An NDIS plan review is a process where the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) looks at your current plan, your circumstances, your support needs, your progress and your goals to determine whether your support and funding are still appropriate. Depending on your situation, a plan may be reviewed when the plan period ends or when your circumstances change significantly.
A plan review gives you an opportunity to explain what is working, what is not working, what has changed and what support you may need going forward.
Understanding the review process can help you prepare properly and make sure your current needs and goals are clearly communicated.
What Is an NDIS Plan Review?
An NDIS plan review is an opportunity to review your current NDIS plan and consider what should happen next.
During the review process, you may discuss:
- Your current circumstances
- Your disability-related support needs
- Your NDIS goals
- The supports you are currently receiving
- What is working well
- What is not working
- Progress you have made
- Changes in your circumstances
- Your future support needs
- How your funding is being used
The purpose is to make sure your NDIS plan continues to reflect your individual circumstances and support needs.
Why Is an NDIS Plan Review Important?
Your needs can change over time.
You may develop new goals, require different types of support, need additional assistance or find that a particular support is no longer useful.
A plan review provides an opportunity to explain these changes.
It can also help you demonstrate how your current supports are helping you work towards your goals.
The more clearly you can explain your situation and support needs, the easier it may be for the NDIS to understand what you need.
When Does an NDIS Plan Review Happen?
There isn’t one single situation in which every participant has a review.
The NDIS can review a plan at different times depending on the participant’s circumstances and the type and length of their plan.
A review may occur when:
- Your plan period is ending
- Your circumstances have significantly changed
- Your support needs have changed
- You need different supports
- Your current plan is no longer suitable
- There is another reason for the NDIS to reassess your supports
Your plan and communications from the NDIS should provide information about your review arrangements.
Step 1: Understand Your Current NDIS Plan
Before your review, start by reading your current plan carefully.
Look at:
- Your goals
- Your funded supports
- Your support budgets
- How your funding is managed
- Your current services
- Your plan dates
- Your funding periods
Try to understand what your current plan is designed to help you achieve.
If there is something you don’t understand, ask your support coordinator, plan manager, my NDIS contact or another appropriate person for help.
Step 2: Review Your NDIS Goals
Your goals are an important part of your NDIS plan.
Before your review, write down each goal and think about your progress.
Ask yourself:
Have I achieved this goal?
Am I still working towards it?
Has my goal changed?
Do I have a new goal?
For example, you may have previously wanted to develop daily living skills but now want to focus more on employment, education, social participation or independence.
Your goals may change as your circumstances change.
Step 3: Review Your Current Supports
Make a list of the supports you currently receive.
For each support, consider:
- What support do I receive?
- How often do I receive it?
- Who provides it?
- How does it help me?
- Is it helping me achieve my goals?
- Do I need more or less of this support?
- Do I need a different type of support?
This gives you a clearer picture of what is working and what may need to change.
Step 4: Explain What Is Working
During your review, don’t only focus on problems.
Explain what is working well too.
For example, you might explain that a particular therapy has helped you develop a skill or that regular support has helped you participate more independently in daily activities.
When discussing your support, focus on the outcomes they are helping you achieve.
This can help provide a clearer picture of the value and purpose of your current support.
Step 5: Explain What Isn’t Working
If something isn’t working, be honest about it.
You can explain:
- Why a support isn’t suitable
- Whether the support is difficult to access
- Whether the provider isn’t meeting your needs
- Whether your circumstances have changed
- Whether you need a different type of support
Don’t feel that you have to say everything is working simply because it was included in your previous plan.
The review is an opportunity to explain your current situation.
Step 6: Gather Supporting Information
Preparing evidence before your review can make it easier to explain your needs.
Depending on your circumstances, useful information may include:
- Therapy reports
- Progress reports
- Assessments
- Medical or professional information where relevant
- Provider reports
- Quotes for appropriate supports
- Information about changes in your circumstances
- Notes about your daily support needs
The evidence should help explain what you need, why you need it and how the requested support relates to your disability and goals.
Only provide information that is relevant to your NDIS needs and review.
Step 7: Track Your Funding and Spending
Before your review, check how your current funding has been used.
Consider:
- How much funding you received
- How much has been spent
- Which supports you have used
- Whether you have underspent or overspent
- Whether your support needs have changed
- Whether you have been unable to use some funding
If you have not used all your funding, don’t automatically assume that you no longer need support.
There can be many reasons why funding wasn’t used, such as provider availability, changes in circumstances or difficulty accessing services.
Explain the reason clearly.
Step 8: Think About Changes in Your Circumstances
One of the most important parts of a plan review is explaining what has changed.
For example, your:
- Living arrangements
- Daily support needs
- Ability to participate in activities
- Employment or education situation
- Support network
- Goals
- Accessibility needs
may have changed.
Think about how these changes affect your disability-related support needs.
Be specific rather than simply saying, “My needs have increased.”
Explain what has changed in your everyday life and what additional or different support you now require.
Step 9: Prepare for Your Review Meeting
If you are invited to a review meeting, prepare some notes beforehand.
You don’t need to memorise everything.
Create a simple list containing:
My current situation
What is happening in my life now?
My goals
What do I want to achieve?
