Starting 1 October 2026, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will have new powers to suspend or revoke a participant’s plan if they cannot get in contact with them. Introduced under the Securing the NDIS Future Generations Bill, these "no contact" provisions received less airtime than other major reforms, but they carry significant consequences for your funding.
Not everyone is constantly glued to their phone, and many of us instinctively screen calls from unknown numbers. Beyond that, there are very legitimate reasons a person might drop off the radar: a health crisis, the breakdown of informal supports, cultural obligations, domestic and family violence, device dropouts, or financial pressure.
Despite these realities, failing to respond to the NDIA will soon put plan access at risk.
How the No Contact Powers Work
If the NDIA makes reasonable attempts to reach a participant or their nominee and receives no adequate response, they can take the following actions:
- Plan Suspension: The NDIA can suspend the NDIS plan. While suspended, participants cannot access any funding to pay for supports.
- Revocation of Status: If the lack of contact continues for at least 90 days after the plan is suspended, the NDIA can revoke the person’s status as an NDIS participant entirely.
- Conditional Reinstatement: If contact is made within that 90-day window, the NDIA can end the suspension, but they are not legally obligated to do so immediately. If the Agency previously requested specific information or reports, the suspension may remain in place until those documents are provided.
Safeguards and NDIA Obligations
To prevent people from losing access unfairly, the legislation includes specific rules the NDIA must follow before suspending a plan:
- The 5-Attempt Rule: The NDIA must make at least five direct contact attempts using the participant’s recorded preferred method of communication.
- Written Follow-up: If the preferred contact method is verbal (like a phone call), at least one of the five attempts must be made in writing.
- Strict Timeframes: The fifth and final contact attempt must be made at least three months, but no more than four months, after the first attempt. For example, if the first call is on 2 January, the final attempt must fall between 2 April and 2 May.
- Exemptions: Contact attempts do not count if the participant is in the hospital, living in another institution, or experiencing homelessness. Crucially, the NDIA does not have to investigate if these exemptions apply. They rely on being notified by a nominee, family member, health worker, or justice liaison officer.
Your Review Rights
If you or your nominee are caught up in these new rules, you have rights. The decision to suspend a plan or revoke participant status is a reviewable decision.
You can ask the NDIA to conduct an Internal Review of their decision. If you are unsatisfied with that outcome, you can appeal the decision externally to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).
How to Protect Your Plan Today
The most effective way to prevent an accidental suspension is to ensure the NDIA can reach you exactly how you prefer to be reached.
- Check your preferences: Log into your myplace portal or call the NDIA to confirm your preferred communication method (phone, email, post, or through a nominee) is accurate.
- Update your details: Notify the NDIA and your Plan Manager immediately if your phone number, email address, or living situation changes.
- Establish an emergency plan: If you enter the hospital or face a crisis, make sure a trusted provider, friend, or family member knows to notify the NDIA on your behalf so the contact rules are paused.