Our team of Brisbane based Support Coordinators and Plan Managers help NDIS participants to get the most out of their plans so that they have the right supports in place to help them meet their goals. If you’re not happy with your plan, you don’t need to wait until your next scheduled plan review, you can request an early plan review. Two of the most common reasons you might request an early plan review are:

• You don’t think your plan will fund the supports that you need
• Your circumstances have changed and you need more support than you are funded for

What is a plan review?

A plan review is a review of your whole NDIS plan and it happens automatically when your current plan is due to expire. However, you can ask for a plan review at any time if you feel that your NDIS plan is not meeting your needs. This is sometimes called an early plan review or an unscheduled plan review.

When you request a plan review, the NDIA are required to tell you within 14 days if the plan review will be granted and provide you or the person acting on your behalf with an outcome letter detailing the reasons for the decision made.

How do I request a plan review?

You can request an internal review of a decision in the following ways:

• Submit a written request to: Chief Executive Officer. National Disability Insurance Agency. GPO Box 700. Canberra ACT 2601
• Talk to someone at an NDIA office
• Call the NDIA National Call Centre on 1800 800 110
• Send an email to enquiries@ndis.gov.au

The easiest way to request a plan review is to call the NDIA National Call Centre on 1800 800 110. Let them know the reason for your request, they will note this in the system and activate the request. They may ask you some questions if they need more information. They will then lodge the application for you.

You or the person acting on your behalf can contact the NDIA directly to request a plan review or you can ask your Support Coordinator for help to do this.

How long is the review process?

For more information on the expected timeframes of planning reviews, you can download and view the NDIS Participant Service Charter with timeframes listed on page five of the Service Charter.

Types of review under the NDIS

There are four types of reviews under the NDIS. They are:

1. Internal review – you can request an internal review when you think that the NDIA decision about your plan is incorrect either because you need more funding or because your application to access the NDIS has been denied.
2. External review – if you disagree with the outcome of an internal review, you can request an external review. You will need to apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) within 28 days of receiving your internal review result. The evidence you supply will be reviewed by the AAT and they will make a decision based on this.
3. Early plan review – you can request an early or unscheduled plan review when your funding needs to be reviewed because you don’t think your plan will fund the supports that you need or you have had a change in circumstances and require more support.
4. Scheduled Plan review – a scheduled plan review happens every 12 or 24 months at the end of your current plan period, depending on your circumstances.

Changes in circumstances

If you have had a change in circumstances, that impacts the support that you need, you are legally obligated to tell the NDIA. Such changes might mean that you need to request a plan review. It might be that:

• Your disability needs have changed
• Your informal care arrangements have changed significantly such as when a carer becomes unwell or unable to provide care
• You have applied for, received or are entitled to compensation for injury

Can the NDIA refuse to review a plan?

Sometimes the NDIA won’t accept your request for a plan review. If this happens you can ask for an internal review of this decision, followed by an external review if needed. If you don’t hear back about your request for a plan review within 14 days then the internal review process happens automatically.  

Further information

We’re supporting NDIS participants throughout Brisbane and surrounding areas to get the most out of the NDIS through our Plan Management and Support Coordination services.  To get further information about InFocus, simply call 1800 928 437 or email enquiries@infocusdisability.org.au