How to Use Your NDIS Plan Before It Expires — Without Wasting a Dollar

A frequent concern we hear from participants and families in Perth is: "My plan ends in two months, and I still have money left — what do I do?" This situation is common, and the answer is important. Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth), unspent NDIS funds do not automatically roll over to your next plan. When your plan ends, most remaining funds are returned to the NDIS.

However, it is not appropriate to spend remaining funds quickly on anything. Every dollar from your NDIS plan must meet the legal requirement of being a reasonable and necessary support under Section 34 of the NDIS Act. Spending without justification can trigger a fraud review, lead to repayment demands, and reduce funding in your next plan. The following is a practical guide to using your funds appropriately.

Step One: Check Where You Actually Stand

Before you do anything, you need to know your actual position. Log in to the MyPlace participant portal at my.ndis.gov.au. There, you can see your current budget by support category, how much has been claimed to date, and your plan's end date. If you are plan-managed, your plan manager can pull a full statement for you. If you are self-managed, check your own records.

Review three key details: how much funding remains, which budget category it is in, and how many weeks are left in your plan. This will help you determine if you have an underspend issue or if you are on track.

Your Three Budget Types — They Behave Very Differently

Many people find this part confusing. Your NDIS plan may include up to three distinct budget types, each with different rules.

1. Core Supports

Core Supports is your most flexible budget. It covers daily activities, social and community participation, consumables, and transport. Under the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, you can generally shift spending between Core Support subcategories, except for transport, which is separate. For example, if you have underspent on community participation, you can use those funds for additional personal care or domestic assistance. This flexibility is a valuable tool.

You can use unspent Core Support funding by increasing the frequency of your existing supports, adding services you are eligible for but have not yet started, or purchasing disability-related consumables such as continence products, gloves, or low-cost assistive aids.

2. Capacity Building Supports

Capacity Building (CB) budgets are tied to specific goal categories and cannot be used for Core Support items. CB funds cannot be spent on cleaning, personal care, or consumables; they must be used for the subcategory they were allocated to, such as Support Coordination, Improved Living Arrangements, or Improved Health and Wellbeing. If you have unspent CB funding, consider increasing your engagement with the relevant service, such as booking more sessions with your Support Coordinator, scheduling additional allied health appointments, or progressing a delayed therapy programme.

If you cannot use your CB funding before expiry due to unavailable services or changed circumstances, document this clearly and inform your LAC or Support Coordinator. This information can support your plan review.

3. Capital Supports

Capital Supports covers Assistive Technology (AT) and Home Modifications. This budget is the most restricted, and spending should be carefully considered. The rules depend on the cost of the item:

• Under $1,500 — can generally be purchased directly without prior approval
• $1,500 to $15,000 — requires a supplier quote and, in most cases, a recommendation from an Occupational Therapist or other relevant allied health professional. Formal NDIA approval is not always required, but the item must be in your plan.
• Over $15,000 — requires formal NDIA approval with supporting evidence before purchase

Home modifications always require an assessment by a qualified Occupational Therapist and formal NDIA approval, regardless of cost. Purchasing AT without following the correct process or for items not specified in your plan is not permitted and may result in a repayment requirement.

If you have Capital Support funding and an approved item is already in progress, such as an AT quotation submitted, contact your AT supplier or OT to confirm the expected timeline. The NDIA recognises that some Capital purchases require time and will consider this during your plan review. Do not purchase alternative items simply to use the funding.

What You Can Legitimately Do Right Now

Assuming your underspend is in Core Supports, here are lawful, practical steps:

• Increase service frequency if your plan allows. For example, if you currently receive two cleaning sessions per fortnight, consider increasing to weekly. Ensure this change is documented in a service agreement with your provider.
• Start a support you have delayed. If your plan funds community participation and you have not used it, now is the time to connect with a support worker and begin attending social activities.
• Purchase consumables you use regularly. Continence products, protective gloves, or other disability-related items can be purchased in reasonable quantities from your Core Supports consumables line. "Reasonable quantities" means a practical amount for ongoing use — not an entire year's supply in one purchase.
• Engage or re-engage your Support Coordinator. If you have Support Coordination in your plan and have not used it fully, book sessions now. A good Support Coordinator can help you plan your transition to the next plan and prepare a strong report for your review.

What You Must Not Do

This section is important. The NDIS Act and NDIS Rules are clear, and the NDIA fraud team closely monitors spending patterns.

• Do not purchase items unrelated to your disability. Every item or service must connect to a support need arising from your disability. Groceries, household appliances, or general fitness memberships are not NDIS supports unless specifically funded and approved in your plan.
• Do not bulk-buy consumables in excess. Purchasing up to six months' worth of continence products is reasonable. Buying three years' worth just before your plan ends is not and will attract scrutiny.
• Do not pay in advance for future services beyond what is permitted. The NDIA's rules on prepayment are strict. Paying a provider for services that have not yet been delivered, simply to claim funds before expiry, is not allowed under the NDIS Pricing Arrangements.
• Do not transfer funds between budget categories. You cannot move Capacity Building money into Core Supports, or Capital Support money into anything else. The categories are legally separate.

Under Section 182 of the NDIS Act, the NDIA has powers to require repayment of funds that were not used in accordance with the participant's plan. Under the broader Commonwealth fraud framework, deliberate misuse of NDIS funds is a criminal offence. These risks are real and enforced.

If You're Significantly Underspent: Talk to Someone Before Your Review

Many participants do not realise that significant underspending can affect the funding level of their next plan. The NDIA considers your actual spending history when determining your next plan budget. If you consistently use only a small portion of your budget, your planner may assess whether you need the full amount at your next plan review.

This does not mean you should spend funds in a rush. Instead, have an honest conversation with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or Support Coordinator before your plan review about the reasons for your underspend. Common legitimate reasons include long waitlists for services, health episodes that interrupted support delivery, or periods of transition such as moving house. Document these reasons. A written explanation from your Support Coordinator or allied health provider can significantly influence your review outcome.

You have the right to request a plan review if your situation has changed. Following the NDIS Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Act 2024, which came into effect in October 2024, the review process has been updated, but your right to request a review remains. If your needs have increased or you have been unable to access the supports your plan was designed to fund, speak to your LAC or Support Coordinator about requesting a variation. Do not wait for the scheduled end date if your circumstances require earlier action.

The Bottom Line

Your NDIS plan provides funding based on your individual assessed needs. Using it fully on appropriate supports is not "taking advantage of the system." This is how the system is intended to work. The NDIS Act exists to provide Australians with disabilities the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live the life they choose. Claiming funding for legitimate support is your entitlement.

You are not entitled to spend funds on items that do not meet the legal test — and you should not let funds lapse without understanding why, because that history will be considered in your next plan review.

If you are unsure of your position, speak with your Support Coordinator, your plan manager, or your LAC. And if you do not have a Support Coordinator and your plan includes that funding — that is the first call to make.