From 1 December 2026, the time to claim for an NDIS support drops from two years to 90 days. The clock starts on the day you deliver the support, which means the timing of your invoices is now more important than ever.
Our dedicated invoicing team has prepared this guide to explain how the new rules will work.
What Is the NDIS 90-Day Claiming Rule?
New NDIS legislation shortens the time to make a claim for supports under a participant's plan. Right now, a claim can be made up to two years after the support was delivered. From 1 December 2026, it will need to be made within 90 days.
A claim made after the 90 days won't be paid by the NDIS unless exceptional circumstances apply.
When Does the 90-Day Clock Start?
The 90 days are counted from the date you delivered each support. The date you create or send the invoice doesn't change that.
For example, say you deliver a session on 2 December and send the invoice on 20 February. By the time it reaches us, 80 of the 90 days have already gone. That leaves 10 days for us to process it and submit the claim.
If one invoice covers several sessions, each date of service has its own clock. On an invoice that covers a whole month, the first session's clock started weeks before the last. This is also why we ask you to list each date of service on its own line.
How Does Payment Work When You Invoice a Plan Manager?
A plan manager doesn't hold a participant's funding. The NDIA holds it and releases it claim by claim. Here's what happens when you invoice us:
- You send your invoice to us.
- We process it and submit the claim to the NDIA.
- The NDIA assesses the claim and releases the funding to us.
- We pay you.
Compliant invoices are typically processed within 72 hours, with payment made within 5 business days. The 90 days need to cover this whole journey, including the NDIA's own checks, so an invoice that reaches us in the last week of the window is cutting it very fine.
What Happens to Supports Delivered Before 1 December 2026?
Until 1 December 2026, a claim can still be made up to two years after the date of service. But the NDIA is already tightening its checks on older claims.
Until 15 October 2026:
- Less than six months after the date of service: your claim goes through the NDIA's standard checks.
- Six months or more after the date of service: the NDIA runs an extra integrity check. It may hold the claim for up to 28 days and ask for more information.
- More than two years after the date of service: the NDIA can't accept the claim.
From 15 October 2026:
- 90 days or less after the date of service: your claim goes through the NDIA's standard checks.
- More than 90 days after the date of service: the NDIA runs an extra integrity check. It may hold the claim for up to 28 days and ask for evidence before it's paid.
- More than two years after the date of service: the NDIA can't accept the claim.
The 90 days are counted to when the claim reaches the NDIA, so our processing time is part of it. The NDIA hasn't yet confirmed whether supports delivered before 1 December will keep the longer window or move to the 90-day limit. Whichever way it lands, the safest move is to send us any invoices you're holding for past supports now, rather than waiting for December. That way, payment for work you've already done isn't left to chance.
How Often Should NDIS Providers Invoice?
You're already juggling plenty and this doesn't ask you to change your systems. It just means setting aside a regular time each week or fortnight to send your invoices. A steady rhythm helps in three ways:
- Each batch stays small, so it's quicker to pull together.
- Your dates of service stay recent, so every claim has plenty of room inside the 90 days.
- Payments arrive on a steadier rhythm, which makes your cash flow easier to plan.
If you currently invoice monthly or at the end of a block of supports, moving to fortnightly is an easy first step.
Note: Before you send, check your invoice has everything we need with our Invoice Best Practices guide. Invoices with missing details take longer to process and under the new rule that time counts.
Looking for More Provider Tips?
For more provider tips, explore our Support Hub.
And for real-time management of your Provider Choice invoices on the go, don't forget there's ProCho Biz. Download it on Google Play or the App Store.
References:
NDIS | Increasing integrity checks on older claims
NDIS | Participant News, Thursday 20 August 2026
