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Your NDIS plan does not last forever. As your plan nears its end date, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will begin a plan reassessment to decide what your next plan looks like. For many participants, this is one of the most important moments in their NDIS journey. It is the point where your funding for the year ahead is decided.
The good news is that a reassessment is not something to fear. With the right preparation and the right evidence, it is your opportunity to show what is working, what has changed, and what support you will need going forward. This guide walks you through exactly what a reassessment involves and what you need to bring.
A plan reassessment is the process the NDIA runs when it replaces your current plan with a new one. You may still hear it called a “plan review,” which was the older term. The NDIA renamed it to “plan reassessment” to avoid confusion with a “review of a decision,” which is the separate process you use if you disagree with an NDIA outcome.
There are a few different situations where a reassessment can happen:
You can read the NDIA’s own explanation on the What is a plan reassessment page.
It helps to know the difference between two changes the NDIA can make:
Both are handled within similar timeframes once the NDIA has the information it needs. The NDIA explains the distinction further in its Guide to changing your plan.
Your main NDIS contact, whether that is a Local Area Coordinator, planner, support coordinator or recovery coach, will usually get in touch around two to three months before your reassessment date. This early contact is your cue to start preparing. It is the moment to flag any changes and ask what evidence you will need.
The reassessment itself can be held face to face, by phone, or by video, and you are welcome to bring a support person. During the conversation, the NDIA is trying to establish a few key things:
One practical thing to understand is that the person you meet with is often not the person who approves your plan. They gather information and make recommendations to an NDIA delegate who makes the final decision. That is exactly why what you document and hand over matters so much.
Once you provide your information, the NDIA aims to decide within about 21 days whether to vary, reassess, or make no change, and to complete a reassessment within around 28 days once it has your evidence. If your plan reaches its end date before a reassessment is finished, it continues automatically so there is no gap in your funding.
This is the heart of good preparation. The stronger and more organised your information, the smoother your reassessment will be. Here is what to pull together.
Bring together the evidence that shows your needs and your progress:
If you want the NDIA’s step by step guidance, see How to prepare for your plan reassessment.
Getting the right reports done in good time is where an occupational therapist or speech pathologist becomes central to your reassessment. Zenzability provides NDIS occupational therapy and speech therapy across the Macarthur region and south-west Sydney, with mobile, telehealth and clinic based options, and our clinicians write reports to the standard the NDIA expects. If your reassessment is coming up, now is the time to book so your evidence is ready well before your date.
Book an occupational therapy or speech therapy report with our team, or learn more about our NDIS occupational therapy, speech therapy and Functional Capacity Assessment services.
Occupational therapy reports, Functional Capacity Assessments and speech pathology reports are often the most persuasive evidence at a reassessment. They translate your everyday experience into the functional language the NDIA uses to decide funding.
A strong allied health report does several things. It describes your functional capacity at the start of the plan period, sets out the therapy that was delivered, and uses recognised measures to show your progress. It then explains what supports you will need going forward, why they are needed, and what the risks are if they are not provided. Crucially, it links every recommendation back to your goals.
A Functional Capacity Assessment looks at how your disability affects you across areas such as communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, self care and self management. You do not have to complete an FCA to be eligible for the NDIS, but as the NDIA notes, it can be genuinely helpful in showing how your impairment reduces your functional capacity. You can read more on the What is a functional capacity assessment page.
Timing is the single biggest thing you control. A thorough FCA involves many hours of clinician time, so it pays to arrange your reports at least a month, and ideally two to three months, before your reassessment date, and to have them submitted around a week before your meeting. The cost of these reports is generally funded from your current plan and is charged in line with NDIS pricing limits.
A reassessment can result in your funding going up, staying the same, or going down. The most common reasons funding is reduced are avoidable:
To advocate well, describe your needs honestly, use functional language, link every support you request to a goal, and bring someone with you for support.
If you are not happy with the result of your reassessment, you have options. You can request an internal review of the decision within three months. If you are still not satisfied, you can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal, which replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, within 28 days of the internal review decision. There is no fee to apply, and funded advocacy support is available. The NDIA explains the process on its Reviews and appeals pages.
Most plans are reassessed around every 12 months, although plans can run for two to three years where your needs are stable. The NDIA usually makes contact two to three months before your reassessment date to begin the process.
A plan variation is a small change to part of your current plan, which stays in place. A plan reassessment replaces your plan with a new one that has a new end date. Both are completed within similar timeframes once the NDIA has your information.
An OT report is not always mandatory, but strong occupational therapy, Functional Capacity Assessment and therapy progress evidence is often decisive, especially where your needs have changed or your supports need to be justified. It shows the functional impact of your disability in the terms the NDIA uses.
The NDIA aims to decide within about 21 days of receiving your information and to complete a reassessment within around 28 days once it has your evidence. If your plan reaches its end date first, it continues automatically so your funding does not stop.
Yes. Funding can increase, stay the same, or decrease. Common reasons for a reduction include underspending without a documented reason, weaker evidence than the previous plan, and no evidence of continued need. Good preparation and strong reports help protect your funding.
Preparing early is the best thing you can do. If your plan is coming up for reassessment, our team can complete the occupational therapy, speech therapy and Functional Capacity Assessment reports you need across the Macarthur region and south-west Sydney. Get in touch with Zenzability to book.
This article provides general information only and is not a substitute for personalised advice from the NDIA or a qualified professional. NDIS processes, terminology and pricing can change, so please confirm current details at ndis.gov.au or with your NDIS contact.
