The 1 October 2026 deadline: what unregistered SIL providers must do
If you deliver supported independent living (SIL) or an NDIS digital platform service and you're not registered, 1 October 2026 is the date that matters. Here's exactly what it requires, what happens if you miss it, and what you can still do right now.
This is the first hard deadline in the NDIS's move to mandatory registration, and it's narrow but firm. If it applies to you, the safe target is a complete application lodged well before 1 October — not registration finished by then, but lodged.
Who this deadline applies to
The 1 October 2026 cut-off applies to providers delivering, from 1 July 2026, either of the two supports brought into mandatory registration:
- Supported independent living (SIL) — registration group 0138.
- NDIS digital platform services — registration group 0137.
It does not apply if what you do isn't SIL under the Rules — for example, if a person only receives a few hours of support a week, or chooses and manages their own support workers. Not sure which side of the line you're on? Work through am I affected by mandatory registration first. Support-coordination registration was consulted on but is currently paused, so it's not caught by this deadline.
What "apply by 1 October" actually means
You meet the deadline by being registered, or by having lodged a registration application, by 1 October 2026. The NDIS is explicit that a lodged application is enough to keep going: providers who have applied can continue claiming under the new SIL code 0138 while their application is assessed (NDIS, SIL claims and payment changes).
Because a full registration includes an independent audit that takes time, the realistic goal is a complete, accurate application in the Commission's portal before the date — then work through the audit. Leaving it to late September risks a rushed application, and audit lead times you can't control.
What happens if you miss it
The consequences are practical and financial, not just theoretical:
- Claiming stops. An unregistered SIL provider who has not applied by 1 October 2026 can only claim for services delivered up to 30 September 2026. From 1 October, plan managers are told to reject invoices from SIL providers who are neither registered nor have applied to register.
- Participants get moved. The NDIA is telling participants whose SIL provider doesn't register that it will help them move to a registered provider. Miss the window and you risk your participants being transitioned to a registered competitor.
In short: no application by 1 October means you can't be paid for SIL delivered from that date, and your participants have a reason (and help) to leave.
A one-page checklist that maps the NDIS Practice Standards to what you need in place before your registration audit. Enter your email to download it.
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Can you keep operating while you apply?
Yes — that's the point of the transition. If you delivered SIL before 1 July 2026 and you lodge a registration application under group 0138, you can keep delivering and keep claiming under 0138 while the Commission assesses your application. Your registration only becomes a problem if you don't apply before the cut-off. Including your application (or registration) number on invoices is encouraged and helps plan managers pay you without friction.
What to do right now
With the deadline weeks away, the priority order is:
- Confirm you're actually caught — test what you deliver against the SIL definition (am I affected?).
- Get worker screening moving — clearances for key personnel and risk-assessed workers are the most common delay, and they're state-administered.
- Start the application — work through the seven-step process and lodge before 1 October so you can keep claiming while assessed.
- Engage an approved quality auditor once you have your Initial Scope of Audit — get more than one quote.
If you're a SIL provider on ProviderScout, make sure your listing reflects your registration or application status — it's exactly what participants and coordinators are checking as the deadline nears.
How to verify this information
These dates and rules come straight from the NDIS — check them, and the date on anything you read:
- SIL claims and payment changes from 1 July 2026 (the 30 September claiming cut-off + apply-by rule).
- Mandatory registration on the NDIS Commission site.
- NDIS news 11561 for the participant view.
ProviderScout is an independent directory, not affiliated with the NDIA or NDIS Commission.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NDIS registration deadline for SIL providers?
1 October 2026. Unregistered SIL (and NDIS digital-platform) providers must be registered, or have lodged a registration application, by that date to keep delivering these supports. Mandatory registration commenced 1 July 2026; the 1 October date is the cut-off to have applied.
What happens if I miss the 1 October 2026 deadline?
An unregistered SIL provider who hasn't applied by 1 October 2026 can only claim for services delivered up to 30 September 2026. From 1 October, plan managers are instructed to reject invoices from SIL providers who are neither registered nor have applied. The NDIA also helps affected participants move to a registered provider.
Can I keep operating while my NDIS registration is assessed?
Yes. If you delivered SIL before 1 July 2026 and lodge an application under registration group 0138, you can keep delivering and claiming under 0138 while the Commission assesses your application. Applying before 1 October 2026 is what keeps you compliant during the process.
Does the deadline apply if participants self-manage their workers?
No. It's not SIL — and the deadline doesn't apply — where a person chooses and manages their own support workers, or only receives a few hours of support a week. SIL means managing and delivering home-and-living support for someone who needs support at or for most of the day.
Is it too late to register before 1 October 2026?
No, but act now. A full registration includes an independent audit that takes time, so the realistic goal is a complete application lodged in the Commission's portal before 1 October — a lodged application is enough to keep claiming while you're assessed. Start worker screening immediately, as it's the most common cause of delay.
Related
A one-page checklist that maps the NDIS Practice Standards to what you need in place before your registration audit. Enter your email to download it.
You’ll get the download on the next page, plus occasional registration updates. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.