A plan reassessment can result in more, fewer or different supports. Requesting an NDIS plan reassessment does not guarantee an increase: the new plan replaces your current one. If you are concerned about what might change, understand the process before deciding what to do.

It is understandable to want your supports to keep meeting your needs while feeling unsure about requesting a review. This article explains when reassessments happen, when you can ask for one earlier and when a plan variation may be considered instead. You will also learn what evidence to prepare and what to expect after submitting a request, so you can take your next step with a clearer picture of your options.

I Keep Hearing That People Sometimes Get Less After a Plan Reassessment: Is This True?

Yes. A reassessment replaces your current plan, and the new plan may include more, fewer or different supports. Before acting, identify whether you want a new plan or a particular decision reviewed.

1. Distinguish reassessments from decision reviews

   Write down what you want the Agency to reconsider. A plan reassessment considers your current needs and support arrangements to create a new plan. A review of a decision challenges a specific Agency decision, such as a decision about funded supports. These are different processes, so clearly identify the decision or change you are asking about.

   Check the date and wording of the Agency decision letter, then compare it with the official guidance about changing your plan. If your concern is that a funding decision was wrong, an internal review may fit better than asking for a new plan. If your support needs have changed, explain what has changed and why your current plan no longer meets those needs. A reassessment can affect the whole plan, not just one support.

   Keep the possible outcomes in mind. When requesting an NDIS plan reassessment, a new plan can include more, fewer or different supports, and a plan review does not guarantee increased funding. Gather information about your needs and related supports rather than assuming a reassessment will simply add the item you requested.

2. Review the funding decision

   If you disagree with a funding decision, you can ask for the decision to be reviewed. People who were not involved in creating the plan conduct the review. State which decision you disagree with and why, then provide information to support your view. Keep a copy of your request and decision letter so you can refer to the same details.

   If the Agency refuses a plan reassessment or funding request, you can request an internal review of the relevant decision within three months of its date. Focus on the decision itself and explain why you believe it should be reconsidered.

   Allow for two different timeframes when a plan review is requested. The Agency will decide whether to review an NDIS plan within 14 days of receiving the request form. For a valid reassessment request with all required information and evidence, the Agency has up to 90 days to decide whether to reassess the plan. The first timeframe concerns whether to review; the second concerns whether to reassess after receiving a complete request.

   Keep decision letters and correspondence together. If the Agency reviews your plan, read the new plan carefully. Compare its supports with your current plan and the needs you described. If the outcome still concerns you, identify the particular decision and its date before considering your next step.

Plan variations as an alternative to reassessment

Start by identifying whether the change you need is minor or affects your broader support needs. The NDIA may consider a plan variation instead of a full reassessment, as explained in its information about changing your plan.

1. Describe the specific adjustment you need. A plan variation can make a minor change to part of your plan without replacing the whole plan. Identify the item or arrangement you want changed and explain how the change would help. Keep your request focused on that adjustment.

   For example, if one detail in your plan needs updating, describe it clearly. If your day-to-day support needs have changed more widely, explain the broader change. The NDIA considers whether a smaller plan change could meet your needs or whether a reassessment is more appropriate.

2. Compare the scope of the change with what a reassessment would address. A variation covers a minor change to part of your plan. A reassessment looks at the plan again and can result in a new plan with more, fewer or different supports.

   Write down what is working in your current plan and what is not, then consider whether one adjustment could address the gap. If the change affects several parts of your support or your needs have shifted significantly, explain that clearly. Avoid describing a broad change as a small administrative update or presenting one minor adjustment as a reason to reconsider the entire plan.

3. Keep a plan variation separate from a review of a funding decision. A variation requests a minor change to part of a plan. An internal review asks the NDIA to reconsider a particular decision. If you disagree with a funding decision, identify it and its date. If you need a plan change, describe the adjustment you want and why it is needed.

   These requests address different concerns. Name the outcome you are seeking so the NDIA can consider the relevant pathway. For example, explain whether you want to change one part of your current plan or challenge a decision about funded supports. If both concerns apply, set them out separately rather than relying on one request to explain both.

4. The NDIA will consider your request and may decide that a plan variation could meet your needs instead of a reassessment. Explain why the proposed change fits your situation, and include information linking it to your support needs and goals.

   Keep your explanation practical. State what has changed, which part of the plan is affected and how the adjustment would help. If a small change would not address the wider issue, explain what remains unmet. This gives the NDIA a clearer basis for considering a variation or reassessment.

Preparing documents and evidence of progress towards goals

For a reassessment request, provide current evidence explaining your support needs and goals. Supporting evidence must be no more than four months old when submitted.

