If you have a Plan Reassessment (formerly called a Review) coming up, you might be feeling anxious… but you’re not alone.
In the post-October 2024 NDIS landscape, the rules have shifted. With the rollout of the PACE system and the “Getting the NDIS Back on Track” legislation, the Agency is looking closer than ever at value for money and evidence.
Gone are the days when you could simply ask for support because it “helped last year.” Today, if you can’t prove it, you likely won’t get it.
The good news? With the right strategy, you can walk into your reassessment with confidence. Here is the CoAbility guide to the evidence that actually counts.
The Shift: “Telling” vs. “Proving”
Under the old system, a passionate conversation with a Planner could sometimes get you over the line. Now, the NDIS operates almost entirely on data.
The Planner (or computer system) is looking for a direct link between:
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Your Disability (The functional impairment)
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Your Goal (What you want to achieve)
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The Evidence (Proof that this specific support will bridge the gap)
If any link in that chain is missing, especially the evidence, funding is often declined during your official NDIS Plan Reassessment.
The “One-Page” Strategy
We know for a fact that NDIS Planners are under immense time pressure. In fact, ex-NDIA chief executive Rebecca Falkingham, told a Senate committee that staff who made funding decisions were not reading all medical reports.
This confirms what we have suspected for a long time: Great evidence is useless if nobody reads it.
At CoAbility, we don’t just dump a pile of documents on the Planner’s desk. We create a One-Page Executive Summary for every reassessment.
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What it is: A single sheet that maps your evidence directly to the funding criteria.
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Why it works: It allows the Planner to scan your entire case in 60 seconds. We explicitly state: “See Page 4 of the OT report for evidence of the need for SIL funding.”
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The Result: We make it easy for them to say “Yes” without having to wade through hours of paperwork.
The “Hierarchy” of Evidence
Not all letters are created equal. We often see participants rushing to get a letter from their GP, only to be disappointed when it is ignored. Here is what the NDIS actually values:
1. The Gold Standard: Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA) Usually completed by an Occupational Therapist (OT), this is the heavyweight champion of NDIS evidence. An FCA doesn’t just say “Participant has Autism”; it details exactly how your autism affects your ability to cook, clean, work, and socialise.
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Pro Tip: If you are asking for Supported Independent Living (SIL) or significant Core funding, an FCA is almost non-negotiable.
2. The “Functional” Provider Report Your Psychologist or Speech Pathologist shouldn’t just write a clinical summary. They need to write a functional report.
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Weak: “Client is feeling less anxious.”
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Strong: “Client has used strategies to attend community groups 2x per week, an increase of 100% since last plan.” (This proves the funding is working).
3. The “GP Trap” (What to Avoid) A letter from your GP saying “I recommend 20 hours of support” is rarely effective. Why? Because the NDIS funds disability support, not health treatment. Unless your GP can describe your daily functional needs in detail, their letter is often seen as “Health System” evidence, not NDIS evidence.
The Horizon Scan: 2026 and “Computer-Generated” Plans
While the advice above applies right now, we are keeping a close eye on the future.
The NDIS has signalled that from mid-2026, they intend to move towards “New Framework Planning.” This model will likely rely heavily on automated systems (AI or algorithms) to calculate plan budgets based on the answers given during a needs assessment, rather than a human planner building a budget line-by-line.
What does this mean for you? If this change goes ahead, the “human discretion” in the system will disappear. Right now, you can still reason with a planner. In 2026, the data you enter into the assessment tool will determine your budget automatically. This makes getting your evidence right today even more critical, so you have a strong history of data on your file before the machines take over.
| Feature | Current Model (2025) | New Framework (Mid-2026) |
| Who decides the budget? | A Human Delegate (Planner) | A Computer System (based on assessor inputs) |
| Primary Evidence | OT Reports, Psych Reports, Letters | The “I-CAN” Assessment Interview |
| Flexibility | Planner can adjust line items | Planner cannot adjust the generated budget |
| Discretion | High (Human judgement) | Low (Automated calculation) |
This makes getting your evidence right today even more critical, so you have a strong history of data on your file before the machines take over.
Why You Need an Independent Eye
This is where having an Independent Support Coordinator is vital. If your Coordinator works for the same company that provides your therapy, their reports might look biased (like they are just asking for more money for their own boss).
Because CoAbility is 100% independent, our advice is unbiased. When we submit that One-Page Summary, the NDIS knows it is based on your needs, not our revenue.
Ready to “Proof-Proof” Your Plan?
Don’t wait until you get the letter from the NDIS. Preparation is your best protection.
If you want a Support Coordinator who understands the new legislation and knows exactly how to present your case to a busy Planner, we are ready to help.
📞 Call us on 1800 262 245 or submit a Service Request.
