One piece of feedback the NDIA consistently heard after rolling out PACE was that participants found it difficult to manage their funding when it was all available at once. From May 2025, there are new options — and they’re worth understanding.
Information current as of May 2025. This article is general information only — not NDIS, legal, or financial advice.
The problem with lump-sum access
Under the original PACE rollout, participants could access their total plan funding at any point. For some, this created anxiety — spending too much early and running out before the plan ended, or hoarding funds unnecessarily because there was no structured release.
The new funding period options
The NDIA introduced funding periods — structured release schedules for PACE plans. The options are:
Quarterly: Funding is released in four equal portions across your plan year. Most participants receive this by default.
Monthly: Funding released monthly — useful for participants who need tighter cashflow management.
Upfront: The full amount available at the start of the plan period — for participants with good financial management or who need to make large upfront purchases (e.g., assistive technology).
Which option applies to me?
The NDIA determines your funding period based on your circumstances. If you want to request a change to your funding period schedule, speak to your Support Coordinator or contact the NDIA directly on 1800 800 110.
What happens if I run out before the next release?
If you exhaust your funding within a period, you won’t be able to access the next period early in most circumstances. This makes monitoring your spending even more important.
Your Support Coordinator monitors your budget across categories and can flag early if you’re tracking to run out before a release date — so you can adjust services accordingly.
Plan-managed participants
If you’re plan-managed, your plan manager handles the claims and tracks balances. Ask your plan manager to set up regular budget reports so you can see where your funding sits at all times.
Source: NDIS — PACE funding periods
General information only
This article is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute NDIS, legal, or financial advice. NDIS rules and supports vary by individual plan. For advice specific to your situation, speak with your Support Coordinator or contact the NDIA directly at ndis.gov.au or call 1800 800 110.