Keeping your plan when you start work
Starting a job doesn't automatically cut your NDIS plan. Here's how work may change some supports, and why income and disability need differ.
If you've been holding back from work because you're worried it will cost you your NDIS plan, this guide is for you. Starting a job does not automatically cut your plan. Here we explain why income and disability need are different things, how work might reshape some supports over time, and what to do when your circumstances change.
The worry, and the reassurance
Why income and disability need are different
How work might change your supports
What to do when your circumstances change
Common myths, gently untangled
Getting the balance right
Frequently asked questions
Will my plan be cancelled if I get a job?
No. Getting a job doesn't automatically cancel or cut your NDIS plan. Your funding is based on disability support needs, not your income or employment status.
Do I have to tell the NDIS I'm working?
You don't need to hide it, and earning income isn't a problem. If work changes what support you need, that's worth raising at your planning conversation, but a wage on its own doesn't reduce your plan.
Is the NDIS means-tested?
No. Unlike some income-support payments, the NDIS isn't means-tested. It funds disability support regardless of your earnings or assets.
Could my supports still change after I start work?
They might, but as a fit to your changing needs, not a punishment. You may need less daytime support and more on-the-job or evening support, for example. Changes happen through planning conversations.
What's a reassessment?
A reassessment is the current term for reviewing your plan. It looks at your support needs and whether your plan still fits your life — including new needs that work may have created.