If your circumstances or support needs have significantly changed and you need the NDIA to reconsider your current plan, the process has changed.
New NDIS laws are now in effect, and from 27 August 2026 new rules apply to who can request a plan reassessment, how the request must be submitted and what information needs to accompany it.
This does not mean every participant's plan changed on 27 August.
The NDIA says participants can continue using their plans and supports as usual unless they are told that a particular change affects them.
The short version: from 27 August 2026, only the participant, their nominee or their child representative can request a plan reassessment. The request must be made on the correct NDIA form, explain what has changed and why reassessment is needed, and include supporting evidence. Once the NDIA has the information it needs, it says it will decide within 90 days whether to reassess the plan, not reassess it or vary the plan.
What changed on 27 August 2026?
The most important change is that requesting a reassessment is now a more formal process.
According to the NDIA, from 27 August:
- only the participant, their nominee or their child representative can request a reassessment;
- the request must be submitted using the correct form;
- the form needs to explain what has changed;
- it needs to explain why the participant needs a reassessment;
- supporting evidence must be included;
- some evidence may need to come from a GP or another health professional.
The NDIA says that once it has the information it needs, it will make a decision within 90 days.
The new process at a glance
| Question | From 27 August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Who can ask for a reassessment? | The participant, their nominee or their child representative. |
| How is the request made? | Using the correct NDIA plan reassessment form. |
| What needs to be explained? | What has changed and why the participant needs their plan reassessed. |
| Is evidence required? | Yes. The request must include supporting evidence, which may need to come from a GP or health professional depending on the situation. |
| How long can the decision take? | The NDIA says it will decide within 90 days once it has the information it needs. |
| What can the NDIA decide? | To reassess the plan, not reassess it, or vary the plan. |
Who can request a plan reassessment now?
This is one of the clearest changes.
The NDIA says only three categories of people can now formally request a reassessment:
- the participant;
- the participant's nominee;
- the participant's child representative.
That means a provider, support coordinator, allied health professional or other support person cannot independently make the formal reassessment request simply because they believe a participant's needs have changed.
Those people may still play an important role in helping the participant understand the process or preparing supporting information, but the request itself needs to come through the participant or the authorised representative identified by the NDIA.
What is a plan reassessment?
A plan reassessment is a process used when the NDIA needs to reconsider a participant's plan.
The reason for requesting one will depend on the person's circumstances.
For example, a participant may believe their current plan no longer reflects their support needs because something significant has changed.
The key point under the new process is that the request needs to clearly explain:
What has changed?
and:
Why does that change mean the current plan needs to be reassessed?
A request is stronger when the connection between those two things is clear.
What evidence do I need?
There is no single evidence checklist that will suit every participant.
The evidence needs to support the reason you are asking for the reassessment.
The NDIA says the request must include evidence and notes that the evidence may need to come from a GP or health professional.
That does not mean every participant automatically needs the same medical report.
The useful evidence will depend on what has changed.
Before submitting, make sure the information helps explain
- what has changed in the participant's circumstances or support needs;
- when the change happened;
- whether the change is expected to continue;
- how the change affects the participant's current supports;
- why the existing plan may no longer be appropriate;
- what professional or other evidence supports that explanation.
The purpose of the evidence is not simply to attach as many documents as possible.
It should help the NDIA understand why reassessing the plan is being requested.
What happens after the form is submitted?
The NDIA says that once it has the information it needs, it will make a decision within 90 days.
There are three possible decisions.
The NDIA may reassess the plan
This means the agency agrees that the plan should go through a reassessment process.
Or it may choose another outcome
The NDIA may decide not to reassess the plan, or it may decide that varying the existing plan is the more appropriate response.
The NDIA says it will tell the participant what decision it has made and why.
Does the 90-day period start as soon as I send the form?
The wording here matters.
The NDIA says it will make the decision within 90 days once it has the information it needs.
That means submitting an incomplete request may not necessarily start a simple 90-day countdown from the moment the form is sent.
This is another reason to make sure the form is completed properly and the relevant supporting evidence is included.
Plan reassessment vs plan variation: what is the difference?
A reassessment is not the only way an NDIS plan can change.
The NDIA can also vary a plan.
