NDIS reviews, appeals and decisions

This page provides key information to carers about NDIS plan reassessments, appeals and reviews of NDIS decisions.

 Note: OOHC caseworker refers to the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) or a non-government organisation OOHC caseworker that has case management responsibility for the child or young person.

How often are NDIS plans reassessed?

A reassessment of a participant’s NDIS plan can be triggered in three different ways:

1. As a normal part of the NDIS planning cycle
2. A participant or their representative requests a reassessment
3. The NDIA initiates a reassessment.

The NDIS planning cycle

Each NDIS plan has an agreed reassessment date which will provide the child or young person, carer, OOHC caseworker and NDIS representative an opportunity to discuss what is and isn’t working, amend goals and objectives and adjust supports.

Plans are typically active for 12 to 24 months but can be as short as three months or as long as 36 months. The length of the plan is largely determined by individual circumstances and the stability of support needs.

Can I request a reassessment of the NDIS plan for the child or young person I care for?

If you think the supports provided in the NDIS funded plan do not meet the needs of the child or young person you care for, you should discuss this with your OOHC caseworker in the first instance.

The OOHC caseworker can request a reassessment of the child or young person’s plan. They should take into account whether support needs have changed in the time since the NDIS plan was approved and whether information was not considered that would affect the occurrence, type and frequency of supports within their plan.

When the living arrangements, informal supports or overall goals change for a child or young person, the OOHC caseworker will request a reassessment.

The NDIA will not accept a request for reassessment where:

• a participant is unable to demonstrate that their circumstances have changed to the extent required to warrant a change to their statement of participant supports
• there is no new information available which is likely to affect the NDIA’s assessment of a participant’s needs
• the request is within six months of the approval of the NDIS plan, or within three months of a reassessment date specified in the existing NDIS plan, or
• the request for reassessment simply reflects the participant’s desire to have increased supports, or supports of a nature similar to other participants.

The NDIA will notify the OOHC caseworker about their decision to reassess an NDIS plan within 14 days of receiving a request for a reassessment and the caseworker will advise you.

What if I want to appeal a decision made by the NDIA?

You should first discuss your concerns with your OOHC caseworker who is responsible for representing your child or young person throughout the NDIS planning process. The caseworker can work with you to determine if an appeal or request for a review of a decision is warranted and will raise the issue with the NDIA as required.