What Happens at an NDIS Plan Reassessment Meeting?

What a plan reassessment actually is

A plan reassessment is different from simply renewing an existing plan. The NDIA looks at how the current plan has been used, whether goals have been met or are still relevant, and whether new evidence points to a change in support needs. It is not assumed that everything continues exactly as before.

This means a reassessment can result in a plan that looks quite different from the one before it, with some funding increased, some reduced, and some categories changed entirely, depending on what the evidence and conversation show.

Because of this, a reassessment deserves the same level of preparation as a first planning meeting, even though it can be tempting to treat it as a formality once a participant has been through the process before.

When reassessments happen

Most plans have a scheduled reassessment date, and a my NDIS contact typically reaches out two to three months beforehand to arrange a check-in. This gives enough time to gather evidence and think through what has changed since the last plan.

Participants do not have to wait for the scheduled date if something significant changes earlier, such as a change in living arrangements, a new diagnosis, a hospital admission, or a support that has clearly stopped working. In these cases, an earlier reassessment can be requested directly.

How to prepare in the weeks before

Preparation for a reassessment focuses on evidence of use and evidence of change, rather than only restating the original goals.

1. Review how the current plan’s funding has actually been spent, category by category.
2. List what has changed since the last plan: living situation, health, support needs, providers.
3. Note which goals have been met, partly met, or are no longer relevant.
4. Gather updated reports if there has been a meaningful change in circumstances.
5. Ask a support coordinator or plan manager for a summary of spending and support notes.

Evidence that supports a change in funding

Requests for increased or different funding are strongest when they connect a specific, documented need to a specific, measurable outcome. General statements about wanting “more support” tend to carry less weight than a clear example tied to evidence.

• Updated therapy or medical reports describing a change in function or diagnosis.
• Incident reports or support notes describing a risk that has increased.
• A clear account of what has been tried under the current plan and why it was not enough.
• Evidence that informal supports, such as a family carer, are no longer sustainable at the current level.

What the reassessment meeting covers

• Progress against the goals set in the previous plan.
• How funded supports have actually been used, including any underspend or overspend.
• Any changes in health, living situation, education, employment or informal supports.
• New goals or priorities for the next plan period.
• Whether support coordination, plan management or specific supports should change.

Common reasons plans change at reassessment

• A significant underspend in one category, which can lead to reduced funding next time if it is not explained.
• A documented increase in support needs, supported by updated evidence.
• A change in living arrangements, such as moving into supported independent living.
• A support that has ended or a provider that is no longer available.
• Feedback from providers or a support coordinator about what has and has not worked.

Mistakes to avoid at reassessment

A handful of avoidable habits can weaken an otherwise reasonable case at reassessment.

• Assuming funding will simply continue unchanged without needing to be explained or justified.
• Not accounting for an underspend, which can be read as reduced need rather than a temporary gap in service delivery.
• Leaving updated evidence until the last minute, when reports can take weeks to obtain.
• Not mentioning a support that has clearly stopped working, simply because changing providers feels disruptive.

Requesting an early reassessment

If circumstances change well before the scheduled date, participants do not need to wait it out. A request for an early reassessment, or a change of circumstances request, can be made directly to the NDIA, ideally with evidence describing what has changed and why it cannot wait until the next scheduled date.

This is different from an internal review of a decision, which challenges a specific decision already made. An early reassessment instead asks for the whole plan, or a relevant part of it, to be looked at again in light of new circumstances.

What if the new plan reduces funding

It can be unsettling to receive a new plan with less funding than expected, particularly if daily life has not become easier. This is often connected to an underspend in the previous plan, a goal that has been met, or evidence that did not clearly explain an ongoing need.

If a reduction does not make sense given the participant’s actual circumstances, it is worth asking specifically why the change was made and requesting an internal review if the explanation does not match the evidence provided. Reviews are more effective when they focus on a clear, specific gap rather than a general objection to the outcome.

Reassessment versus an annual check-in

Not every conversation with the NDIA is a full reassessment. Many participants also have a lighter annual check-in, which looks at whether the plan is still working without necessarily reopening every category for change. Understanding which type of conversation is happening helps set expectations about how much detail is needed.

