Complaints about the National Disability Insurance Scheme have soared by about 700 per cent in the past year.

Reports to the Commonwealth Ombudsman jumped from 62 in 2015-16 to 429 last financial year, amid the NDIS' troubled nationwide rollout.

Many issues related to the crucial planning process which determines how much funding — and what supports — people can access.

Participants were not happy with the NDIS' planning staff, while others were angry that planning meetings were held over the phone.

"I didn't find it really respectful that people just phoned to go through what is essentially a really large life plan," said Ross Joyce from the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations.

"We were certainly not supportive of the approach that was taken," he said.

Advocates said people with neurological conditions or mental illnesses were among those impacted by the lack of face-to-face meetings.

Disability organisations said NDIS plans developed over the phone often left people without services and equipment they needed.

"That has now changed … and we're very grateful that's been implemented and people with disabilities have been listened to," Mr Joyce said.

Other complaints related to the NDIS' online portals, along with delays with quotes and payments.

The watchdog received 188 grievances in the three months to June 30 this year — more than the body received during the scheme's first three years.

It investigated 124 of last year's complaints and demanded urgent action from the NDIS for another 44.

Approximately 30,000 people joined the NDIS during its trial phase, before another 60,000 entered over the year to June 30.

"It is a major social change across Australia … there are going to be some initial teething problems," Mr Joyce said.

Cash splash to deal with complaints

The ABC can also reveal the Federal Government quietly boosted the Ombudsman's funding by $6.4 million in May's budget to deal with rising NDIS complaints.

Additional funding will reach nearly $2 million in both the 2019 and 2020 financial years.

A spokeswoman for the Ombudsman said the funding was "to ensure its capacity to safeguard people with disability in their dealings with the NDIA [National Disability Insurance Agency]".

"[We] will closely monitor the volume and types of complaints it receives about the NDIA as national implementation of the NDIS continues," she said.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Government body overseeing the NDIS welcomed the oversight.

"[The agency] is actioning all recommendations arising from the Ombudsman's office in relation to complaints," she said.

"The NDIA encourages anyone unhappy with their NDIS experience to contact us so we can continue to improve during this important period of transition."