplace portal. Cross-reference invoices from your providers with the services you’ve received. This can help you spot any discrepancies or areas where you might be overspending without realising it.

Ask Providers About Flexible Service Options

Have an open conversation with your providers. Explain your situation and ask if they can offer more flexible or cost-effective ways to deliver your supports. They may be able to adjust service frequency, duration, or delivery methods to help stretch your remaining funds.

Here are some practical first steps you can take today:

• Log into the myplace portal to check your current budget balances.
• List all your current supports and rank them from “essential” to “non-essential.”
• Schedule a meeting with your support coordinator or plan manager.
• Gather all recent provider invoices to review them for accuracy.

Longer-Term Solutions for Managing Your NDIS Budget

Once you’ve managed the immediate shortfall, it’s time to think about long-term solutions. These strategies will help you create a more sustainable NDIS budget and prevent future funding gaps.

Requesting a Plan Review with the NDIA

If your circumstances or support needs have changed significantly, you can request a plan review with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). This isn’t something to be done lightly, as you’ll need to provide evidence to support your request. A successful review could result in an increase in your funding to better meet your current needs. Your support coordinator can help you prepare for this process.

Reassessing Goals and Adjusting Services

Your NDIS plan is built around your goals. Take some time to reflect on them. Are they still relevant? Have your priorities changed? Adjusting your goals may lead to a different mix of supports, which could be more aligned with your budget. For example, you might shift focus from one type of therapy to another, or explore group-based Allied Health Services instead of individual sessions to make your funding go further.

Exploring Informal and Community Supports

Your NDIS plan isn’t the only source of support available. Look into community groups, local council programs, and other informal networks. These can often provide social connection, recreational activities, and practical help at little to no cost, reducing the pressure on your NDIS funding.

Budgeting Tips to Prevent Future Shortfalls

Effective NDIS budget planning is the best way to avoid the stress of a funding gap. By adopting a few simple habits, you can stay on top of your finances and make your funding last the entire plan period.

Set Up a Simple Monthly Budget

Break down your annual NDIS funding into a monthly budget. This makes it much easier to see how much you have to spend each month and helps you pace your spending. You can create a simple template in a spreadsheet or even a notebook. Allocate funds to each support category based on your needs and goals.

Track Your Expenses with Digital Tools

There are many apps and digital tools designed to help you track expenses. Your plan manager may also offer a portal or app where you can view your spending in real-time. Regularly checking in on your budget—say, once a week—will help you catch any overspending early.

Communicate Regularly with Your Providers

Maintain an open line of communication with your providers about your budget. Let them know how much funding you have allocated for their services and ask them to alert you if you are approaching your limit. This shared responsibility can prevent unexpected bills and help you manage your NDIS overspending.

One participant, for example, used to find her funds for therapeutic supports would run out months before her plan ended. By working with her support coordinator, she created a detailed monthly budget, shared it with her therapists, and scheduled fortnightly check-ins to track her spending. This simple strategy helped her stay within her budget and receive consistent support all year round.

Let Us Help You Stay on Track

Running out of NDIS funds can be daunting, but it’s a manageable challenge. By acting quickly, prioritising essential services, and putting long-term strategies in place, you can navigate a budget shortfall and get back on track. Remember to communicate with your support team, monitor your spending, and don’t be afraid to ask for a plan review if your needs change.

At Meta Healthcare, we understand the complexities of NDIS budget planning. Our experienced Support Coordination team can help you manage your funds, connect with the right providers, and build a sustainable plan. If you need guidance, we’re here to help.