NDIS appeals up 130pc in two years

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 24, 2026

NDIS recipients lodging appeals against changes to their plans surged by 130 percent over two years, reaching 9,351 cases in 2025-26, making these disputes the third-largest category handled by the Administrative Review Tribunal. This sharp rise, amid major government reforms tightening eligibility and funding, is straining tribunal resources and prolonging resolution times, highlighting challenges in managing the growing backlog.

The number of appeals lodged by National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) recipients disputing changes to their plans has risen sharply over the past two years, according to the latest report from the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). The tribunal’s annual report, released on Friday, reveals a 130 percent increase in NDIS-related appeals since the 2023-24 financial year, with 9,351 cases recorded in 2025-26, up from 7,935 the previous year.

NDIS appeals now represent the third-largest category of disputes handled by the ART, trailing only migration and protection matters, which include student visa cases that also saw a notable 42 percent increase in on-hand cases. The report highlights a 21 percent rise in the number of appeals still active at the end of the reporting period, reaching 7,077 cases.

Most appeals—approximately 80 percent—relate to plan decisions, encompassing disputes over funding allocations and eligibility criteria. The median time to resolve these appeals extended from 27 to 34 weeks within the last year, with delays primarily linked to plan reviews. While the tribunal finalised 61 percent more NDIS cases year-on-year, the growing backlog indicates system pressures remain acute.

The increase in appeals comes as the Albanese government begins implementing major reforms to the NDIS, passed into law in September. The changes aim to save $38 billion over four years by tightening eligibility and removing roughly 240,000 participants from the scheme. However, these new measures were not reflected in the last financial year’s data, and disability providers and advocates have raised concerns about the appeals process being overwhelmed as recipients contend with funding cuts and reduced supports.

The ART was fully transitioned from the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) by June 2025 to enhance efficiency and reduce backlogs. Despite this, the tribunal reported a shortfall of 90.4 full-time members compared to budgeted staffing levels, posing challenges for case management. Principal registrar Michael Hawkins had previously noted in 2025 that inadequate resources were significantly affecting stakeholders and tribunal staff.

Looking ahead, the ART expects the current demand for appeals to remain steady or increase in the foreseeable future. However, the tribunal pointed to progress made through its NDIS Early Childhood Project, which has successfully reduced delays for children seeking access to the scheme, with cases now determined within six months.

As NDIS reforms continue to roll out, the tribunal’s report underscores the growing strain on Australia's disability review system and the need for sufficient resources to manage the increasing volume of disputes.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.