What is a plan reassesment?
A plan reassessment occurs when your NDIS Plan is due to renew. This process was previously called a 'Plan Review', but the NDIA has renamed it to avoid confusion.
A plan reassessment is agency initiated.
The NDIS will normally contact participants or their authorised representatives 3 months before a plan reassessment is due and confirm details.
During the check-in call, they will talk to you about booking in a plan reassessment meeting which can be face-to-face, over the phone, or video call.
They will also talk to you about what information you may need to provide at the meeting.
What is a plan variation?
If you need changes to your plan before the reassessment date, you can contact the NDIA at any time to request a plan variation.
They will respond within 21 days by:
- Varying your plan (see below for more information on plan variations);
- Replacing your plan with a new plan; or
- Making a decision not to reassess your plan.
If you are not happy with this decision, you can ask the NDIS to review that decision.
What to expect in your plan reassessment meeting
You will discuss your progress (what worked and what didn't) and any changes you want to make in your next plan.
If your support needs are unlikely to change, you can request a long plan duration of up to three (3) years. To prepare for this conversation, you will want to consider:
- any life changes you’re expecting to make over the next three years (e.g. leaving school, starting or leaving work or a change in your living situation)
- how connected you are with your social and community supports
- your goals and preferences around plan duration.
Who attends my plan reassessment meeting?
You shouldn't attend the meeting on your own - bring a support person with you. This could be:
- A friend/carer/family member
- Support worker
- Support coordinator
- Advocate
How to prepare for your plan reassessment
In the lead up to your plan reassessment think about and document the following:
- What worked well in your plan
- What didn’t work well
- Have you made progress towards your goals
- Which goals you want to continue to pursue and which goals you want to change
- Who can help you pursue your goals
- Will you need NDIS support in the future
- Would you like to change how all or some of your plan funding is managed.
You do not need to pick new goals at each plan review but your plan, supports and services should be helping you make progress towards your goals.
Tips:
- Make notes so that you don't forget your thoughts during the actual meeting.
- Write down any questions you have in advance
1. Reports
You will need to provide reports from therapists and providers who have helped you work towards your goals and who you want to include in your next plan.
Reports are needed to show how your supports and services are helping you to achieve your goals and provide evidence to justify future funding of these supports.
These reports are especially important for children because they are growing and developing and their needs are changing.
Providers can write reports for programs, activities or supports they provide if you would like to continue to receive funding for these supports in your next plan.
Tips:
- Make sure you ask your therapist for your report at least 6 weeks before your plan assessment date, giving them time to create them.
- Make sure your therapist knows how to write their report in the format the NDIS understands. Share this resource with them: Writing Reports for NDIS Access and Plan Reassessments
2. Make notes
Use these questions to help you prepare for your plan review meeting. Write down answers to them beforehand:
- Will I need NDIS support in the future?
- Would I like to change how some or all of my plan funding is managed?
- Who can help me achieve my goals?
- Which goals do I need to continue to work on and which goals do I need to change?
- What worked well in my plan? Did I achieve my goals or make progress towards achieving them?
- What didn't work well in plan?
- What are my new goals for my new plan?
- Do I have any questions?
3. What if I haven't been able to use all my funds?
That’s okay! As long as you can justify why the funding hasn’t been used.
There are many reasons that you may not have been able to spend your funds including long waitlists, COVID, lack of services in remote areas.
4. What if I want to ask for more supports?
Use language that is broad. For example:
Don't say: I want surf lessons.
Do say: I want to focus on community access and making friends.
You need to justify:
- That the request will reduce the need for funding in other areas in the future, and
- Is reasonable and necessary in order for you to achieve your goals
Tips:
- Become familiar with section 34 of the NDIS act that defines 'what is reasonable and necessary' and refer back to this.
- Get your therapist to include your requests in their recommendations using the right language.
- Prepare your notes prior to the meeting.
- Look at the NDIS price guide when writing up pre planning notes so that you know how much funding you need
What happens if I still don't get the supports I need in my new plan?
If the reports are sound, and you still don’t get the plan you want, you can:
- Call the NDIA and apply for a ‘reviewable decision’
This must be done within 100 days of the plan being generated.
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