NDIS Plan Reassessment (Plan Review) Explained: Timeframes, Triggers and What to Expect in 2026

A plan reassessment is when the NDIA replaces your current plan with a brand new one. The new plan has a new start date, a new end date and a new budget. This is the process that used to be called a "plan review", so if your support coordinator or planner still uses that phrase, they are talking about the same thing.

A plan reassessment is different from a plan variation. A variation is a smaller change to part of your existing plan, for example adjusting one type of funding or updating a detail, without replacing the whole plan. The NDIA decides which path fits your situation.

The NDIA may decide you need a full reassessment rather than a variation when any of the following apply:

• They have already varied your plan several times and it still is not meeting your needs
• They cannot make the change you want without looking at the other supports in your plan
• Your situation has changed significantly and a reassessment is needed
• You want more funding for a new or changed goal and the request is not minor
• Your informal, community or mainstream supports can no longer meet your needs

Importantly, telling the NDIA your circumstances have changed does not automatically trigger a full reassessment. The NDIA will work with you to understand what has changed and decide whether a variation, a reassessment, or no change is the right response.

Most reassessments are scheduled. Your my NDIS contact (an early childhood partner, Local Area Coordinator, or NDIA planner) usually gets in touch about 2 to 3 months before your plan's reassessment date to book a time to check in. The formal process begins when your plan is 56 days from its reassessment date.

Once the NDIA has all the information and evidence it needs, both plan variations and plan reassessments are completed within 28 days. If you specifically ask the NDIA to vary your plan, they aim to tell you within 21 days whether they will make the change.

You do not always have to wait for your scheduled date. If your situation changes, you can ask for an unscheduled (early) reassessment at any time. The NDIA has said it prioritises unscheduled requests based on risk and works on the oldest requests first, so timing can vary.

If your plan reaches its end date before your new plan has been finalised, your current plan is automatically extended for up to 12 months. Your existing funding continues so you do not face a gap in supports while the reassessment is completed.

You generally need a full plan reassessment when your circumstances have changed significantly. The NDIA gives examples such as the impact of your disability on your life changing, starting a new life stage like school or work, or a significant change in your personal circumstances or living arrangements.

Not everyone needs a full reassessment at every plan end. For some participants the NDIA uses a lighter-touch check-in, where your contact spends more time seeing how you are going and answering questions rather than asking every planning question again.

For children, the recommended frequency is more structured:

• Children younger than 9: a full plan reassessment is usually recommended every 12 to 24 months
• Children younger than 7: a plan length of 12 months is recommended

These are general guides. Your actual plan length and reassessment timing depend on your individual situation, and the NDIA confirms the date with you.

The reassessment meeting is your chance to talk about how your current plan has gone, whether your supports still reflect your needs, and what you want to work towards next. An NDIA planner then reviews your information and decides what supports are reasonable and necessary.

It helps to come prepared. Before the meeting, think about the goals you want to pursue, how your current supports have helped you progress towards them, and your preferences around plan length and how the plan is managed.

Strong evidence makes a real difference. You should bring assessments or reports from healthcare professionals, therapists or support workers that show how your supports are helping you work towards your goals. Good reports also describe the progress you have made and recommend the supports you may need in the future.

A practical checklist for the meeting:

• Reports or assessments from your providers showing progress and future recommendations
• A short summary of your goals and what is working or not working in your current plan
• Any changes to your living situation, informal supports, health or daily life
• Your preferences on plan duration and plan management (self, plan-managed, or NDIA-managed)

If something significant changes, you do not have to wait for your scheduled reassessment. You can tell the NDIA about a change of circumstances at any time, and they will work with you to decide whether a variation, a reassessment, or no change is needed.

You can report a change in several ways:

• Online through the my NDIS participant portal (myplace)
• By email to [email protected]
• By phone on 1800 800 110
• By mail to NDIA, GPO Box 700, Canberra ACT 2601

There is also a "Change of details or change of situation" form on the NDIS website you can use to report changes such as a new address, phone number or email, or a change to your situation. Keep a record of when and how you contacted the NDIA.

Remember that a change of circumstances does not automatically mean your plan will change. The NDIA will tell you what information or evidence they need before deciding.

After a reassessment, there are three possible outcomes. The NDIA can vary your plan, create a new plan for you, or decide not to change your plan. They aim to let you know their decision within 21 days of completing their consideration.

If you disagree with the outcome, that is handled through a separate process. You can request a review of a reviewable decision, also called an internal review. You must ask within 3 months from the day you receive the decision in writing, and you can include new reports, letters or evidence with your request. The NDIA aims to complete internal reviews within 60 days of receiving the request.

If you are still not satisfied after the internal review, you can apply for an external review through the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). The ART replaced the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal on 14 October 2024, and existing cases were transferred automatically. You generally have 28 days from the internal review decision to apply, though the Tribunal may allow more time depending on your circumstances. You cannot go to the Tribunal until the NDIA has completed the internal review first.

Because these timeframes are strict, note the date on any decision letter and act early if you intend to seek a review.

Recent legislation changes have reshaped what a reassessed plan looks like. Plans reassessed after 3 October 2024 show a total budget amount, with funding provided either as a "stated" item (which must be used for a particular support) or as part of a flexible budget (which can be used across NDIS supports).

Since 19 May 2025, new and reassessed plans also include funding periods, usually set at 3 months. Funding periods do not change the total amount in your plan, only when each portion becomes available. This is designed to help your funding last the full length of the plan.

Unused funds roll over to the next funding period within the same plan. However, unused funds do not roll over into a new plan, so it is worth managing your budget across each period rather than leaving large amounts unspent near the end.

These rules are relatively new and continue to be refined, so confirm the current details on the official NDIS website before relying on them.

It is easy to confuse a plan reassessment with an eligibility reassessment, but they are different. A plan reassessment looks at your supports and funding and creates a new plan. An eligibility reassessment asks for evidence that you still meet the requirements to be an NDIS participant. You can keep using your current supports while an eligibility reassessment is underway, but if the evidence shows you no longer meet the criteria, you may leave the scheme.

Looking ahead, the NDIA is rolling out New Framework Planning, with the first participants expected to begin from mid-2026. It will be introduced in phases over a number of years, so many participants will not notice a change for some time.

Under the new approach, a trained assessor works with you through a support needs assessment to understand your life and disability-related support needs, using a tool based on the Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs (I-CAN v6). The aim is a more flexible, whole-of-person budget rather than funding tied to individual line items.

Because this is still being designed and consulted on, the exact process may change. Always check the latest guidance on ndis.gov.au, and speak to your my NDIS contact about what applies to your specific plan.