NDIS Price Guide 2026 and Support Rates Explained
The official ndis price guide 2026 sets the maximum rates providers can charge for funded supports under NDIA-managed and plan-managed funding. We follow these price caps across Gippsland and Cardinia so your funding goes to direct care without unexpected fees.
Key Takeaways
Price limits are maximum legal ceilings, not minimum or mandatory fees.
Standard weekday daytime core support work is capped at $73.58 per hour nationally.
Higher price limits do not increase your total plan funding.
Providers cannot charge separate fees for onboarding, file setup, or routine admin.
Suffixes like PT and NF show travel and paperwork charges on invoices.
What Are the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits?
The ndis price guide 2026 outlines what providers can charge against your plan budget. Formally called the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, this system sets price ceilings across every approved support item. It stops overcharging while covering award wages for disability workers.
Before comparing prices, check what NDIS funds can be used for. Price limits are upper ceilings, not set rates. You and your provider can always agree on lower fees.
How these limits apply depends on how your plan is managed:
NDIA-managed plans must follow official price limits. Invoices above the cap are rejected.
Plan-managed plans require both registered and unregistered providers to bill within the caps. Plan managers cannot pay above the limit.
Self-managed plans do not have maximum price caps. You can negotiate custom hourly rates directly with your workers.
Major Price Updates and Policy Reforms for 2026
The annual pricing review brought several updates into effect on 1 July 2026. These changes follow decisions from the Fair Work Commission to match rising operating costs and superannuation rates.
Disability support work saw a 4.75% increase for core support. Standard weekday daytime care went from $70.23 to $73.58 per hour. This change directly updates the disability support worker cost model so workers receive proper pay for daily community support.
Therapy disciplines saw mixed adjustments:
Psychology rose by $20.00 to $252.99 per hour.
Dietetics and exercise physiology sit at $178.99 and $161.99 per hour.
Physiotherapy remained frozen at $183.99 per hour.
Speech pathology and occupational therapy stayed at $193.99 per hour.
Support coordination rates stayed flat across all levels: Level 1 is $80.06 per hour, Level 2 is $100.14 per hour, and Level 3 is $190.54 per hour. Monthly plan management fees stayed at $104.45, and setup fees remain abolished.
Two structural rules also took effect. Supported Independent Living providers must now hold full registration to deliver services. From 1 January 2027, unregistered providers of social and community activities face a 10% cut to their price caps.
Price Limits for Common Supports in Victoria
Current hourly rates show how many support hours your budget covers each week. These limits apply to our in-home disability support across Pakenham and Gippsland towns.
Weekday Rates
Weekday daytime (6:00 AM to 8:00 PM): $73.58 per hour standard, or $79.60 per hour for high intensity.
Weekday evening (8:00 PM to midnight): $81.07 per hour standard, or $87.71 per hour for high intensity.
Weekday night (shifts starting before 6:00 AM): $82.57 per hour standard, or $89.34 per hour for high intensity.
Weekend and Public Holiday Rates
Saturday: $103.54 per hour standard, or $112.01 per hour for high intensity.
Sunday: $133.50 per hour standard, or $144.41 per hour for high intensity.
Public holidays: $163.46 per hour standard, or $176.84 per hour for high intensity.
Night-time sleepover: $311.79 per shift.
High intensity rates apply only when workers assist with complex medical needs or behaviour support plans. Our guide to social and community participation funding explains how group rates are shared.
When NDIS price limits rise, your total plan budget does not increase with them. If your hourly rates go up but your total dollars stay the same, your plan buys fewer hours of care. If you run low on funding, you will need to request a plan review with the NDIA.
How to Read Support Catalogue Line Items on Invoices
Invoices list item numbers from the national support catalogue. Reading these codes helps you check that charges match the support you received.
A standard code like 01_011_0107_1_1 breaks down into five parts:
01: Support category (Assistance with Daily Life).
011: Registration group for the service.
0107: Specific item number.
1: Outcome domain (Daily Living).
1: Support purpose (Core funding).
Invoices also use code letters at the end of the item number to explain what kind of work was done:
_PT: Provider travel time.
_NF: Non-face-to-face tasks like care planning or documentation.
_RR: Formal reports requested by the NDIA.
_CA: Short-notice cancellations.
_TH: Telehealth appointments.
Travel Limits, Shift Windows, and Regional Rules
Travel rules make sure workers are paid fairly for travel across Gippsland and the Cardinia Shire without draining your funding. Provider travel time for allied health is capped at 50% of the direct hourly fee. An occupational therapist charging $193.99 per hour can claim up to $97.00 per hour for travel time.
Travel time pays for a worker's time on the road, while vehicle running costs cover fuel and wear. Fuel, road tolls, and parking must be listed separately in your agreement. Activity-based transport uses a $1.00 unit rate to track kilometres driven with you during a shift.
Your service location sets your price cap under the Modified Monash Model from the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care:
MMM 1 to MMM 5: Metropolitan and regional centres use base national rates with 0% loading.
MMM 6: Remote towns receive a 40% loading on standard hourly caps.
MMM 7: Very remote areas receive a 50% loading on standard hourly caps.
Rates depend on where the service happens, not where you live. Shift timing also determines your costs. Daytime rates run from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and evening rates run from 8:00 PM to midnight.
Section 2.4(c) of the Pricing Schedule outlines the crossover shift rule. If a single shift crosses from daytime into evening hours, the higher evening rate applies to the entire shift instead of splitting the time into two different prices.
Service Agreements, Fees, and Invoicing Disputes
Service agreements record what you and your provider agreed to before work begins. When the NDIA publishes new price guides, providers cannot change your rates automatically. You need to agree to new rates in writing before they can be billed.
Providers cannot charge extra fees for routine business costs. File setup charges, onboarding fees, and gap payments are banned under NDIS rules. Standard hourly caps already cover office staff, insurance, and company overheads.
Compliant Billing Practices
Billing only for direct care hours delivered.
Listing travel separately with _PT line items.
Applying standard shift times to invoices.
Sending clear, itemised receipts.
Prohibited Billing Practices
Charging setup, intake, or exit fees.
Adding gap fees on top of standard caps.
Billing unapproved office administration fees.
Splitting shifts to charge higher penalty rates.
Check your invoices against your service records:
Confirm your provider holds current registration for specialised services like SIL.
Check that billed hours match your signed time records.
Make sure non-face-to-face tasks were pre-approved in your agreement.
Track your remaining balance so you do not run out of funds early.
If you find an incorrect line item or an overcharge, write to your provider and request an adjustment. If they do not fix the bill, submit a complaint to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission for review.
Frequently Asked Questions About the NDIS Price Guide 2026
What is the standard weekday hourly rate for support workers in 2026?
The national price limit for weekday daytime disability support work is $73.58 per hour. This rate covers daily personal care and community access between 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM on weekdays.
Do higher price limits increase my total plan funding automatically?
No. Higher price limits do not add money to your plan. Your total budget stays the same, so your plan buys fewer hours of care unless the NDIA approves a budget increase during a review.
Can providers charge extra fees for client onboarding or administration?
No. Providers cannot bill for account setup, intake meetings, or routine administrative work. These costs are already included in the standard hourly caps.
How does the crossover shift rule work on late shifts?
If a support shift crosses between day and evening hours, the entire shift is billed at the higher rate rather than being split into separate blocks of time.
Need help reviewing your support hours?
Setting up clear service agreements keeps your supports running smoothly. Our Gippsland and Cardinia team can help you review your hourly rates, arrange shift times, and organise local support workers.