A full reassessment is the point where the whole plan can be revisited, including the overall funding amount, the mix of support categories, and whether support coordination or plan management arrangements should change. A check-in is generally lighter touch, focused on confirming the plan is still on track.

The role of a support coordinator in a reassessment

A support coordinator who has been involved throughout the plan period is often one of the most useful sources of evidence at reassessment, since they can describe what has actually happened with providers, invoices and support delivery, rather than relying only on the participant’s memory of a busy year.

This is one reason it helps to keep support coordination notes reasonably organised throughout the plan, rather than trying to reconstruct twelve months of history in the final fortnight before a reassessment meeting.

What to do once the new plan arrives

Once a new plan is issued, it is worth checking it against what was actually discussed at the reassessment meeting, rather than assuming it will automatically match. Compare funding categories, amounts and any new supports against the conversation and evidence provided.

If something looks inconsistent, most participants find it easier to raise the specific discrepancy quickly, while the reassessment conversation is still fresh, rather than waiting months and trying to reconstruct what was said.

Keeping records between reassessments

The easiest way to make the next reassessment simpler is to keep a small, ongoing record throughout the current plan period rather than starting from nothing when the next date approaches. This does not need to be complicated.

• A short note whenever a support starts, changes or ends, and why.
• Copies of key reports as they are received, rather than requesting them all at once later.
• A simple log of any significant events: hospital visits, housing changes, changes in informal support.
• Regular check-ins with a support coordinator or plan manager about how funding is tracking against the plan.

Example scenario

Consider a participant whose support needs have increased since their last plan due to a new mobility issue. In the lead-up to their reassessment, they gather an updated physiotherapy report, a short note from their support worker describing recent falls, and a summary of how their core supports budget was used over the previous year.

At the meeting, they explain not just that mobility has changed, but specifically what tasks have become harder and what additional support would address that gap. The resulting plan increases core supports funding and adds a piece of assistive technology under capital supports.

This is a general illustration only. Outcomes depend on the participant’s own evidence, goals and circumstances at the time of reassessment.

Timing your evidence gathering

Reports and assessments from allied health professionals can take several weeks to arrange, especially if a new appointment is needed rather than an update to an existing one. Starting this process as soon as the my NDIS contact reaches out, rather than waiting until closer to the meeting date, avoids a last-minute scramble that can leave gaps in the evidence provided.

It is also reasonable to ask a treating professional directly whether their report can specifically address how a condition affects daily function and support needs, since general clinical letters are sometimes less useful for this purpose than a report written with the reassessment in mind.

If the reassessment date needs to change

Sometimes a scheduled plan reassessment meeting needs to be moved, whether because new evidence is still being gathered or because the participant is unavailable on the original date. Contacting the NDIA as early as possible to request a new date is generally straightforward, and current supports typically continue under the existing plan until the reassessment is completed.

Participants who are still waiting on a report from a treating professional should let the NDIA know this directly, rather than attending the meeting without the evidence and hoping to provide it later.

Important terms to understand

How this applies locally

Participants in Canberra and Queanbeyan often coordinate reassessment evidence across several local providers at once, including allied health, home care and community services. Keeping simple records throughout the plan period makes this much easier when the reassessment date arrives.

CCS helps participants gather this kind of evidence throughout the plan, rather than starting from scratch a few weeks before a reassessment is due.

This is particularly useful for participants managing several providers across Belconnen, Woden, Tuggeranong and Gungahlin, where a single coordinated summary is often more persuasive than separate updates from each service.

Related CCS Guides and Services

• How to Prepare for Your First NDIS Planning Meeting
• NDIS Reasonable and Necessary Criteria Explained
• Home and Living Decision Letters Changed in 2026
• How to Ask for NDIS Home and Living Supports: Evidence Checklist for 2026
• Support coordination in Canberra
• Contact CCS

Official NDIS References

• How to prepare for a plan reassessment
• What is a plan reassessment
• Guide to decision reviews

Frequently Asked Questions