Access (s21)
What are the changes to access?
New participants will be informed if they meet access to the NDIS by meeting the:
- disability requirements (s.24)
- early intervention requirements (s.25)
- both the disability and early intervention requirements.
In the future, participants will be supported by the appropriate participant pathway, depending on how they meet access.
What will the changes to access mean for participants?
In the future, participants will be supported to have a more tailored planning experience and funding outcomes, depending on how they accessed the NDIS.
The impact of this change will happen later, once new pathways are created.
It will take time to create the new pathways, as we will work together with people with disability on how these can be best implemented to ensure the needs of participants and the Agency are met.
How do the changes impact early intervention?
People who meet access to the NDIS under the early intervention requirements will be supported by the new early intervention pathway once it’s created.
Notice of impairments (s32BA)
What is a Notice of Impairments?
Currently, all new participants to the NDIS receive an access decision letter which says if access was met under the disability requirements, the early intervention requirements, or both.
From 1 January 2025, new participants will receive clearer information about how they meet the disability or early intervention requirements. This will include their category of impairment.
The change was recommended by the NDIS Review, and requests from participants for more clarity and transparency about the basis of their access.
There are 6 impairment categories listed in the NDIS Act.
These are:
- intellectual
- cognitive
- sensory
- neurological
- physical
- impairments relating to a psychosocial disability.
The categories and their definitions are outlined in the operational guideline — Applying to the NDIS document available on the NDIS website.
For children younger than 6 years old who meet the criteria for developmental delay, the information will say they are eligible under the early intervention requirements with developmental delay.
Why is the NDIS introducing Notice of Impairments?
Providing this information to participants gives them clearer information about how they meet the disability or early intervention requirements.
It responds to NDIS Review recommendations, and requests from participants to have more clarity and transparency about the basis of their access to the NDIS.
This approach also recognises that people with disability who have the same diagnosis may have different impairments and support needs.
What does it mean for me as a new participant (application submitted on or after 1 January 2025)?
Currently, all new participants receive an access decision letter, which says if access was met under the disability requirements, the early intervention requirements, or both.
From 1 January, new participants will receive clearer information about how they meet the disability or early intervention requirements. This will include their category of impairment.
The change was recommended by the NDIS Review, and requests from participants for more clarity and transparency about the basis of their access.
What does it mean for me as an existing participant?
As an existing participant, there is nothing you need to do right now.
We will work with existing participants to make sure they have the information they need ahead of any changes.
What happens if I want to change my category/categories?
A participant, or their nominee, can apply to vary their impairment category at any time after meeting access if it is not, or is no longer, correct.
The type of evidence that is required to support an application will depend on the reason the participant is seeking to vary the information and the evidence that has already been provided.
If the NDIA varies the impairment category, this will be reflected in the participant’s information. If a participant does not agree with the NDIA’s decision to vary or not to vary their impairment category, they can ask for a review of the decision.
Support needs assessment (s32L)
What is a support needs assessment?
The NDIS Review recommended a different approach to planning to deliver better and fairer outcomes for NDIS participants.
This included the development of a new way to gather information about the support people need to inform their NDIS Budget, called a support needs assessment.
A support needs assessment is a process that will be used to better understand a participant’s support needs in the future and develop their budget.
It will include a strengths-based assessment that will focus on a participant’s support needs rather than functional capacity.
Support needs assessments are a key step in the NDIS reform process to move toward a better way of planning.
In February 2025, the NDIA released an approach to market for support need assessment tools to support this process.
The NDIA understands the new ways of gathering information will significantly change participants’ experience and we will continue to talk with and listen to the disability community every step of the way.
Read more about support needs assessment tools.
What’s changing now?
For most participants, they will continue to have their plans developed using the current process for some time to come.
It will take 5 years for all participants to have their NDIS budgets developed in this new way. We are taking 5 years to make sure the transition isn’t rushed and we continue to learn and improve as we go.
We will continue to talk with and listen to people with disability, their families, carers and representatives as we progress through this year of design and testing, and as we transition to the new way of working.
We will also keep letting everyone know where we are up to in the design and testing, so that the information is available to everyone.
What happens next?