This distinction matters because not every change in circumstances necessarily requires the entire plan to be reassessed.
| Plan reassessment | Plan variation |
|---|---|
| Used where the plan needs to be reconsidered through a reassessment process. | Can be used to change parts of an existing plan without necessarily reassessing the whole plan. |
| The participant, nominee or child representative requests reassessment using the required process. | The NDIA may decide a variation is the more appropriate outcome. |
| The request needs to explain what has changed and why reassessment is needed. | Can be relevant where the required change is more limited, urgent or short-term. |
The important practical point is this:
Not every plan change requires a full reassessment.
If the required change is urgent, minor or short-term, a plan variation may be the more appropriate pathway depending on the circumstances.
What if my situation is urgent?
If the participant's circumstances have changed urgently, do not assume they simply need to submit a reassessment request and wait.
Contact the NDIA or the participant's my NDIS contact and explain the situation clearly.
The NDIA may consider whether a plan variation or another response is appropriate.
The best pathway will depend on what has changed and what support is needed.
Does this mean everyone's NDIS plan is being reassessed?
No.
The introduction of the new reassessment rules does not mean every participant is automatically being reassessed.
The new NDIS legislation passed Parliament on 19 August 2026, but the reforms are being introduced progressively.
The NDIA has specifically said that participants can continue using their current plans and supports as usual.
If a future change directly affects a participant, the NDIA says it will provide information about what is changing and when.
Important: ordinary changes that happen through the existing planning process should not automatically be interpreted as part of the broader NDIS reforms. Plans can still increase or decrease as participants' needs change over time.
What else changed under the new NDIS laws?
The plan reassessment changes are only one part of a larger package of reforms.
The NDIA says the new laws will progressively affect areas including:
- how people access the NDIS;
- how plans are created;
- how funding is used;
- how providers deliver supports;
- how fraud is addressed;
- how NDIS prices are set.
These changes are not all starting at once.
The NDIA says some changes are beginning now, while others will be phased in over the coming months and years.
For example, changes relating to social and community participation funding are expected to begin phasing in from October 2026.
Eligibility changes are not expected to take effect until 1 January 2028.
Does this change what I can buy with my NDIS plan today?
Not simply because the new legislation has commenced.
The NDIA says participants should continue using their plans and supports as usual unless they are told that a specific change affects them.
The ordinary rules around whether something is an NDIS support, whether it relates to the participant's disability support needs and whether the participant has appropriate funding still matter.
So if you are purchasing assistive technology today, the existence of the new reassessment process does not by itself change whether that product can be purchased from the plan.
What if I need assistive technology because my needs have changed?
This is where the distinction becomes important for LowCost AT customers.
If the participant already has suitable funding and the support is appropriate under the current plan, they may be able to purchase it through the normal pathway.
If the participant's needs have significantly changed and the current plan does not contain the support or funding they now require, a plan change may need to be considered.
That does not necessarily mean a reassessment is always the answer.
The right pathway may depend on how significant, urgent or limited the required change is.
If you are unsure, speak with the participant's my NDIS contact, support coordinator, plan manager or another appropriate advisor before purchasing.
Your payment management type still matters
The new reassessment rules do not remove the existing differences between self-managed, plan-managed and NDIA-managed purchasing.
Self-managed participants
Self-managed participants continue to manage eligible purchases through their self-managed funding and keep the appropriate invoices and records.
Read: Self-managed NDIS – How to Buy and Claim Assistive Technology
Plan-managed participants
Plan-managed participants can continue working with their plan manager for eligible purchases that fit their plan and available funding.
Read: Plan-managed NDIS – How to Buy Assistive Technology
NDIA-managed participants
NDIA-managed participants continue to use the applicable registered-provider and claiming pathways for funded supports.
Read: NDIA-managed NDIS – How to Buy Assistive Technology
What should I do before requesting a reassessment?
A practical checklist
- Identify what has actually changed. Be specific rather than simply saying the existing plan is not enough.
- Explain why that change affects the current plan. Connect the changed circumstances to the support need.
- Gather relevant evidence. Use evidence that supports the reason for the request.
- Check whether reassessment is the right pathway. A variation may be more appropriate for some urgent, minor or short-term changes.
- Use the correct NDIA form. The new process requires the formal reassessment request form.
