Your NDIS plan review is one of the most important moments in your NDIS journey. It is your opportunity to ensure your plan accurately reflects your current support needs, your goals, and the reality of your daily life — not what the NDIS assumed twelve months ago.
Many participants leave plan reviews with the same or fewer supports than they need — not because the NDIS intended to underfund them, but because they didn’t know what to prepare. This guide changes that.
What Is an NDIS Plan Review?
An NDIS plan review is a formal process where you and the NDIA reassess your plan to make sure it still meets your needs. There are two types:
- Scheduled review — happens at the end of your current plan period (usually every 1–3 years). You will receive notice from the NDIS in advance.
- Unscheduled (change of circumstances) review — can be requested at any time if your support needs change significantly. This might be triggered by a new diagnosis, a change in living situation, or a major health event.
What Has Changed for NDIS Plans in 2026?
The NDIS has continued to evolve in 2026. Key changes affecting plan reviews this year include:
- New support categories — NDIS registration groups were restructured from 1 July 2026. Group 0115 now covers STA, MTA, and ILO (not SIL, which moved to group 0138). If you are affected, ensure your plan reflects the correct categories.
- Improved participant pathway — the NDIS has continued rolling out the new participant pathway, which includes a greater focus on functional assessments and evidence-based funding decisions.
- Increased scrutiny of large budgets — participants with high-cost plans may face more detailed evidence requests at review. Having strong supporting documentation from your providers is more important than ever.
- Updated price limits — the NDIS Price Guide is updated annually. Rates for support workers and other providers changed from 1 July 2026. If your plan uses line items based on last year’s rates, a review may be needed.
What to Prepare Before Your NDIS Plan Review
1. A list of your current goals and how they have changed
The NDIS funds supports that help you work toward your goals. Before your review, think about what goals you achieved in the last plan period and what new goals matter to you now — employment, independence, housing, health, social connections, or skills development.
2. Evidence of your current support needs
Gather recent reports from your providers, allied health professionals, and doctors. This includes:
- Support worker logs showing actual hours and tasks delivered
- OT reports, physiotherapy assessments, or speech pathology reports
- Medical reports or specialist letters relevant to your disability
- Functional Capacity Assessments if your daily functioning has changed
- Behaviour support practitioner reports if applicable
3. A review of your plan utilisation
Check your myplace portal to see how much of each funding category you used during the current plan. If you overspent certain categories, you will need to justify increased funding. If you underspent, be ready to explain why — otherwise the NDIS may reduce that budget.
4. A written statement from your providers
Ask your support workers, support coordinator, and any allied health providers to write a brief letter about the supports they deliver, why those supports are necessary, and what would happen without them. These statements carry significant weight in plan reviews.
5. Your support coordinator or LAC
If you have a support coordinator, involve them in your plan review preparation from the start. A skilled support coordinator will help you pull together evidence, identify gaps in your current plan, and advocate for the funding you actually need.
What to Do If Your Plan Review Outcome Is Wrong
If your new plan has less funding than you need, or removes supports that are essential to your daily life, you have the right to challenge the decision through an internal review (request a review by a different NDIS delegate) and then through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) if needed.
Act quickly — there are time limits on review requests. Contact your support coordinator or the NDIS on 1800 800 110.
How Gentle Grid Supports Ballarat Participants Through Plan Reviews
Gentle Grid’s support coordination team in Ballarat helps participants prepare for plan reviews — gathering evidence, writing provider statements, and attending reviews where needed. Our registered nurses and support workers also contribute clinical documentation to strengthen your case for the funding you genuinely need.
Whether you are approaching a scheduled review or need to request an urgent change of circumstances review, we can help. Get in touch with our Ballarat team to start the conversation.