The Australian Government has introduced new legislative rules under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Act that came into effect in March 2025. These changes provide greater clarity and consistency in how participant plans can be varied or reassessed, ensuring the process is fair, timely, and aligned with each individual’s changing needs.

As someone who works alongside participants navigating these processes, I’ve reviewed the updated National Disability Insurance Scheme (Variation and Reassessment of Participants’ Plans) Rules 2025 in full. Below is a clear breakdown of what these rules mean, when they apply, and how they affect NDIS participants.

What Is a Plan Variation?

A plan variation allows the NDIA to change a participant’s existing plan without replacing the entire plan. These are generally used for minor or time-sensitive updates and do not reset the reassessment cycle.

The updated rules set out three key situations where variations may occur:

1. Reassessment Date Adjustments

The NDIA must ensure that no plan remains in effect for longer than five years without a reassessment. If extending a plan, they must adjust the reassessment date accordingly.

2. Crisis or Emergency Funding

Where a participant experiences a significant change in support needs due to a shift in functional capacity, informal supports, or living arrangements, and urgently requires short-term or one-off supports, the NDIA may vary the plan.

This variation must meet strict criteria, including:

The support is clearly linked to the changed circumstance;
The need for urgent intervention;
The support is clearly within the NDIS scope (not more appropriately funded by another system).

3. Minor Variations for Specific Supports

Participants may have their plan varied to include or increase funding for supports that are:

Needed urgently for a defined time period;
Not already covered elsewhere in the plan;
Linked to capacity-building, economic participation, or life transitions;
Involve repairs, replacements, or urgent access to assistive technology or modifications.

What Is a Plan Reassessment?

A reassessment results in developing a new NDIS plan, including a new reassessment date. Participants may request a reassessment, and the NDIA may also initiate one based on observed changes.

Under the 2025 rules, the CEO (or NDIA delegate) must consider specific factors when making a decision about reassessment.

These include:

Significant changes in functional capacity, informal supports, or living situation;

Life transitions, such as starting or ending school, commencing work, or moving into supported accommodation;