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Just Browsing, NDIS education, NDIS Policies, Participant or Nominee, Plan Management, Understanding my plan, Understanding NDIS
September 25, 2025
Looking for the NDIS change of circumstances form? The old form is no longer available. Since 27 August 2026, use the Plan Variation Request Form for smaller, short-term or urgent changes, or the Plan Reassessment Request Form for bigger or ongoing changes.
We understand your situation or circumstances may change during your NDIS journey. Things can shift quickly, whether it is your health, living situation, informal supports or the support you need.
If something important has changed in your life and your NDIS plan no longer reflects the support you need, you may need to ask the NDIS to change your plan.
The process changed on 27 August 2026. The old NDIS change of circumstances form is no longer available. There are now two different pathways, depending on the type of change you need.
In this article, we’ll explain what a change of circumstances means, which form may apply, what evidence may be relevant and what happens after you submit your request.
| Your situation | What to use |
|---|---|
| Small, short-term or urgent change | Plan Variation Request Form |
| Big or ongoing change to your support needs | Plan Reassessment Request Form |
The Plan Variation Request Form and Plan Reassessment Request Form are available in Word and PDF formats from the NDIS.
The important part is choosing the pathway that best reflects what has changed and providing information that helps the NDIA understand why your current plan may no longer meet your needs.
How to ask for a change to your plan
Plan Variation Request Form
Plan Reassessment Request Form
Key Points:
Summary:
This article explains what a change of circumstances is in the NDIS and what participants can do when their circumstances or disability-related support needs change.
It explains how to choose the appropriate request pathway, prepare relevant evidence and understand what happens after submitting a request.
The article also explains why evidence matters and how to clearly connect a change in circumstances with its impact on your disability-related support needs.
The way participants ask for some changes to their NDIS plans changed on 27 August 2026.
Previously, people may have looked for an NDIS change of circumstances form or referred to requesting an early plan review. There are now two separate request forms.
A Plan Variation Request Form can be used for smaller, short-term or urgent changes.
A Plan Reassessment Request Form is used where there has been a bigger or ongoing change that may mean the participant’s plan needs to be reassessed.
For a plan reassessment, the request must come from the participant, their plan nominee or their child representative. A Support Coordinator, Plan Manager or other provider can still help the participant understand the process, prepare information and gather supporting evidence, but they cannot make a reassessment request on the participant’s behalf.
The NDIA will consider the completed form, information and evidence before deciding whether to reassess the plan, decline the request or offer a plan variation instead.
The decision timeframe for a reassessment request is explained below under “What happens next?”
A change of circumstances, sometimes described as a change of situation, is an important change in your life that affects your disability-related support needs or how your existing NDIS plan works for you.
Every participant’s circumstances are different.
Examples may include:
Not every change requires your NDIS plan to be changed.
For example, changes to contact details such as your address, phone number or email can generally be updated without requesting a plan variation or reassessment.
You can contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110, submit an enquiry through the NDIS service hub, speak with your my NDIS contact or visit a local NDIS office.
The important question is not simply, “Has something changed?”
It is, “Does this change affect my disability-related support needs or how my current NDIS plan works for me?”
The two processes serve different purposes.
| Plan Variation | Plan Reassessment | |
|---|---|---|
| Good for | Small, short-term or urgent changes | Big or ongoing changes to support needs |
| Who can ask | Participant, by form or by contacting the NDIS | Participant, plan nominee or child representative |
| Evidence | Depends on the change | Supporting evidence is required |
| What can happen | Current plan may be changed | May result in a new plan |
| Form | Plan Variation Request Form | Plan Reassessment Request Form |
A plan variation changes your current plan without replacing the entire plan.
A plan reassessment is more appropriate where the participant’s circumstances or support needs have changed significantly enough that their overall plan may need to be reconsidered.
Learn more about what a plan reassessment involves
Telling the NDIS that something has changed is only part of the process.
Your supporting information should help explain:
The type of evidence required will depend on your circumstances. It may include relevant reports, assessments or supporting information from health professionals or other people who understand your functional support needs.
The evidence should help connect the change in your circumstances with the impact on your everyday life and your disability-related support needs.
Simply asking for additional funding without explaining the change and providing relevant information may not give the NDIA enough information to make the decision you are seeking.
