The agency running the National Disability Insurance Scheme slashed more than $2.8 billion from participant plans over a 21-month period, documents show, with “ruthless” cuts for whole categories of supports also set to begin today. Source: ABC News.
The figures, from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and recently released under Freedom of Information laws, cover participant plans reviewed by the NDIA between July 1, 2024, and March 31, 2026.
The data shows that since mid-2024, the number of plans cut after a reassessment per quarter has been rising, while increases have almost halved.
Of the NDIS plans reassessed between January 1 and March 31 this year, 18,037 were reduced — the most of any quarter since Q1 2024-25.
The 26,998 reassessed plans that increased during the same quarter was by far the lowest return since July 2024.
While $2.83 billion has been cut from reassessed packages since July 2024, $11.11 billion has been paid out across plans that were increased.
The figures align with anecdotal evidence from disability advocates, who have been increasingly reporting sudden cuts to plans, sometimes by staff with little understanding of disability.
Emma Bennison, CEO of Disability Advocacy Network Australia, said it appeared the NDIA was cutting plans long before a generational overhaul of the scheme was passed by the parliament in August.
“This matches what our members have been telling us for some time: plans are being reduced at review, decisions are harder to get changed, and people are coming to advocates when they are already in difficulty,” she said.
In a statement, a NDIA spokesperson said eligibility reassessments have been a normal practice in the NDIS since it began.
“It is normal for plans to go up and down as participants’ needs change over time. The purpose of many NDIS supports is to build capacity so participants will need less support over time,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said plan changes occurring “through the usual planning process” should “not be confused” with wider government reforms to be introduced gradually over time.
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Billions slashed from NDIS packages as reassessments lead to more cuts and less increases (By Evan Young, ABC News)
