Your NDIS plan has an end date, and when it comes around, you'll have a plan review. Sometimes it's an automatic continuation. Sometimes it's a meeting with your NDIA planner or LAC. What happens at that review often determines your funding for the next 12 months or longer. Walking in unprepared is costly.

Most participants only realise this after they've had a bad review. Funding cut. Goals reduced. Hours dropped. Then it's an internal review process to claw back what should have been there in the first place. Better to get it right the first time.

Types of plan review

There are a few different things called "plan review" that get confused with each other. Let's separate them.

Scheduled review. This is the standard one. Your plan ends, and a new one is developed. Most plans run for 12 months at first; longer periods (up to three years) become more common once your situation is stable.

Unscheduled review. This happens when your circumstances change significantly during a plan period. You move home, your support needs increase due to a new diagnosis or hospital admission, you lose a primary carer, or you get new evidence that changes the picture. You can request an unscheduled review at any time.

Plan reassessment / change of circumstances. Same idea as an unscheduled review — used when something material has changed.

Internal review. This is different. Internal review is what you request when you disagree with a decision NDIA has made — including the outcome of your plan review. You have three months from receiving a decision to request internal review.

When to expect your review

Your current plan tells you the end date. NDIA usually contacts you 6–10 weeks before that date to start the review conversation. If they don't reach you, contact them — don't let your plan lapse without action. If your plan ends without a new one in place, your funding can be paused.

In Queensland, plan reviews are usually conducted by Local Area Coordinators (Carers Queensland or Feros Care depending on your postcode), or by NDIA planners directly for more complex cases. Specialised support coordination cases and SDA participants often deal with NDIA directly.

Preparing evidence

This is where reviews are won or lost. Walk in with strong evidence and you're likely to maintain or increase funding. Walk in without it and you risk cuts.

What to gather before your review:

A current statement from your plan manager (if you're plan-managed) showing how you've used your funding over the last 12 months. This shows what you actually spent on what — concrete data the planner can see.

Updated reports from health professionals. If your OT, physio, psychologist, or specialist has seen you recently, ask for a current letter that addresses functional impact. Old reports are weaker. NDIA prefers evidence within the last 6–12 months.

A summary of changes in your situation. If anything's changed since your last plan — health, living arrangements, employment, relationship status, major life events — document it.

Goals. Think through what you want for the next plan period. NDIA builds plans around goals, so having clear ones makes the conversation easier.

An honest assessment of what's working and what isn't. If certain supports aren't actually meeting your needs, this is when to flag it — not at the meeting, where you might struggle to articulate it on the spot.

What to ask for

Most participants come into reviews thinking about what they currently have. The better question is what would actually meet your needs.

If you've been short on personal care hours, ask for more. If your transport allowance hasn't covered your appointments, ask for a higher allowance or a transport top-up. If your therapy funding ran out at month nine, ask for more therapy hours.

Specific things to consider asking for at review:

More hours of support work, if your current allocation isn't enough.

Increased Capacity Building funding for specific therapy types, if you've used your current funding well and could benefit from more.

Specialised Support Coordination, if you're dealing with complex situations — multiple service providers, mental health, justice involvement, frequent hospital admissions.

Capital supports for assistive technology you've identified through OT or other assessments.

Plan management, if you don't currently have it and the agency-managed setup isn't working.

A longer plan period (e.g. 24 months instead of 12), if your situation is stable.

Be specific. "I need more support" is weaker than "I need an additional 8 hours per week of personal care because my current 12 hours isn't covering evening showering and meal preparation."

Bringing a support person

You can bring anyone to your plan review. Family member, friend, advocate, support coordinator, allied health professional. NDIA expects this and welcomes it.

Bring someone who knows your situation well and can speak up if you forget things or get talked over. Plan reviews can be tiring, especially if your disability affects communication or processing. Two people in the room is usually better than one.

If you have a support coordinator, they should be at the review. That's part of what they're paid for.

What happens at the meeting

The meeting takes 60 to 90 minutes, sometimes longer for complex plans. The planner asks about how the current plan has worked, what's changed, what you're working on, and what you need going forward.

Don't underplay things. Don't say "I've been managing fine" when you've been struggling. Plan reviews are where you tell the truth about how things are. If you've had a hard year, say so. If a support has helped, name it. If something hasn't worked, explain why.

Don't agree to reductions you don't want. If the planner suggests cutting hours and you disagree, say so directly. The planner doesn't have unilateral power to cut funding without justification — but they often try because they're under pressure to manage budgets.

Don't be afraid to disagree. Disagreement at the meeting doesn't end the meeting. It just means the planner records your view and the eventual plan reflects (hopefully) what you've discussed.

After the meeting

You wait. Plan approval can take a few weeks to a few months. Once the plan is approved, it's sent to you in writing and you can start using it.

Read the plan when it arrives. Check it against what you discussed at the review. If anything's wrong or unexpected, raise it immediately.

What to do if the outcome is wrong

If your new plan has less funding than you expected, the wrong supports, or other problems, request an internal review. You have three months from receiving the plan to do this.

Internal reviews are a real process — not a token gesture. Many initial decisions get changed at internal review when better evidence is provided. If you're refused at internal review, the next step is the AAT, which is independent of NDIA.

Don't sit on a bad plan. The clock starts when you receive the decision in writing.

Frequently asked questions

Can my plan be reduced at review?

Yes. NDIA can reduce funding if they believe your needs have changed or the original allocation was too high. This is why preparation matters.

Do I have to attend my review in person?

No. Reviews can be done by phone or video call. In-person is sometimes preferable for complex cases, but it's your choice.

What if I miss my review?

Contact NDIA immediately. Plans don't auto-renew indefinitely. If your plan expires without a new one, your funding may be paused.

Can I request a review before my plan ends?

Yes — this is an unscheduled review, sometimes called a change of circumstances review. You can request one any time your situation changes significantly.

If you have a plan review coming up and want help preparing, Seareal's coordination team can work with you to gather evidence, structure the conversation, and represent you at the meeting. Talk to us before the review, not after.