Useful documents can include an allied health letter and information from service providers about the supports delivered and those needed to work towards your goals.

1. Identify the evidence needed

   Start with the change or support gap you want considered. Match each point in your request with evidence explaining its effect on your daily support needs or goals. For example, if you need a different level of assistance, ask the relevant professional to describe the support required and why.

   Check the date on each document before sending it. Evidence must be no more than four months old when submitted. Older documents may not reflect your current circumstances, so arrange updated information where needed. Keep the files together and note which point in your request each document supports.

2. Gather evidence to support the request

   Ask service providers for information about the supports they have delivered and those you need to work towards your goals for the next year. Their information can show the difference between your current support and what you say you need. Ask them to connect the details to your goals, rather than providing only a general description.

   An allied health letter can describe a recommended service and its frequency. For example, it may specify one hour a week for six months. Ask the practitioner to explain how the recommendation relates to your needs and goals. You can use the NDIA’s information about changing your plan when organising the supporting material.

3. Describe your goals and progress in your own words. For each goal, note what support has helped, what remains difficult and what support you are seeking. If a goal has changed, explain how it relates to your current plan. Linking your goals clearly to the requested supports makes the evidence easier to follow.

   Separate information about progress from information about support needs. Progress notes show what you have worked towards. Provider or allied health information can explain the support needed to continue that work. Together, these documents give context to your request, rather than leaving it as a list of supports.

4. Organise your documents before submitting them. Make a simple list showing each file’s date, author and the point it supports. Check that names and details are readable, and include relevant pages rather than unrelated records. Keep a copy of your request and attachments so you can refer to the same evidence later.

   Check the dates again on the day you submit. If a document is more than four months old, arrange current evidence before sending your request. This final check helps ensure your supporting material reflects your circumstances when you submit.

What if My Circumstances Change and I Need to Review My Plan Early?

You can request an unscheduled reassessment at any time if your circumstances change. The NDIA decides whether to review your plan, taking into account the change and its effect on your support needs.

1. Identify what has changed and when it began. Under Section 48(1) of the NDIS Act, a participant can request an unscheduled reassessment when circumstances change. The request must come from the participant, their plan nominee or a child representative. Use the change of circumstances form to explain what happened and why the current plan no longer meets the participant’s needs.
2. Explain how the change affects your support needs. An early reassessment is for a significant, ongoing change, not simply a short-term disruption. For example, describe how a lasting change affects everyday support or makes your current plan arrangements unsuitable. A temporary change may not qualify, so distinguish a short-term situation from a continuing change.

   Running out of funding alone is not enough to qualify for an early reassessment. Explain the change in circumstances behind your request and show how it affects your support needs. Focus on what is different now and what your current plan cannot address.

3. Include relevant changes to living arrangements, education or employment. If a new living arrangement is ongoing or expected to last for more than a year, describe it and its effect on your support needs. For a change in education or employment, explain what has changed in your routine and what support you now need to participate or work towards your goals.

   Connect future plans to your current support needs. A goal such as starting a course or changing work arrangements can help explain the support you are seeking. Set out the intended change, the steps involved and how it affects your current plan. Keep future goals distinct from changes that have already happened.

4. Gather evidence to support your explanation. Include information showing the change, its ongoing effect and the support you need now. A clear comparison can help: describe the situation before the change, what is different and which plan supports no longer meet your needs. Attach relevant documents rather than relying on a general statement.
5. The NDIA may consider different responses. It may reassess your plan, make a smaller change through a plan variation or leave the plan unchanged. Explain why the change needs attention and what outcome would address the current support gap. The NDIA does not have to agree to review the plan, so make the reason for your request clear.

How often NDIS plan reassessments happen

Use the reassessment date in your plan to prepare ahead. Most people on the NDIS have a plan reassessment every year, but the date on your plan helps you prepare for your own planning conversation.

1. Find the reassessment date in your current plan and add it to your calendar. Work backwards from that date: note when you want to review your goals, collect provider information and prepare questions. This gives you a practical routine for the next reassessment, rather than leaving preparation until the meeting is close.

   Keep your plan and calendar entry together so family members or representatives can find the same information. If the date changes, update the reminder and share it with anyone helping you prepare.

2. Between reassessments, track how your supports relate to your goals. Record changes in what you need, which supports you use and where gaps remain. Brief notes made as changes happen can help you describe your circumstances accurately later.

   For example, if one goal is to take part in a regular activity, note what support helps you attend and what makes participation difficult. This creates a practical record to discuss at your next planning conversation.

3. Prepare for the conversation with the right person for your age. People aged 7 to 65 have a plan reassessment conversation with an NDIS Planner or Local Area Coordinator. Children under 7 have that conversation with an Early Childhood Early Intervention Partner.

