skip to content

Refine results


Search by

Search by Algolia
Law Handbook banner image

Can an NDIS Plan be changed?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDISBack on Track No. 1) Act 2024 (Cth) commenced on 3 October 2024. This section of the handbook has not yet been reviewed. For more information about the changes in the meantime, please visit the NDIS website.

A participant can request a change of their NDIS Plan at any time [National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth) (NDIS Act) ss 47A(2) and 48(1)-(2)]. The NDIA will determine whether the request should be considered a:

  • variation of the Plan [s 47A] – where the change is of a minor nature and as a general rule, does not impact the total funding of the plan; or
  • reassessment (formerly review) of the Plan [s 48] – where the Plan requires reassessment due to the reassessment date, or circumstances specified in the Plan requiring reassessment, or the proposed change does not fall within a section 47A variation [ss 33(2)(c) and 48].

The NDIA can change a Plan on request of the participant or on their own initiative, in which case the NDIA must inform the participant of their decision to vary or reassess the Plan [ss 47A and 48].

A participant’s change in circumstances may occur, for example, when a participant's care or support needs significantly change, where their living arrangements change, or where they receive compensation that may impact on their funding entitlement.

Where a participant has a change in circumstances, they can complete a Change in Circumstances Form and lodge it with the NDIA. The NDIA has 21 days to make a decision to either vary or reassess the Plan, or refuse to vary or reassess the Plan, or to advise that further time will be required [ss 47A(4) and 48(3)]. The NDIA is not obliged to respond to a request and any inaction will be taken to be a decision not to change the Plan [ss 47A(5) and 48(4)].

A decision to change or refuse to change a Plan is a reviewable decision [s 99]. If a participant is unhappy with the provisions or terms of a new, varied or reassessed Plan, they can also request an internal review of the Plan [s 99]. A person unhappy with the decision made at internal review can seek further review of that decision by applying to the Administrative Review Tribunal [s 103]. See Review of NDIA decisions.

A participant may provide the NDIA with a changed version of their statement of goals and aspirations at any time. If provided, their Plan is taken to have been varied to include that changed version [s 47].

Variation of Plan

A Plan may be varied to [s 47A]:

  • correct a minor or technical error;
  • change the reassessment date of the Plan (including any consequential variations to the participant supports and funding supports as a result of the change to the reassessment date);
  • change the statement of participant supports included in the Plan:
    • in relation to the management of the funding for supports under the Plan or other aspects of the Plan; or
    • to alter the manner in which is a support is to be provided or the specified provider of a support;
  • change the statement of participant supports included in the Plan, including the funding of supports under the plan, if:
    • the participant requires crisis or emergency funding as a result of a significant change to their support needs; or
    • the NDIA receives new information in response to a request for information previously made and the variation relates to that information [see s 50]; or
    • a minor variation is required to increase the funding of supports in the Plan.

The NDIA can make a variation to a Plan different to that requested by the participant [s 47A(9)].

Any variation of a Plan must be prepared with the participant and comply with any conditions in the National Disability Insurance Scheme Rules [s 47A(1)]. A copy of the varied Plan must be provided to the participant within seven days of the variation taking effect [s 47A(11)].

Reassessment of Plan

The NDIA must complete a reassessment of a participant’s Plan and either vary or replace the Plan prior to the reassessment date [s 49]. This process must commence before the period provided in the NDIS Rules (if any).

A plan must also be reassessed in the circumstances (if any) specified in a Plan [s 49A].

The reassessment of a Plan must result in either a variation to the Plan [s 47A] or the preparation of a new Plan with the participant [s 48(7)].

For information on the Plan review process, see the NDIS – Changing Your Plan webpage.

Can an NDIS Plan be changed?  :  Last Revised: Wed Jun 29th 2022
The content of the Law Handbook is made available as a public service for information purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice. See Disclaimer for details. For free and confidential legal advice in South Australia call 1300 366 424.