Plans are not meant to be set in stone. If your life or your support needs change a lot, you can ask the NDIS for a plan reassessment before your plan ends. This guide covers who can ask, what to send and what happens next.
The short answer
You can ask when your situation has significantly changed and your current plan no longer meets your needs. You need to fill in the plan reassessment request form and give recent evidence.
You, your plan nominee or your child representative must make the request. If you are thinking about a nominee, read NDIS nominee explained. A provider cannot do it for you. Your my NDIS contact can help with the form.
When to ask, and when not to
The NDIS describes a plan reassessment as getting a new plan with different supports. It may be right if you have ongoing changes to:
- your ability to do daily activities
- your living arrangements, education or work
- the help you get from others
If you have a regular check-in coming up, the NDIS says your my NDIS contact will contact you about 2 to 3 months before your plan's reassessment date. You only need the form when you need significant changes and no check-in is coming up.
If the change is smaller, ask about a plan variation. The NDIS can vary your plan without a full reassessment if your plan mostly works for you. See NDIS plan reassessment: what to expect.
Step by step
- Talk to your my NDIS contact. Describe what has changed and ask if a reassessment or a variation fits.
- Download the form. The plan reassessment request form is on the NDIS website, as a Word file or a PDF.
- Gather your evidence. See the next section.
- Fill in and check the form. The NDIS says it can only consider requests that come on the right form, include evidence and come from you, your nominee or your child representative.
- Send it. You can use the NDIS service hub, mail it, or give it to your my NDIS contact or local office in person.
- Keep a copy. Note the date you sent it.
What evidence to include
The NDIS says your evidence must show a significant change to your ongoing support needs. It can include assessments, reports or other evidence from treating healthcare professionals, therapists or support workers.
It must also be recent. The NDIS says this usually means within 4 months of the date you ask, and after the date your current plan was approved.
Good evidence says what has changed, since when, how it affects daily life and what supports might help. Our guide on allied health reports and evidence for a plan reassessment explains what therapists are asked to include. See also what is reasonable and necessary.
Your my NDIS contact can help you gather what you need.
What the NDIS looks at
A planner reviews:
- your current plan and how you have used it
- the information and evidence you have given
- how you use community and mainstream supports
- the change you want, and whether it is an NDIS support
- how your plan works as a whole package
- how the supports will help you work towards your goals
You can keep using your current plan while the NDIS decides.
Possible outcomes
The NDIS lists three outcomes from the request:
- No reassessment. This may happen if the evidence does not show a significant and ongoing change.
- Reassessment. The NDIS reassesses your plan with you. It says you will get a copy of your new plan within 7 days of it being approved.
- Variation. The NDIS changes your current plan if it mostly works for you.
The NDIS says it will tell you its decision within 90 days of a plan reassessment. If you disagree with a decision, you can ask for an internal review.
A short example
Kofi has a new health condition. His mobility has dropped and he now needs help in the shower. His plan has two months left, with no check-in booked.
He rings his my NDIS contact and downloads the form. His OT writes a report, and his GP gives a letter. Both are dated this month. Kofi fills in the form himself and sends it through the service hub. He keeps using his plan until he hears back.
Things that may change
The NDIS says it is updating its website to reflect new laws, and information on some pages may change. Check ndis.gov.au for the current form and rules before you send your request.
Tips for a strong request
A request is easier to assess when it is clear and complete.
- Describe the change in plain words. Say what is different now, when it started and how it affects your day.
- Match the evidence to the change. If your mobility has changed, a report from your physiotherapist or OT is more useful than a general letter.
- Check the dates. Evidence should be recent and dated after your current plan was approved.
- Use the right form. The NDIS says it can only consider requests on the right form.
- Ask for what you need. Say which supports you think are needed and why.
Keep copies of everything you send, with the date.
Getting help
You can ask your my NDIS contact to help with the form. A support coordinator, family member or advocate can help you gather evidence and write your description. The NDIS says you cannot give consent to a provider to make the request for you, so you, your nominee or your child representative need to submit it.
An independent disability advocate can help you with a request or a decision you disagree with. Our guide on what is reasonable and necessary explains the test planners use.
On Goodo
If you want to ask the community how others prepared their evidence, you can add your question to the Goodo list and we will email you when your area opens. The glossary also explains plan reassessment.
About this guide
Goodo is independent. We are not part of, or endorsed by, the NDIA or the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. This is general information, not legal advice. A free disability advocate can help you with your own situation. Rules change, so check ndis.gov.au or call the NDIS on 1800 800 110.
Frequently asked questions
When can I ask for a plan reassessment before my plan ends?
The NDIS says you may need one if your situation has significantly changed and your current plan no longer meets your needs. This could be ongoing changes to your ability to do daily activities, or to your living arrangements, education, work or help from others.
Who can make the request?
You, your plan nominee or your child representative must give the NDIS the completed plan reassessment request form. The NDIS says you cannot give consent to someone else, like a provider, to ask for you. Others can help you gather evidence.
What evidence do I need?
Evidence that shows a significant change to your ongoing support needs. This can include assessments or reports from treating healthcare professionals, therapists or support workers. The NDIS says it usually needs to be within 4 months of your request and dated after your current plan was approved.
Can I keep using my plan while I wait?
Yes. The NDIS says you can continue to use your current plan while it decides whether to do a reassessment. It will tell you the outcome, and you can ask for an internal review if you disagree.
What if the change is small?
The NDIS can vary your plan without a full reassessment if your plan mostly works for you. A variation is a smaller change to your current plan. Ask your my NDIS contact which fits your situation.
Sources
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