All NDIS plans will be reassessed or renewed at some point. Life doesn't stand still, and circumstances change. The funded plan supporting your life needs to be able to change too.
The way plans are changed, and the language used to describe it, has shifted over recent years. The Getting the NDIS Back on Track amendments in 2024 limited the word "review" to one situation: challenging a decision made by the NDIA. This is called a review of a decision.
More changes are now being rolled out under the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026. Some of these started on 1 October 2026. Others will be introduced gradually through 2027 and 2028.
A plan can change at three main times:
- At the end of the current plan
- If the participant is not happy with their plan
- At any time during the life of the plan, if there's a significant and ongoing change
What's changing from 1 October 2026
Some support budgets will be reduced
From 1 October 2026, funding for social, economic and community participation supports and improved daily living skills will be reduced. This happens when a plan is reassessed or a new plan is approved. For plans that are renewed, it applies from 1 February 2027. The changes will be phased in over 12 months.
Funding for help with eating and drinking, education supports, employment supports and disability-related health supports won't be affected. From 1 October, new and reassessed plans should clearly show which funding isn't affected.
Plans can be suspended if the NDIA can't reach you
The NDIA can now suspend a plan if a participant doesn't respond to requests for information. This will only happen after at least five attempts to contact the participant, their nominee or authorised representative over an extended period. Keep your contact details up to date and respond to NDIA requests promptly.
There's a new variation pathway for people who need 24-hour support.
Participants with high support needs who need 24-hour disability support can apply for a plan variation within 90 days of the funding changes applying to them. This is so they can keep getting the supports that keep them safe at home.
If you're not affected yet, you can keep using your current plan and supports as usual. The NDIA has said it will contact participants before changes affect them.
Options for changing or renewing an NDIS plan
There are a few different options for changing or reviewing your NDIS plan:
- New plan with the same supports: From February 2027, this becomes a "plan renewal", replacing plan continuations. Unspent funds from the previous plan won't carry over.
- Plan variation: For minor, technical, short-term or urgent changes.
- Plan reassessment: For significant, ongoing changes to your support needs. This usually involves a change to funding.
- Review of a decision: An internal review of a decision made by the NDIA.
1. At the end of the current plan
As your plan approaches its reassessment date, it's a good time to think about the next 12 months or so and whether anything needs to change. Plan lengths vary with age and circumstances. Children tend to have shorter plans than adults, and plans can run from 6 months to 2–3 years.
At this point, every part of the plan should be considered. This includes the participant statement, short, medium and long-term goals, plan length, plan management type, and the type and intensity of support needed. The funding amount will likely change as a result.
If your plan includes social and community participation or capacity building supports, keep in mind that budgets in these areas are being reduced as plans are reassessed from 1 October 2026 and renewed from 1 February 2027. Preparing well is more important than ever.
About 6 weeks before your reassessment date, before you meet with your my NDIS contact or NDIA planner, think about:
- The impact of the disability. Has it increased, decreased or stayed stable?
- Whether the person is starting something new, like a job, a sport or a newly recommended therapy
- Whether personal circumstances are changing, like moving house or a change in informal supports
- Whether the participant is a child under 7.
This will help you work out which option is right: a new plan with the same supports, a plan variation for minor changes, or a plan reassessment because support needs or circumstances have changed.
2. If the participant is not happy with their plan
Even well-prepared participants can receive a new plan with unwelcome surprises. There are usually two reasons for this.
The first is simple administrative mistakes, such as wrong dates, missing content or the wrong management type. These can be fixed with a plan variation. Contact your my NDIS contact or the NDIA to point out the mistake. It can be corrected without changing anything substantive in the plan.
The second is decisions by the NDIA that don't match your expectations. For example, therapy or consumables funding you were expecting may be missing. Or you may feel the plan doesn't reflect the evidence you provided and the budget isn't enough.
In this case, you can ask for an internal review of the decision. You must request this within 3 months of receiving the NDIA's decision in writing. If you disagree with the outcome, you can then ask the Administrative Review Tribunal for an external review.
3. At any time during the life of a plan
If there's been a significant and ongoing change, you can ask for a plan reassessment before your scheduled reassessment date. The change needs to affect:
- Your functional capacity and support needs, or
- Your living, education, work or informal support arrangements
- Things to know before you ask:
- Only the participant, their plan nominee or child representative can make the request. Providers, including support coordinators, can't request it on your behalf, even with your consent.
- You'll need to use the NDIA's plan reassessment request form.
- You'll need recent evidence of the change. This usually means evidence from within the last four months and after your current plan was approved, such as reports from treating health professionals, therapists or support workers.
- The NDIA has up to 90 days to decide whether to reassess your plan. You can keep using your current plan in the meantime.
For short-term or urgent changes, you can still ask for a plan variation at any time.
How to request a plan change or meeting
Online
- Internet Relay users: National Relay Service
- NDIS website: NDIS
- Submit a plan reassessment request form through the NDIS service hub
- Send an email to: enquiries@ndis.gov.au
Phone
- Call the NDIS National Contact Centre on 1800 800 110
- TTY users 1800 555 677 Speak and Listen users 1800 555 727
- If you need help with English 131 450
By mail
- NDIA, GPO Box 700, Canberra ACT 260
In person
- Visit a Local Area Coordinator, Early Childhood Partner or NDIS office in your area.
The information provided in this article is general information only and based on information current as at 1 October 2026. More changes are being introduced through 2027 and 2028. Check ndis.gov.au for the latest information In addition to considering the information shared in this article, Mable encourages you to conduct your own research and seek independent advice for your specific circumstances. If you intend to use NDIS funding to cover any of the supports listed above, you should also check that the services can be covered by your particular NDIS funding before proceeding.