February to April 2025
The first step is to work with people with disability to understand the best ways to collect information about peoples’ support needs, and how to use this to build a NDIS budget. People with disability will be involved in choosing the best ways to collect information. We already know that people want us to make this as simple and easy as possible for people, so they don’t need to keep sharing personal information or retelling their story.
The second step is to agree how the NDIA will collect information, how to talk with participants about their NDIS budgets and how they can use it. This includes agreeing how participants can provide information. We know there will be many areas we will need to work through with participants to make sure the system is fair and equitable for people in different circumstances.
We are working with people with disability and disability representatives to design this and will have a proposed approach to share in April 2025.
April to September 2025
The third step is to test the new approach to gathering information and setting a person’s NDIS budget to make sure it works well before we start using it. We will include testing the new way of working with participants, without affecting their plans or budgets. We will keep listening and making improvements to the process to reflect the feedback we receive.
From September 2025
We will gradually start working with participants to develop their NDIS budgets using the new approach. We will do this gradually so we can keep testing and improving the way this works.
In this early stage, we will also build in additional checks to make sure the approach is working well, and that participants’ NDIS budgets are fair and consistent.
We will start gradually to make sure the new approach works well for participants, and we will continue to learn and improve how to do this well - so we can make the transition a smooth process for participants. We know these changes may create anxiety for people and we want to make the process as clear and as simple as possible for people.
Plan management decisions (s44)
Can I still choose how my NDIS funding is managed?
Yes, you can ask for your plan to be managed in a way that works best for you. This is called a plan management request.
You can choose to:
- self-manage your funding
- use a plan manager to help you manage your budget
- have your funding NDIA-managed.
We want to help you manage your funding safely and confidently. In some cases, if there is an unreasonable risk, we may need to change how your funding is managed.
What has changed in how the NDIA makes decisions about plan management?
New rules now clearly define how we assess unreasonable risk when making plan management decisions.
If there are concerns about how your funding is managed by you, your nominee, a representative or plan manager, we will first look at ways to support you before making any changes.
Extra supports such as guidance, safeguards or other strategies may be offered to help you stay in control of your funding.
A risk is only considered unreasonable if there are no supports that can help manage it.
If we decide to change how your funding is managed, we will:
- talk to you first and explain our decision
- give you the option to request a review if you don’t agree.
These changes are designed to help you stay in control of your funding while ensuring it is managed safely.
What does the NDIA consider when changing a plan management decision?
When the NDIA decides how plan funds are managed, they will consider if the participant, their nominee or child representative or registered plan manager:
- spent funding on NDIS supports
- spent funding in line with the participant’s plan
- presents an unreasonable risk to the participant by managing their funding.
If risks are identified, the NDIA may not support a participant’s request to self-manage or use a registered plan manager.
What happens if a participant or their nominee have been convicted of a criminal offence?
The NDIA will consider if the participant or their plan nominee have had any major criminal convictions.
The participant’s funding will be Agency-managed if the participant or their nominee have been convicted of an offence that:
- carries at least 2 years of prison
- involves fraud or dishonesty.
This will apply to all new and reassessed plans where a new plan approval decision is being made.
Can a participant appeal a plan management decision implemented by the NDIA?
Participants can appeal a plan management decision.
They should follow the NDIA appeal process, which includes requesting a review and providing any supporting information.
If a participant’s plan management type is changed, is the participant notified and given reasons why?
We know how important it is for participants to have the control, independence and flexibility in arranging and paying for their own supports through self-management.
The NDIA will talk to the participant about the risks and safeguards they have considered when making a plan management decision.
Where possible, they will support the participant to work towards their preferred plan management type in the future.
Plan variations and reassessments (s47 and s48)
Can I request changes to my NDIS plan?
Yes, if your needs change, you can ask for an update to your NDIS plan at any time.
We will work with you to make sure your supports are updated appropriately.
There are 2 ways your plan can be updated:
- Plan variations: small changes can be made without replacing your plan.
- Reassessments: a full review of your plan, creating a new plan with a new end date.
We will always explain why a change is needed and work with you on any updates. If you don’t agree, you can request a review, and we will support you through the process.
What has changed about how plans are updated?
From 4 March 2025, new rules will clarify when and how we can vary or reassess a participant’s plan.
