A lot can happen over the course of an NDIS plan*. If your situation, support needs or goals have changed, your plan might not be right for you anymore. That’s why the NDIS will contact you before your plan’s end date to see whether you’re still happy with your plan or not.

If you tell the NDIS that you’re still happy with your plan, they will extend your current plan and nothing changes. You will get the same budgets for the same supports.

However, if you tell the NDIS that you’d like to make any changes to your plan, they will help you organise a meeting to discuss a formal review of your plan.

What is a formal plan review?

A formal review is a meeting between you and a Local Area Coordinator or NDIS planner. It’s essentially a way for you to have your say about your NDIS plan and get a new one that’s more suited to your current situation.

The review will cover things such as what you like and dislike about your plan, how you’re tracking with your short-term and long-term goals, and whether your circumstances or needs have changed in any way.

There are some things you can do to give yourself the best chance of having a successful plan review and receiving a new plan that you’re happy with…

Step 1. Prepare yourself

Before your meeting, sit down and think about your NDIS journey over the past year and how your NDIS plan has shaped it. Chatting about this with a family member, friend, or an NDIS expert can be a great way to get some insights and clarity on where you’re at and what you should change.  If you have support coordination, your Support Coordinator can also provide you with additional support to help you prepare for your review.

Some tools to help with the preparation phase include:

• Your NDIS plan - Look at the goals that were determined and the supports you were allocated. Write down the things you’ve achieved, what you would change in your new plan, what your interests and aspirations are, and where you’d like to be in a year.

• Your pre-planning checklist - If you used a pre-planning checklist for your previous meeting with an NDIS planner, looking over this can really help you give perspective on your journey since then. You can even fill in a new checklist (you can find a very handy one on our Resources page) to take into your plan review.

• Your Plan Partners Dashboard - If you’re a Plan Partners customer, you can access your own online Dashboard to see information about all your NDIS budgets. It’s important to keep an eye on these - particularly when you’re going for plan review - because the NDIS might decide to reduce the budgets in your new plan if you haven’t used your budgets in the old plan. Keep this in mind and try to ensure you use all your allocated budget.

Step 2. Your plan review meeting

During your plan review meeting, your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) will ask you a series of questions. These will be similar to the ones you were asked during your initial NDIS planning meeting.

Some tips for your plan review meeting:

• Breath, relax and take all the time you need when answering questions.
• If you have any supporting documentation that highlights why you’re requesting a change to your plan, bring it with you. It can really help the LAC or planner see things from your perspective and give you the supports you want.
• If you think a trusted friend or family member will make it easier for you to get through the meeting, feel free to bring them along.
• Plan management supports you in managing your NDIS funds and gives you access to non-registered providers. If you request it, the NDIS will include it in your plan. Even if you currently have Plan Management, make sure to specifically request it again for the year ahead, otherwise it might not be included in your new plan.
• Support coordination supports you in finding and connecting with service providers. Like Plan Management, Support Coordination won’t be included in your revised plan by default - even if it’s in your current plan. The NDIS will determine whether you are eligible for Support Coordination.
• Many people find it helpful to take notes during the plan review, so they can remember important points after the meeting.

Step 3. Receiving your new NDIS plan

After your plan review, you’ll receive a new NDIS plan. Once you get your plan, you should immediately read through it closely to make sure you’re happy with it.

If you feel an error’s been made or something doesn’t look right, try to contact your Local Area Coordinator as soon as possible so they can start the process of getting it resolved. If that doesn’t solve the issue, you could consider asking for an internal review of your plan.

If you’re happy with your new plan, contact Plan Partners so we can make update our system and continue helping you to bring your NDIS plan to life without any interruptions.

Can’t wait for your formal review?

While the NDIS will contact you before your plan ends, you can request a review at any time if your personal circumstances have changed significantly and you feel your plan is no longer suited to your situation.

While it might seem a little daunting, just remember that the plan review is there to help you get the supports you need to achieve your goals - whatever they may be!

* In some cases, NDIS plans cover any time between 3 months or 3 years.

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