- →NDIS plans are reviewed every 12 months — but you can request an unscheduled review at any time if your needs change
- →Funding increases come from evidence, not from asking nicely — gather allied health reports before your review
- →Keep a record of your current supports throughout the plan period — this evidence demonstrates actual use and unmet need
- →If your plan is reduced, you have 3 months to request an internal review of the decision
- →A disability advocate can attend your review with you and help you present your case — at no cost
An NDIS plan review is not the same as your initial planning meeting. You are no longer explaining your disability for the first time — you are demonstrating how your funded supports are working, where they are falling short, and why your needs have changed. Getting this right is the difference between a plan that keeps pace with your life and one that leaves you underfunded for another 12 months.
In my experience supporting participants through plan reviews, the most common reason a review does not result in increased funding is not because the NDIA rejected the case — it is because participants arrived without the evidence to make it. This guide covers how to prepare that evidence and how to present it effectively.
What is an NDIS plan review?
An NDIS plan review is a reassessment of your support needs that produces a new or updated NDIS plan. There are two types:
Scheduled Review
Happens automatically at the end of your plan period — typically every 12 months. Your LAC or NDIA planner will contact you to arrange it.
Unscheduled Review
You can request this at any time if your needs change significantly — new diagnosis, loss of informal support, significant life event, or existing plan running out.
Both types of review use the same preparation approach. The difference is timing and urgency — an unscheduled review is typically triggered by a specific change, so the evidence for that change needs to be recent and specific.
Step 1: Gather your evidence before the review
Evidence is the single most important factor in a plan review outcome. The NDIA makes funding decisions based on documented need — not on what you say in the meeting without support. Before your review, collect:
- ✓Updated reports from your allied health professionals — OT, physiotherapist, speech pathologist, psychologist
- ✓A letter from your GP if your condition has changed or deteriorated
- ✓A report from your current support provider documenting the supports delivered and any gaps
- ✓Records of specific incidents where your support needs were not met
- ✓Any new assessments or diagnoses relevant to your current situation
- ✓A statement from a family carer if informal supports have changed
Allied health reports should be written with NDIS reviews in mind — ask your treating professionals to describe the functional impact of your condition on daily activities, not just the clinical presentation. An OT functional assessment is the most directly useful document you can bring.
Step 2: Document your current plan performance
One of the strongest arguments for increased funding is evidence that you used your current plan fully and still had unmet needs. If you spent your entire Core Supports budget and still needed more support hours, that is a compelling case. If you underspent, be prepared to explain why — underspend is sometimes interpreted as "the plan was sufficient" even when it reflects barriers to accessing supports rather than met needs.
Bring your NDIS MyPlace portal statement (or ask your plan manager for an end-of-period summary) showing how each budget category was used. For each category, note:
- ✓Was the budget fully used? If yes, what additional support did you still need?
- ✓If underspent, was it because providers were hard to find, or because your support needs were actually met?
- ✓Were there periods where you needed more support than your plan allowed?
- ✓Are there supports you needed but did not have funding for?
Step 3: Update your goals
Plan reviews are an opportunity to update your goals — the supports funded in your plan should flow from your current goals, not the goals you had 12 months ago. Before your review, think about:
- ✓Have your goals changed since your last plan? What do you want to achieve in the next 12 months?
- ✓Which goals from your last plan were achieved — and which were not, and why?
- ✓Are there new areas of your life where you need funded support?
- ✓Are there Capacity Building goals you want to add — employment, education, therapy, independence?
Goals that are specific and connected to your disability are more fundable than general aspirations. "I want to attend a local fitness class twice a week with a support worker to manage my mobility limitations" is more fundable than "I want to be more active."
Common mistakes at NDIS plan reviews
What to do if your plan review goes badly
If your new plan has reduced funding, unchanged funding when your needs have increased, or is missing categories you requested, you have formal options:
Acting early is important. The 3-month window for an internal review is strict. If you are unhappy with your plan, start the process immediately rather than waiting to see how the plan plays out.