This example is based on a real participant experience. The participant’s name, gender and some identifying details have been changed to protect their privacy.
Amelia is an adult participant with cerebral palsy affecting her mobility and fine motor skills.
When her NDIS plan was approved, her mother provided significant informal support with everyday activities, including personal care, meal preparation and transport.
Several months later, Amelia’s mother experienced a serious health event and could no longer provide the same level of hands-on assistance.
Amelia’s disability had not changed, but her circumstances had. The disability-related tasks she needed assistance with were still there. The informal support previously helping her complete those tasks was no longer available.
Simply telling the NDIS, “I need more support because Mum can’t help anymore,” would not have fully explained Amelia’s circumstances.
The important issue was demonstrating that Amelia continued to have disability-related support needs, but the informal support arrangements previously meeting those needs had significantly changed.
The supporting information included:
The evidence helped demonstrate that Amelia’s disability-related support needs continued to exist, her informal support arrangements had significantly changed, and everyday activities previously supported by her mother still required assistance.
The request was connected to the functional impact of Amelia’s disability, rather than simply her mother’s health circumstances.
A change in circumstances does not always mean a participant’s disability has changed. Sometimes, the biggest change is in the support available to help them manage their everyday life.
For Amelia, the important part was explaining the relationship between her disability-related support needs, the loss of informal support and why her existing plan needed to be reconsidered.
Providing relevant evidence does not automatically guarantee additional NDIS funding. However, it helps the NDIA understand the circumstances and make an informed decision about the request.
Once you have completed the appropriate form and gathered your supporting evidence, you can submit the information to the NDIS.
You can:
Keep a copy of the form and supporting documents you submit for your own records.
Plan Variation Request Form
Plan Reassessment Request Form
NDIS guidance
What happens after you submit your request depends on the type of change you have asked the NDIS to consider.
The NDIA may decide to change the current plan, undertake a reassessment that may result in a new plan, or decide that a change is not required.
For a plan reassessment request, the NDIA has 90 days to decide whether to reassess the plan, decline the request or offer a plan variation instead.
That timeframe relates to the decision about the reassessment request. It should not be interpreted as a guarantee that additional funding will be approved or that an entire reassessment will be completed within 90 days.
If you disagree with an NDIA decision, you may have the right to request an internal review, depending on the type of decision. Check the NDIS guidance on reviewing decisions to understand which decisions can be reviewed and how to apply.
How to request a review of a decision (NDIS)
Understanding which NDIS process applies can be confusing, particularly when your circumstances have changed unexpectedly.
AIIM Choices Plan Managers can help participants understand their current plan and budget information and explain the plan management information available to them.
Your Support Coordinator, allied health professionals and other members of your support team may also be able to help you gather relevant information and evidence.
For a plan reassessment, however, the request itself must come from the participant, their plan nominee or their child representative.
The goal is to make sure you understand the process, know what information may be relevant and can make informed decisions about your NDIS plan.
Find out about AIIM Choices plan review support
Is there still an NDIS change of circumstances form?
No. The old single NDIS change of circumstances form is no longer available. Since 27 August 2026, the process uses a Plan Variation Request Form for smaller, short-term or urgent changes or a Plan Reassessment Request Form for bigger or ongoing changes to support needs.
How long does a change of circumstances take with the NDIS?
The timeframe depends on the type of request.
For a full plan reassessment request, the NDIA has 90 days to decide whether to reassess the plan, decline the request or offer a plan variation instead.
This does not guarantee that a reassessment or additional funding will be completed or approved within 90 days.
Where can I find the new NDIS forms?
The Plan Variation Request Form and Plan Reassessment Request Form are available through the NDIS website in Word and PDF formats.
Can my Support Coordinator or Plan Manager ask for a reassessment for me?
No. A plan reassessment request must come from the participant, their plan nominee or their child representative.
Your Support Coordinator, Plan Manager or other providers can still help you understand the process, organise information and gather evidence, but they cannot make the reassessment request on your behalf.
Because the rules for who can formally make a plan variation request differ from the reassessment process, confirm the current requirements with the NDIA before relying on another person to lodge the request on your behalf.
Related NDIS information
References:
Written by Kate Scriven of AIIM Choices Plan Managers
June 16, 2026
NDIS education, Participant or Nominee, Plan Management, Support Coordinator, Understanding NDIS
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