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Review and update the participant's disabilities in the vary impairment categories case

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Document 7 FOI 25/26-2132 & FOI 25/26-2133

Review and update the participant’s disabilities in the vary impairment categories case

SGP KP Publishing

Exported on 2026-03-03 05:43:51

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FOI 25/26-2132 & FOI 25/26-2133 SGP KP Publishing – Review and update the participant’s disabilities in the vary impairment categories case

Table of Contents

  1. Recent updates …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
  2. Before you start …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
  3. Link all available evidence relating to the participant’s disabilities …………………………. 6
  4. Review and update the Update Disabilities tab in the Vary Impairment Categories case …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7 4.1 Update current disabilities information ……………………………………………………………………. 7 4.2 Add a new disability ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 7
  5. Next steps …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9

Table of Contents – 2

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FOI 25/26-2132 & FOI 25/26-2133 SGP KP Publishing – Review and update the participant’s disabilities in the vary impairment categories case

This article provides guidance for all NDIS staff and partners to:

  • link all available evidence relating to the participant’s disabilities
  • review and update the update disabilities tab in the vary impairment categories case.

Recent updates – 3

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FOI 25/26-2132 & FOI 25/26-2133 SGP KP Publishing – Review and update the participant’s disabilities in the vary impairment categories case

1 Recent updates

8 September 2025 Guidance updated to:

  • remove steps for issuing impairment categories information to a participant with no impairment categories assigned. The vary impairment categories case is only used for an application to change the participant’s impairment categories information
  • add information about primary disabilities in section Add a new disability
  • explain when an end date should be added to a disability in sections Update current disabilities information and Add a new disability.

Recent updates – 4

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FOI 25/26-2132 & FOI 25/26-2133 SGP KP Publishing – Review and update the participant’s disabilities in the vary impairment categories case

2 Before you start

Impairment categories information is called a ‘Notice of impairments’ in section 32BA of the NDIS Act (the Act).

A participant can apply to change their impairment categories at any time. This includes to add or remove an impairment category. The Act uses the term vary, but in correspondence, guidance and when talking to participants we use the term change as it’s plain English. Any change to the participant’s current impairment categories information is a delegate decision. The decision to vary or not vary (change) the participant’s impairment categories information is a reviewable decision under the Act.

You have:

  • created the vary impairment categories case using article [Create a vary impairment categories case]
  • received at least one piece of disability evidence with the application or checked for disability evidence already on the person account. Use article [What evidence of disability is required] to check, if you have relevant evidence to upload.

Before you start – 5

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FOI 25/26-2132 & FOI 25/26-2133 SGP KP Publishing – Review and update the participant’s disabilities in the vary impairment categories case

Link all available evidence relating to the participant’s disabilities to the case.

  1. Check for all available evidence related to the participant’s disabilities using article [Check for outstanding eligibility information and evidence].
  2. Use article [What evidence of disability is required] to confirm the evidence required.
  3. In the Vary Impairment Categories case, select the Evidence tab.
  4. Use article [Add and link evidence to a case] to either:
    • link relevant Evidence Type - Disability to the case, using section Link evidence to a case
    • upload and link new Evidence Type - Disability evidence, if the participant has provided this for an update to their disabilities or impairment categories.

Link all available evidence relating to the participant’s disabilities – 6

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FOI 25/26-2132 & FOI 25/26-2133 SGP KP Publishing – Review and update the participant’s disabilities in the vary impairment categories case

4 Review and update the Update Disabilities tab in the Vary Impairment Categories case

All staff and partners can submit a request to update the participant’s disabilities in the Update Disabilities tab. A delegate will review the submitted request to decide whether the participant’s disabilities should be updated.

4.1 Update current disabilities information

  1. In the Update Disabilities tab, review available evidence against the Current Disabilities table.

  2. If you need to update information for the participants current disabilities, select Update.

  3. The Disabilities screen will open. Make any updates required, then select Save.

    Note: you should only add an End Date if it’s no longer appropriate to list the disability on the participant’s record, for example, if it was added in error.

  4. The updated disability will display in the Update Disabilities Requests table with a Request Status of Requested. After you submit this request, a delegate will review this update. They will decide whether to approve it or not.

  5. Based on the available evidence, if you:

    • need to add a new disability, go to section Add a new disability
    • don’t need to add a new disability, select Save and continue to section Next steps.

4.2 Add a new disability

  1. In the Update Disabilities tab, select Add Disability. The Add Disability screen will open.

  2. In the Add Disability screen, add the condition and impairment information.

  3. If the disability is a primary disability, select Primary Disability checkbox.

    Note: the primary disability is the reported disability condition with the greatest impact on a person’s daily life. There can only be one reported condition selected as the primary disability.

  4. If you’re an access delegate, check if you have the correct evidence to select the Verified evidence of disability checkbox. Don’t use the Verified evidence of disability checkbox if you’re not an access delegate or National Planning Support Team (NPST) delegate.

    The Verified evidence of disability checkbox can only be selected when you have:

    • evidence provided by a treating profession to confirm the disability and
    • verified the treating professional’s details using article [Check treating professional details] and the website [Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (external)].

  5. Enter today’s date at the Start Date. Do not future date the primary disability.

Review and update the Update Disabilities tab in the Vary Impairment Categories case – 7

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FOI 25/26-2132 & FOI 25/26-2133 SGP KP Publishing – Review and update the participant’s disabilities in the vary impairment categories case

  1. Enter Onset Date, if known. Do not enter an End Date.

    Note: you should only add an end date if it’s no longer appropriate to list the disability on the participant’s record, for example, if it was added in error.

  2. Select the evidence type from the Evidence drop-down list, then select Save.

  3. The new disability will display in the Update Disabilities Requests table with a Request Status of Requested. To make any changes, select Update.

  4. Select Save.

Previous disabilities that are no longer part of the participant’s eligibility to the NDIS are in the Historical Disabilities table. Even if this disability no longer relates to the participant, it forms part of the Historical Disabilities.

Review and update the Update Disabilities tab in the Vary Impairment Categories case – 8

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FOI 25/26-2132 & FOI 25/26-2133 SGP KP Publishing – Review and update the participant’s disabilities in the vary impairment categories case

5 Next steps

  1. Continue to article [Submit an application to change the participant’s impairment categories information]. A delegate will then review the updates made in the update disabilities tab using article [Decide whether to change the participant’s impairment categories information].
  2. If you need to withdraw the vary impairment categories case, use article [Withdraw a vary impairment categories case].

Next steps – 9

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