NDIS decision reviews: deadlines, evidence and next steps
Your NDIS Plan: How to review a decision
By Tristram Peters · Originally published 6 September 2023
Start with the decision letter and the deadline
Keep the written decision and note when you received it. Identify the specific issue, whether it is reviewable and what change you are asking for. Ask for accessible information or assistance if needed. Evidence should address that issue rather than simply becoming a larger pile of reports.
A changed circumstance may call for a plan-change request instead. Check the appropriate route promptly. The review guide explains internal review. The tribunal’s guidance also describes applying when an internal review has not been completed within 90 days or another specified period. Check the route promptly; do not assume an extension. A review request does not guarantee the result you want.
Original article and dated context
Tristram Peters is Head of Participant Engagement at Clickability, helping participants find and connect with service providers. He also co-hosts the Grow Bold with Disability podcast.
Sometimes, you don’t get the right NDIS Plan for your needs. This might include insufficient funds for supports, such as Support Work or Occupational Therapy, or a negative outcome for a request, such as Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). Whatever it is, we hear you: it can be deflating to receive such a Plan.
But as hopeless as the situation might seem, you can always challenge a decision made by your NDIS Planner. This is your right as a NDIS participant. In this post, we will share what steps you can take if you’re unhappy with a decision – to get that NDIS Plan you need.
[Clickability update, October 2026:
Check whether the particular decision is reviewable. Current NDIA guidance distinguishes reviewable decisions from exceptions, including the specified statutory budget reductions, and directs relevant high-support-needs cases to the variation pathway. The 1 October 2026 announcement explains which reductions this concerns.
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We will explore:
Evidence that helps at Planning meetings
Internal review of decision
Plan variations
What gives you the best chance of success at a Planning meeting?
Let’s back it up and cover the basics: to receive a NDIS Plan, you will attend a Planning meeting where you will share your goals with your Planner. You will discuss how much funding you need to achieve those goals, with evidence to prove it.
To get the right Plan from the outset, we strongly encourage you to compile as much evidence as possible. The reason? Well, the NDIS loves its evidence. They use it to help inform their decisions, partly because evidence is considered impartial.
Above all else, the NDIS is a big fan of functional assessments. Occupational Therapists typically complete these assessments after spending time with you in your home or workplace, where they look at what you can and can’t do yourself. They also identify risks, should you not receive funding.
Assessments from other professionals, including psychologists and physiotherapists
Quotes for service, including from support work agencies.
Even if you provide all this evidence at your Planning meeting, the decision might not always be in your favour. But as we said: you have every right to fight that decision! Here’s how…
What if you don’t agree with your NDIS Plan?
If you’re unhappy with your Plan, and a decision your Planner has made, you can ask that the NDIS review its own decision. They call this *drumroll* an internal review of a decision. This used to be called a S100, so we don’t mind the name change…
To ask for a review, you need to complete the Request for a Review of a Decision form and send it to the NDIA via enquiries@ndis.gov.au. You can also call the Agency on 1800 800 110. The important thing to do is include any extra evidence you can! For example, if you forgot your functional assessment, now is the time to send it.
If you had already submitted all the evidence in the first place, you could ask your Occupational Therapist to write an accompanying letter to your original functional assessment, explaining why they recommended what they did. They could also address the NDIA’s own decision letter.
But don’t stress: if, after 60 days, the NDIA comes back to you to say they stand by their original decision, you can also ask the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to review it. For more information on this process, check out the Administrative Appeals Tribunal website.
[Clickability update, October 2026:
The Administrative Review Tribunal replaces the AAT reference. Current guidance gives 3 months to request internal review and generally 28 days after receiving the internal review decision to request ART review. Do not wait for the article’s old 60-day wording before checking your deadline. See the current review guide.
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You are also within your rights to approach your local federal member. They can be a representation on your behalf if you can’t wait 60 days and need urgent help. To find your electorate, click here.
What if your circumstances changes during your NDIS Plan?
Sometimes, you might have the right Plan, but your circumstances have changed. That’s okay! Simply contact the Agency and ask for a Plan reassessment. When they're talking to you, they might elect to alter your Plan, rather than doing a full reassessment. This is typically if it's only a small change.
But whatever your concern is, we want to repeat: you have every right to challenge a decision to get the NDIS Plan you need. Don't feel you have to remain silent!
Clickability editorial update: October 2026
Clarify the route and your role before gathering reports
With consent, help organise the decision, relevant dates and evidence. Distinguish a disputed reviewable decision from new circumstances or another available pathway. Explain any limits of your assistance and refer for appropriate advocacy or legal support where needed.
NDIS funds cannot pay someone to represent the participant at the tribunal. Disability-related personal care or communication support during a hearing has a different role. Check current guidance and the actual arrangement rather than treating representation as ordinary coordination.
Questions readers ask
Can every NDIA decision be internally reviewed?
No. Check whether the particular decision is reviewable. Official guidance
Does the AAT remain the current tribunal?
No. Current external reviews use the Administrative Review Tribunal. Official guidance
Can NDIS funding pay tribunal representation?
No. Representation and disability-related assistance to participate are distinct. Official guidance
Find help organising your support questions
For assistance coordinating current supports and information, compare support coordinators through Clickability. Ask about their role; use appropriate advocacy or legal pathways for tribunal representation.