- Keep a copy of what you submit. Save the form and supporting evidence for your records.
What should support coordinators and providers know?
The participant remains central to the request.
A support coordinator, provider or health professional may help identify changed needs, explain the impact of those changes or provide supporting evidence.
But under the new rules, the formal reassessment request itself must come from the participant, their nominee or child representative.
That means providers should be careful not to present themselves as the person making the reassessment request on behalf of the participant unless they are also an authorised nominee or child representative.
Why clear evidence matters more now
The reassessment process is now more explicit about the information the NDIA expects to receive.
A statement such as:
"My plan no longer works."
does not explain very much by itself.
A clearer request might explain:
what changed → how it affects the participant → why the current plan no longer addresses that need → what evidence supports the change.
That structure makes the reason for the request easier to understand.
What if the NDIA decides not to reassess my plan?
The NDIA says it will tell the participant what decision it has made and why.
If it decides not to reassess, that does not necessarily mean nothing can change.
One of the possible decisions is to vary the existing plan instead.
If you disagree with a decision, check the decision notice carefully and review the current NDIA information about review rights and next steps.
The exact review pathway will depend on the decision that has been made.
Do not rely on older reassessment instructions
This is particularly important right now.
The new rules only started on 27 August 2026, and the NDIA has placed a notice on its website saying that information is being updated to reflect the new legislation.
If you find an older blog post, downloaded guide, forum answer or saved form describing the previous process, check it against the current NDIA website before relying on it.
The safest source for the current reassessment form and requirements is the NDIA itself.
Our practical recommendation
If you believe the participant's plan needs to change, start by defining the change rather than starting with the form.
Ask:
What has changed?
How does that affect the participant's support needs?
Is this significant and ongoing, or is the required change smaller, urgent or short-term?
What evidence supports it?
Once those answers are clear, it becomes much easier to work out whether a reassessment request is the appropriate next step.
The process changed on 27 August 2026
From 27 August, plan reassessment requests need to follow a more formal process.
The participant, nominee or child representative needs to make the request using the correct form, explain what has changed and why reassessment is needed, and provide supporting evidence.
But the new rules do not mean every plan suddenly changed.
Participants should continue using their current plans and supports unless they are told a specific reform affects them.
And when a plan does need to change, a full reassessment is not necessarily the only option.
Using your NDIS funding with LowCost AT Contact LowCost ATFrequently asked questions
What changed with NDIS plan reassessments on 27 August 2026?
From 27 August 2026, only a participant, their nominee or their child representative can request a plan reassessment. The request must use the correct NDIA form, explain what has changed and why reassessment is needed, and include supporting evidence.
Who can request an NDIS plan reassessment now?
The NDIA says a plan reassessment can be requested by the participant, their nominee or their child representative.
Do I need to use a form to request a plan reassessment?
Yes. From 27 August 2026, the NDIA requires plan reassessment requests to be submitted using the correct reassessment form available from the NDIA.
Do I need evidence for an NDIS plan reassessment?
Yes. The request must include evidence supporting what has changed and why reassessment is needed. Depending on the circumstances, the NDIA says some evidence may need to come from a GP or health professional.
How long does the NDIA have to decide on a reassessment request?
The NDIA says it will make a decision within 90 days once it has the information it needs.
What can the NDIA decide after I request a reassessment?
The NDIA may decide to reassess the plan, not reassess the plan or vary the existing plan. It says it will tell the participant what decision has been made and why.
What is the difference between a plan reassessment and a plan variation?
A reassessment involves reconsidering the plan through the reassessment process. A variation changes part of an existing plan and may be more appropriate for some urgent, minor or short-term changes.
Does every NDIS participant need a new plan because of the new laws?
No. The NDIA says participants can continue using their current plans and supports as usual unless they are told that a specific change affects them.
Do the new reassessment rules change what I can buy with my NDIS plan?
Not automatically. Existing requirements about whether a support is appropriate, relates to the participant's disability support needs and fits the participant's current plan and funding continue to apply.
Can my support coordinator request a plan reassessment for me?
A support coordinator can help prepare information or evidence, but the NDIA says the formal reassessment request must come from the participant, their nominee or their child representative.
Recent post