What is working
Which supports are helping?
What isn’t working
Which supports need to change?
What has changed
How are my needs different from before?
What I need
What support would help me achieve my goals?
Having these notes can help you stay focused during the conversation.
Step 10: Explain Your Needs Clearly
During your review, try to explain your needs using real-life examples.
Instead of simply saying:
“I need more support.”
Explain:
What difficulty are you experiencing?
How often does it happen?
How does it affect your daily life?
What support would help?
For example, explaining how a disability-related difficulty affects your ability to complete everyday activities can provide much more useful information than simply naming a support.
Step 11: Discuss Your Future Goals
Your review isn’t only about your current situation.
Think about what you want to achieve during your next plan.
Your goals might relate to areas such as:
- Greater independence
- Daily living skills
- Community participation
- Education
- Employment
- Communication
- Social participation
- Managing everyday activities
Your goals should reflect what is important to you.
Step 12: Understand the Outcome of the Review
After the review process, the NDIS may make decisions about your future plan and support.
The outcome can depend on your individual circumstances, evidence and support needs.
Your new plan may have:
- Different funding
- Different support categories
- Different goals
- Changes to existing supports
- Similar supports to your previous plan
Not every review will result in an increase in funding.
The important thing is that your plan should reflect your circumstances and eligible disability-related support needs.
What Happens If You Disagree With Your NDIS Plan?
Sometimes a participant may disagree with a decision made by the NDIS.
If this happens, don’t ignore it.
First, carefully read the decision and understand what has been approved or declined.
Depending on the type of decision, there may be options to request a review or seek further assistance.
You can speak with your NDIS contact, support coordinator, advocate or another appropriate person to understand your options.
The process can depend on the specific decision, so it is important to follow the relevant NDIS process for your situation.
What Should You Do If Your Circumstances Change Before Your Review?
You don’t necessarily need to wait for your next scheduled review if there is a significant change in your circumstances.
For example, your support needs may change significantly or your current plan may no longer be appropriate.
If this happens, contact the NDIS and explain what has changed.
Provide relevant information that helps demonstrate the change and explains why your current plan may no longer meet your needs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During an NDIS Plan Review
1. Waiting until the last minute
Don’t start preparing only a few days before your review.
Give yourself enough time to collect relevant information and think about your goals.
2. Not reviewing your previous plan
Your previous plan can help you identify what has changed and what progress you have made.
3. Focusing only on funding
A review is about your needs, goals and supports—not simply asking for more money.
4. Giving vague explanations
Specific examples can make your situation much easier to understand.
5. Forgetting to discuss what isn’t working
If a support isn’t suitable, explain why.
6. Not keeping supporting documents
Keep relevant reports, assessments and provider information organised.
7. Assuming unused funding means you don’t need support
There can be many reasons why funding wasn’t used. Explain the circumstances rather than assuming that you no longer need the support.
NDIS Plan Review Checklist
Use this checklist before your review:
Your Plan
- Read your current NDIS plan
- Review your funding
- Check your plan dates
- Understand your current supports
Your Goals
- Review your previous goals
- Record your progress
- Identify goals you still want to work towards
- Think about new goals
Your Supports
- List your current supports
- Identify what is working
- Identify what isn’t working
- Consider whether your support needs have changed
Your Evidence
- Gather relevant reports
- Gather assessments where appropriate
- Collect provider information
- Keep relevant quotes or other supporting information
Your Funding
- Check your spending
- Review remaining funding
- Identify any underspending
- Understand why funding may not have been used
Your Review
- Prepare notes
- Write down important questions
- Explain changes clearly
- Discuss your future goals
How to Make Your NDIS Plan Review More Effective
A successful review starts with good preparation.
Instead of thinking only about “How much funding do I need?”, think about:
“What are my current disability-related needs?”
“What supports are helping me?”
“What has changed since my last plan?”
“What do I want to achieve next?”
“What evidence can help explain my needs?”
This approach keeps the discussion focused on your circumstances, goals and appropriate support.
Conclusion
An NDIS plan review is an important opportunity to make sure your plan continues to reflect your circumstances, goals and disability-related support needs.
The best way to prepare is to start early. Review your current plan, look at your goals, assess your support, track your funding, gather relevant evidence and make notes about any changes in your circumstances.
Most importantly, be clear and honest about what is working, what isn’t working and what support you need to move forward.
Remember that NDIS processes and requirements can change. Always check the latest official NDIS information or speak with the NDIS about your specific circumstances before making important decisions about your plan.
FAQs
1. What is an NDIS plan review?
An NDIS plan review checks whether your current plan, support, funding and goals still meet your disability-related needs and circumstances.
2. When does an NDIS plan review happen?
A review may happen when your plan period ends or when there is a significant change in your circumstances or support needs.
3. What should I prepare for an NDIS plan review?
Review your goals and supports, track your funding, and gather relevant reports, assessments and other information that explains your current needs.
4. Can my NDIS funding change after a plan review?
Yes. Depending on your circumstances and eligible support needs, your new plan may include changes to your funding or support.
5. What if I disagree with my NDIS plan review outcome?
You may have options to request a review of certain NDIS decisions. The appropriate process depends on the type of decision you disagree with.
