Average funding for NDIS participants: statistically, how much do people usually get per year?

This article explains national averages using the latest official data. It is general information, not individual advice.

Quick summary

• The average annualised plan budget for active NDIS participants at 30 September 2025 was $84,500. For participants not in Supported Independent Living (SIL) it was $63,900; for participants in SIL it was $485,400(NDIA, 2025a; NDIA, 2025b).
• The average payments actually claimed and paid over the prior 12 months to 30 September 2025 were $65,800overall, $45,900 for non‑SIL participants, and $438,200 for SIL participants (NDIA, 2025a).
• Differences are large and skewed: the presence of SIL support and a small number of very high‑needs packages push the mean upward (PC, 2025). Thinking in terms of cohorts (with SIL vs without SIL) gives a clearer picture than one overall average.

What the terms mean (so the numbers make sense)

• Annualised plan budget / annualised committed supports: the total value of supports a participant is funded for in their current plan, scaled to a full year (NDIA, 2025a).
• Payments: the supports actually delivered and claimed over a period (for the dashboard this is the 12 months prior to the reporting date) (NDIA, 2025a).
• Utilisation: payments as a proportion of the plan budget. Utilisation is influenced by market access, workforce availability, personal circumstances, and plan management arrangements (NDIA, 2025a; ANAO, 2024).

The latest national averages (September 2025)

Using the NDIA’s National Quarterly Performance Dashboard and the official Quarterly Report appendices:

• All participants (combined): average annualised plan budget $84,500; average payments $65,800.
• Participants not in SIL: average annualised plan budget $63,900; average payments $45,900.
• Participants in SIL: average annualised plan budget $485,400; average payments $438,200 (NDIA, 2025a; NDIA, 2025b).

Note: the mean is not the median. Because SIL packages are much larger, the overall mean is higher than what a typical non‑SIL participant experiences (PC, 2025).

How this compares with earlier periods

• June 2024: national average annualised plan budget $80,000; $59,000 for non‑SIL; $451,000 for SIL (PC, 2025).
• June 2025: national average $82,500; $62,100 non‑SIL; $473,900 SIL (NDIA, 2025c).
  The upward movement across years reflects both price indexation and changes in participant mix and needs. Over recent years, average payments per participant grew by roughly 10–12% p.a. on average, though the growth rate is now moderating (NDIA, 2025d).

Why some people receive far more (or less) than the average

1) Supported Independent Living (SIL). Packages with SIL are an order of magnitude higher than non‑SIL packages due to 24/7 supports, shared living costs, and staffing ratios (PC, 2025).
2) Primary disability and functional impact. High personal‑care needs, complex behaviours, or communication supports increase budgets in Core: Daily Activities and Capacity Building: Daily Activities (NDIA, 2025a).
3) Age cohort. Children typically have lower average payments than adults because their supports are concentrated in therapy and capacity‑building rather than daily personal care (NDIA, 2023).
4) Geography and market access. Remote and very remote districts show lower utilisation due to service availability and travel constraints (ANAO, 2024).
5) Plan management and provider pricing. Price limits and the structure of support categories affect how much of a budget is practically usable (ANAO, 2024).

Inside a typical plan (categories and proportions)

At a national level (September 2025), the largest shares of plan budgets sit in Core – Daily Activities and Core – Social and Civic Participation, followed by Capacity Building – Daily Activities. Capital items (Assistive Technology, Home Modifications) appear less frequently but create large spikes when present (NDIA, 2025b).

Interpreting your plan against the averages

• Focus on your cohort. If you are not in SIL, the more relevant comparator is the $63,900 non‑SIL average rather than the overall mean.
• Consider utilisation, not just the headline budget. For non‑SIL participants, average payments ($45,900) suggest a gap between what is funded and what gets used—often due to provider availability, session cancellations, or life events (NDIA, 2025a; ANAO, 2024).
• Averages are not targets. Plans are individualised. A higher or lower budget can be appropriate depending on functional needs and goals.

What might change next

Planning settings are in flux. The government has signalled a move to more standardised, tool‑driven assessments to improve consistency across plans, alongside work on market stewardship and foundational supports outside the Scheme (NDIA, 2025e; NDIS Review, 2023). If implemented, cohort averages may shift, and budget dispersion (the spread between high and low packages) could change.

Frequently asked questions

Is “average” the amount most people get?
No. Because of skew, the typical non‑SIL participant sits nearer the non‑SIL mean and likely below the overall mean.

Why is my utilisation low?
Common reasons: provider shortages, travel/time barriers, health interruptions, and supports budgeted but not yet set up (for example, AT). Using plan management efficiently and setting up regular bookings can increase utilisation.

Does a higher budget guarantee better outcomes?
Evidence suggests outcomes depend on the fit between funded supports and needs, and on whether supports are actually delivered—not just on budget size.

References

ANAO (Australian National Audit Office) (2024) Effectiveness of the NDIA’s management of Assistance with Daily Life supports. Canberra: ANAO.

NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) (2023) Annual Financial Sustainability Report 2021–22 summary. Canberra: NDIA.

NDIA (2025a) National Quarterly Performance Dashboard — 30 September 2025. Canberra: NDIA.

NDIA (2025b) NDIS Quarterly Report to disability ministers — 30 September 2025, Appendices. Canberra: NDIA.

NDIA (2025c) National Dashboard — 30 June 2025. Canberra: NDIA.

NDIA (2025d) Annual Financial Sustainability Report (AFSR) 2023–24 summary and updates. Canberra: NDIA.

NDIA (2025e) NDIS Quarterly Report published — March 2025 (media update). Canberra: NDIA.

NDIS Review (2023) NDIS Review: Costs, benefits and frameworks (Taylor Fry & CIE report). Canberra: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

PC (Productivity Commission) (2025) Report on Government Services 2025 — Services for people with disability. Canberra: PC.

How to cite this article

Therapy Near Me (2025) ‘Average funding for NDIS participants: statistically, how much do people usually get per year?’. Available at: TherapyNearMe.com.au (Accessed 9 December 2025).