These rules ensure:
- consistent decision-making when plans need to change
- a focus on your needs and goals when updating supports
- more flexibility while protecting participant funding.
These changes do not affect your right to request a plan variation or reassessment. They simply make the process clearer and ensure updates are made in a fair and transparent way.
Right to appeal decisions
Will participants have the right to appeal agency decisions that they are not happy with, for example changes to how their plan is managed and the funding periods?
Participants can appeal a decision to approve a plan, which includes how the plan will be managed. They can also appeal a decision relating to funding periods.
They should follow the NDIA appeal process, which includes requesting a review and providing any supporting information.
Can participants still review decisions made by the Agency?
NDIS participants have always and will continue to have the right to review their NDIS package and level of supports.
These legislative changes passed by Parliament do not change that right.
Providers
What is providers’ responsibility when delivering supports? (new)
Providers are responsible for delivering supports in line with the participant’s plan. This includes confirming the participant’s plan has sufficient funding within each funding period and support category to meet their needs.
This requirement has not changed with the introduction of funding periods.
How should providers schedule and claim for supports? (new)
Providers should schedule and claim for supports within the participant’s available budget and funding periods. Claims submitted within a funding period where funds have been exhausted will be rejected.
If there are unspent funds within a funding period, these funds will roll over into the next funding period. This roll over ensures that participants can continue to access supports if they did not fully use their funding in the previous funding period.
Can a provider claim across multiple funding periods? (new)
Yes. If a service spans multiple funding periods, providers are not required to lodge separate claims. As long as there is enough budget in both funding periods to cover the full amount, a claim can be submitted for the entire service.
Claims will be processed based on the available budget, regardless of the support dates.
Why is it important for providers to avoid over servicing? (new)
Over servicing occurs when services are delivered beyond the allocated budget for a given funding period, with the expectation that the claim will be paid using the next funding period’s allocation. While this may seem convenient, it creates risk. If a provider delivers more services than funded in a period, there may not be sufficient funding to cover the participant’s support requirements for the duration of their plan.
Under NDIS legislation, claims exceeding the available funding in a support category in the current funding period cannot be paid.
To ensure both providers and participants are protected, it is essential to deliver services within the participant’s budget and funding periods. Avoiding over-servicing, especially if funding is nearing its limit, ensures continuity of supports and prevents financial risks for participants and providers.
What if a participants’ needs change? (new)
Participants can request changes to their funding periods if their needs change, such as if they need more or less support. They will need to submit a plan change request and provide information explaining why the change is necessary. The NDIS will review the request and where appropriate, work with the participant to adjust their plan.
Plan variations
If a participant’s overall support needs haven’t changed, but they need to adjust how the funds are used over time (for example, to access a temporary increase in funding for a program like intensive capacity building or early intervention), they may request a plan variation. This allows funds to be reallocated within the current period, with less funding allocated to later periods.
This process does not require a full plan reassessment, but careful budgeting is necessary, as less funding will be available in later periods. The total funding amount will remain unchanged.
In some cases, if a participant knows in advance that they will need additional support (such as early intervention), their plan can be frontloaded, giving them more funding early on so they don’t need to return to the Agency if their needs change during the plan.
Plan reassessments
Plan reassessments are when we create a whole new plan with a participant, that has a new plan end date. Reassessments provide a more detailed review of a participants plan if they have more significant changes to their current circumstances, to ensure funding and supports continue to meet their needs over time.
The process for requesting a change to a plan has not changed with the introduction of funding periods.
Do claims need to be submitted within 2 years of support being provided? Is there a grace period?
Claims and payments (s45)
In the future, all claims must be made within 2 years of providing the support.
For the first 12 months the NDIA will review all claims made for supports provided before the new NDIS law comes into effect on 3 October 2024.
How can providers register for community participation?
Providers can register by visiting the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission website and following the registration process.
How do providers and plan managers claim replacement supports?
Providers and plan managers must not provide or claim a replacement support for a participant without evidence of approval.
For more information, visit claims and payments.
More information
If you have more questions about the changes to the NDIS, you can go to the Department of Social Services website.
Get involved
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This page current as of 26 June 2025