The NDIS can sometimes feel like it has its own language. One of the most important terms you will come across in your plan is “Stated Support.”
Knowing what this means, how it affects your funding, and what is changing in 2026 will help you get the most out of your plan.
What is a Stated Support?
A Stated Support is funding in your NDIS plan that is set aside for one specific purpose.
When a support is listed as “stated,” you can only use that money for the exact support described.
You cannot swap it for something else, move it to a different category, or spend it on anything other than the support your plan has specified.
This rule comes from Section 46 of the NDIS Act, which requires that funds are spent in line with your plan.
If stated funds are used incorrectly, the NDIA can ask for that money to be paid back or they can change your plan to agency managed (true story).
Flexible vs. Stated Funding
To understand Stated Supports, it helps to compare them with Flexible Budgets.
| Feature | Flexible Budget | Stated Support |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Funding you can use across a range of eligible supports within a budget category. | Funding set aside for a specific item, service, or purpose that cannot be moved. |
| Participant Choice | High. You choose which eligible supports to buy, as long as you stay within your total budget. | Low. You must use the funding for the exact support described, though you can usually choose your provider. |
| Examples | Support worker hours, general therapy sessions, community access, transport. | High-cost assistive technology, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), home modifications. |
Common Examples of Stated Supports
The NDIA uses stated supports when it needs to make sure funding is used in a specific, safe, or cost-effective way.
Common examples of stated supports in the NDIS include:
- High-Cost or Complex Supports: Big-ticket items like Home Modifications, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), and Medium-Term Accommodation (MTA) are almost always stated.
- Items Requiring Quotes: Some supports need to be quoted and approved before the funding is available. These are automatically stated and include things like specialised transport, assistance dogs, and customised wheelchairs.
- Specific Therapy Requirements: Sometimes capacity-building funds are stated for a particular therapy, such as “Speech Pathology.” This means you cannot use that funding for Occupational Therapy or other allied health services.
The 2026 NDIS Reforms: What is Changing?
The Australian Government is making significant changes to the NDIS, with the biggest updates taking effect from 1 July 2026.
The goal is to make the system fairer, simpler, and easier to navigate. These changes will affect how budgets are structured and how stated supports work.
The New Two-Part Budget Structure
Right now, NDIS plans are divided into Core Supports, Capacity Building, and Capital Supports. From July 2026, this will be replaced with a simpler two-part structure: Flexible Budgets and Stated Supports.
The meaning of a Stated Support stays the same – funding locked in for a specific purpose – but the way plans are built around them will change.
More day-to-day funding will sit in the flexible budget, while stated items will be kept for specialised equipment, high-cost supports, or services that need NDIA oversight.
The NDIS Support List and Debt Recovery
From July 2026, the NDIS will have a legally binding Support List that clearly sets out what can and cannot be funded. If money is spent on something not on this list, or if stated funds are used for the wrong purpose, the NDIS can recover those funds as a debt.
This makes it more important than ever to understand exactly how your Stated Supports can be used and to choose a Plan Manager who will help you make sure you are spending your funds correctly.
Shorter Funding Periods
The 2026 reforms will also introduce shorter funding periods.
Rather than receiving your full budget as a yearly lump sum, flexible funding will be released in quarterly periods. We have seen this in effect already since 2025.
If you use up your quarterly amount before the period ends, claims will be rejected until the next quarter starts. Keeping a close eye on your spending will be key.
How a Plan Manager Can Help
Keeping track of Stated Supports and staying across the 2026 changes can feel like a lot. A good Plan Manager can take much of that pressure off.
A Plan Manager helps you manage your funding budgets and stick to your funding periods. They check every invoice against NDIS guidelines and your plan before making a payment.
If an invoice tries to claim against a Stated Support incorrectly, your Plan Manager will catch it – protecting you from accidental non-compliant spending and the risk of having to pay money back.
Note: While Plan Managers handle the financial side of your plan, their role does not include connecting you with service providers. Our friends at MyCareSpace will do that for you.
If you would like help managing your NDIS funding, staying on top of your Stated Supports, or getting ready for the 2026 changes, Plan Hero NDIS Plan Management is here to help:
