NDIS Eligibility Is Changing in 2028: Functional Assessment Explained

One of the biggest long term reforms is how people get into the NDIS. The change does not start until 2028, but it helps to understand it now.

From diagnosis to function

Today, access often depends on diagnosis lists. Under the reforms, eligibility will move to standardised functional assessment, which looks at how your disability affects daily life. A Technical Advisory Group is working through the detail with the disability community and the states.

Key dates

• 1 January 2028: new eligibility boundaries apply to people applying to join the scheme
• After that: existing participants are reassessed gradually over a transition period
• Alongside: foundational supports are being developed for people who do not qualify

What it means for current participants

Nothing changes to your plan right now. Reassessment will happen over time, not overnight. The most useful thing you can do is keep good evidence of how your disability affects your daily functioning, because function, not labels, is becoming the common language of the scheme.

A note on the noise

You will see scary headlines about people being kicked off the NDIS. The honest position is that detail is still being consulted on, advocacy groups are pushing hard on sequencing and fairness, and confirmed facts are the only solid ground. We stick to confirmed facts and update this page when they change.

Bookmark our reform hub for calm, factual updates as the detail is confirmed.

Last updated: June 2026. This article is general information only, current at the date of publishing. Always check the official NDIS and NDIS Commission websites for your own situation.