   Write down the points you want to raise, and choose someone who can help communicate your preferences. A family member, support worker or friend who knows you well can attend with you. Share the meeting date and the topics you want to cover beforehand.

4. Use the yearly cycle to review your goals, not just funding. Before the reassessment, note which goals still matter, which have changed and what you want to work towards next. Consider how your living arrangements, routines or priorities may affect the supports you discuss.

   Bring clear examples to explain your progress and any support gaps. For instance, describe a task you can now do with support or a goal that remains difficult to pursue. This helps keep the conversation grounded in your day-to-day experience.

5. Keep routine preparation separate from an early request. The yearly reassessment is a planning point; a significant change in circumstances may lead you to request an unscheduled review sooner. Keep notes as changes happen so you can explain their effect on your support needs.

   For a clearer picture of how support can fit into your NDIS plans, Want to be a participant?

Pursue Ability: Supported Independent Living (SIL)

Pursue Ability provides Supported Independent Living (SIL) for people whose plan discussions include support with living arrangements. If you are preparing for a reassessment, support coordination can help you organise information about your current supports and goals. This may help you explain what has changed and what support you are asking the NDIA to consider.

SIL may be relevant if your request concerns the assistance you need in your living situation. The appropriate next step depends on your needs and plan. Pursue Ability also provides day programs and allied health services.

If you would like to discuss support options alongside your plan considerations, you are welcome to contact Pursue Ability or visit pursueability.com.

Take the next step at your own pace

A plan decision can feel easier to approach when you separate what you know from what you still need to ask. Before requesting an NDIS plan reassessment, write down the main change or concern in one clear sentence. Keep it somewhere you can return to and add questions as they come up. This note can help you explain what matters in your own words.

You do not need to settle every detail at once. Talk through your situation with someone you trust, then decide which next step feels right for you. If you would like to explore support with Pursue Ability, get in touch when you are ready.

Want to be a participant?

Your next step can be a small one, taken in your own time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use a Support Coordinator to Help Me Prepare?

Yes. A support coordinator can help you organise information and prepare questions for your planning conversation. For example, you could work together to list the supports you use, your goals and any gaps you want to discuss. You can also ask service providers for information about supports delivered and what may help you work towards your goals. Your coordinator can help you prepare, but the NDIA makes decisions about your plan.

What if I’m Not Happy with My Plan?

If you disagree with a specific NDIA decision, you can request an internal review within three months of its date. Keep the decision letter and identify the part you want reconsidered. Explain your reasons and provide relevant supporting information. If your concern is a change in circumstances rather than a decision you disagree with, describe the change and consider asking the NDIA about a plan reassessment or variation.

How do you request an NDIS plan reassessment from the NDIA?

For an early reassessment, the participant, plan nominee or child representative can submit a change of circumstances form. Explain what has changed and how the current plan no longer meets the participant’s needs. You can email plan-change information to enquiries@ndis.gov.au, including the participant’s NDIS number, date of birth and plan ID. Keep a copy of the form and any evidence you send.

What changes in circumstances qualify for an NDIS plan reassessment?

A significant, ongoing change affecting a participant’s disability support needs can support an early reassessment request. For example, a lasting change in living arrangements may affect the assistance needed each day. Explain what has changed and how it affects the current plan. A short-term change or running out of funding alone does not meet the stated grounds for an early reassessment.

How long does an NDIS plan reassessment take?

The NDIA will decide whether to review a plan within 14 days of receiving the request form. For a valid reassessment request with all required information and evidence, it has up to 90 days to decide whether to reassess the plan. These are different stages: the first concerns whether to review, while the second concerns the reassessment decision after a complete request.

Can you request an NDIS plan reassessment before your plan reassessment date?

Yes. You can request an unscheduled plan review at any time, including before the date shown on your current plan. Explain the significant change in circumstances and its effect on your support needs. The NDIA decides whether to review the plan. If the change is minor, it may consider a plan variation instead; a temporary change may not support an early reassessment.

What is the difference between an NDIS plan reassessment and a plan variation?

A reassessment replaces your current plan with a new one, while a plan variation makes a minor change to part of the existing plan. A variation may suit a specific, limited adjustment. If several support needs have changed, explain the broader picture in your request. The NDIA considers whether a variation could address the situation instead of reassessing the plan.

Can NDIS funding be reduced or changed after a plan reassessment?

Yes. A reassessment creates a new plan, which may include more, fewer or different supports. It does not automatically increase funding. Before the planning conversation, compare the supports you are requesting with your goals and current needs. After receiving a new plan, read each support carefully and note any changes you want explained. If you disagree with a decision, check its date and review options.