An invoice from September is sitting in your inbox. You meant to send it on. Until now, that was an annoyance. From 1 December 2026, a delay like that can mean a support is never paid.
The NDIS 90-day claim rule means that from 1 December 2026, a claim must be made within 90 days of the day the support is delivered. Participants, providers and plan managers all share the job of getting claims in on time. This guide explains what changes and what to do now.
The Rule in Brief
From 1 December 2026, NDIS claims must be made within 90 days of the day the support is delivered, down from two years. Claims made later will not be paid unless exceptional circumstances apply. Claim past supports now, send receipts straight away, and ask providers to invoice every week.
What Is Changing
The NDIS amendment legislation replaces the current two-year claim window with 90 days. The Department of Health fact sheet says all claims for NDIS supports will need to be made within 90 days of service delivery. The NDIA’s own summary says the same: claims must be submitted within 90 days of delivering a support. You can read both: the Department of Health fact sheet and the NDIA summary.
The 90 days is counted from the day the support was delivered, not the day it was invoiced or paid for. Each date of service has its own clock.
Key Dates
- 15 October 2026. The NDIA began extra checks on claims made more than 90 days after delivery. These claims may be held for up to 28 days and you may be asked for evidence.
- Now to 30 November. Claim every support you have already received. Do not wait.
- 1 December 2026. The 90-day limit starts. Late claims will not be paid unless exceptional circumstances apply.
- Around 1 March 2027. The cut-off for a support delivered on 1 December. Ask your plan manager for exact dates.
One question is still open. We have not seen the NDIA confirm whether supports delivered before 1 December keep the two-year window. Do not assume they do. The safest approach is to claim everything you can now.
A Worked Example
Say a support worker visits on 1 December 2026. The cut-off for that visit falls around 1 March 2027. If the provider invoices on 20 February, only about nine days are left, and that includes the time the invoice spends with you, your plan manager and the NDIA’s system. Late invoices leave very little room.
That is why the clock matters for everyone. The earlier an invoice moves, the safer it is.
Who Needs to Do What
| Who | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Participants and families | Approve invoices quickly. Send receipts straight away. List supports not yet claimed. | Your delay uses up the 90 days |
| Providers | Invoice at the end of each week. Include the date of each support and the correct support item. | Each date of service has its own clock |
| Plan managers (us) | Check invoices, flag ones close to the limit and submit claims promptly. | Processing time counts too |
Our invoice processing guide shows what a compliant invoice needs, and our guide to invoice approval settings explains how to speed up approvals.
Where Claims Usually Get Stuck
Most late claims are not caused by one big failure. They come from small delays that add up:
- Missing details. An invoice without the ABN, date of support or support item has to go back to the provider.
- Waiting for approval. An invoice sits in an inbox for weeks.
- Monthly invoicing. The first session of the month has the least time left.
- Lost receipts. Reimbursements stall while someone hunts for proof of payment.
- Illness or a hospital stay. Admin falls behind when life gets hard.
Each one is fixable if you spot it early.
Your Checklist Before 1 December
- List unclaimed supports. Go through your records and note anything delivered but not yet invoiced or paid.
- Chase providers. Ask for outstanding invoices now, not in January.
- Send receipts promptly. Do not let them pile up. See our reimbursement guide.
- Ask providers to invoice weekly. Short gaps keep you well inside the window.
- Approve invoices quickly. Check them as soon as they arrive.
- Keep good records. Our record-keeping guide explains what to keep and for how long.
- Watch your budget. Our budget tracking guide helps you spot unclaimed supports.
Reimbursements and Providers
If you paid for a support yourself, submit the receipt right away. The 90 days runs from the day the support was delivered, so waiting to claim back does not stop the clock.
Providers should invoice at the end of each week rather than monthly. A monthly cycle can leave early sessions with only a few weeks left by the time everything has been processed.
How Pro Plan Managers Helps
We process compliant invoices in one to two business days, and we flag invoices that are getting close to the limit so they do not slip through. If something is missing, we contact the provider straight away. Participants can see what has been paid and what is still pending through their statements, which makes unclaimed supports easier to spot.
What If a Claim Is Late?
Do not assume an exception will apply. The NDIA can accept a late claim in exceptional circumstances, but it is a discretion, not a right, and the term is not defined in the sources we have seen.
- Tell your plan manager at once. The sooner we know, the sooner we can act.
- Explain the reason. Give the facts: what happened, and why the claim was delayed.
- Gather evidence. Collect invoices, messages and records that show the cause.
- Let us submit it. We can lodge the claim with the explanation, but the outcome is the NDIA’s decision.
Ready to talk it through?
Get Your Claims Under Control: Sign Up with Pro Plan Managers
Or call us to check your unclaimed supports — 1300 069 776 and we will find a time that suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 90-day rule apply if I am plan-managed?
Yes. The rule applies to all claims for NDIS supports. As a plan-managed participant, the time your invoice spends with you and your plan manager counts toward the 90 days, so quick approvals help.
When does the 90-day rule start?
It starts on 1 December 2026. From that date, a claim must be made within 90 days of the day the support is delivered.
What if an invoice is late?
Tell your plan manager straight away with the reason. A late claim will not be paid unless exceptional circumstances apply, and we cannot promise an exception will be accepted.
Can I still claim old supports before 1 December?
Yes, and you should. Claim every support you have already received now. We have not seen the NDIA confirm how supports delivered before 1 December will be treated, so do not rely on the old two-year window.