TL;DR: Even when your disability is lifelong, the NDIS may request updated evidence during plan reassessments or eligibility reviews to confirm how your condition currently impacts your daily function. Understanding how the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) assesses permanent impairments allows you to translate an old medical diagnosis into the precise functional terms required by current rules. This guide outlines how to document your support needs clearly to secure or maintain your NDIS funding.
Why does the NDIS ask for new evidence if your condition is lifelong?
The NDIS asks for updated evidence because the scheme is legally structured around your current functional support needs rather than your medical diagnosis alone. Under rules introduced since 3 October 2024, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) requires proof that you continue to experience a permanent impairment that substantially reduces your daily functioning and requires NDIS supports over time. Additionally, the Australian Government announced further changes slated for staged rollout from 2026, introducing tighter plan reassessment rules and stricter eligibility frameworks. Consequently, both new applicants and existing participants undergoing an eligibility reassessment must show that their permanent impairments still require ongoing NDIS supports. Section 3 of the updated law indicates that existing participants can undergo eligibility reassessments, and the rules may set out specific circumstances in which particular cohorts undergo these checks. If your support needs change, or if you request different funding during a plan reassessment, the NDIA planner must review current assessments, reports, or other evidence from your treating healthcare professionals, therapists, or support workers. The NDIA uses this up-to-date information to determine if the requested changes match your actual circumstances and if they are supports the rules permit the NDIS to fund. If you are unsure about your status or the current requirements, you can find a comprehensive breakdown in our guide: Are You NDIS Eligible? Your Essential Guide to Qualification.
How does the NDIA define and assess a permanent impairment?
The NDIA defines a permanent impairment as a likely lifelong loss of, or significant damage to, how your body functions, its structure, or how you think and learn. To meet the disability requirements, you must provide written evidence from a GP, specialist, or treating allied health professional proving that your impairment is likely to remain for your entire life. It is entirely acceptable if the severity of your impairment fluctuates or occurs in cycles; the NDIS recognises that some conditions have periods where there is a smaller impact on daily life. However, if your medical diagnosis is permanent but the resulting impairment itself is temporary, actively being treated, or if further medical options are available, the NDIA will evaluate whether the impairment is likely to be permanent only after all available and appropriate treatment options have been considered. To learn more about this standard and how the NDIA views medical treatments, read our detailed analysis on how to Exhaust All Treatment": New NDIS Permanence Rules & Your Eligibility. Impairments must fall under one of six primary categories: intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, physical, or psychosocial, representing a significant change in body structure, functions, or cognitive processing, regardless of whether it stemmed from birth, injury, or illness.
What does a substantial reduction in functional capacity look like?
A substantial reduction in functional capacity means that your permanent impairment significantly restricts your independent ability to perform essential tasks in at least one of six specified areas of life. The NDIA looks specifically at how your impairment impacts communicating (how you speak, write, or use sign language compared to others), socialising (your behaviour and how you cope with feelings in social situations), learning (how you practice and apply new skills), mobility (your ease of moving around your home and community), self-care (bathing, dressing, eating, and toileting), and self-management (your cognitive capacity to solve problems, make decisions, and manage money if you are older than six years). To qualify, you must show that you require a high level of support from others—such as physical assistance, guidance, or prompting—or need assistive technology, equipment, or home modifications prescribed by a medical professional. For those documenting mental health impacts, you can read our specific guide on Applying for the NDIS with a Psychosocial Disability: Tips and Evidence.
How do you reframe an old diagnosis in current functional terms?
You can reframe an old diagnosis in current functional terms by shifting the focus of your medical documentation from the name of your condition to its daily real-world impact across the six functional domains. A classic medical report from a decade ago might state a diagnosis but fail to explain why you cannot complete daily tasks without assistance. When preparing for a plan reassessment, your treating professionals should write reports that explicitly detail what you can and cannot do. For example, rather than simply stating you have a physical impairment, the report should describe how your mobility is limited, noting that you cannot safely walk 20 metres without physical guidance or that you require prompting from a support worker to complete basic self-care like bathing. Your health professionals should document the level of support you need, noting whether you require physical assistance, guidance, supervision, prompting, or assistive technology to perform these actions. Ensure your specialists explain why these limitations are permanent and how the NDIS supports are necessary for your lifetime. Focus the evidence on your inability to work, study, manage money, or participate in social life due to the permanent changes in your body structure or cognitive functioning.
What is the difference between List A and List B conditions?
The difference between List A and List B conditions lies in the type of evidence the NDIA requires to establish your eligibility under the NDIS disability requirements. List A conditions are those that the NDIA recognises as almost always meeting the disability requirements, meaning that if you have a confirmed diagnosis on this list, you generally satisfy the criteria with appropriate diagnostic evidence. List B conditions, on the other hand, are recognised as likely to be permanent, but because their impact on daily life varies significantly from person to person, you must provide comprehensive, detailed functional evidence to prove a substantial reduction in your functional capacity. If your diagnosis falls under List B, simply submitting a letter stating your diagnosis is not enough. You must gather structured assessments from allied health professionals showing exactly how the condition restricts your independence in communicating, socialising, learning, moving around, managing your life, or caring for yourself.
What should you expect during a plan reassessment process?
During a plan reassessment process, you will work with your my NDIS contact to review your current support needs, goals, and the effectiveness of your existing plan. Your my NDIS contact will typically reach out to you about two to three months before your plan's scheduled reassessment date for a check-in. If your situation or disability support needs have changed, the contact will start the formal reassessment process, which must occur within 21 days of identifying the need. You must gather and submit updated reports, assessments, and evidence from your treating therapists, doctors, or support workers to show why changes are necessary. You can submit this evidence via the online service hub, in person at a local office, or by mailing it to the NDIA at GPO Box 700, Canberra ACT 2601. Once the NDIA planner receives and reviews your evidence, they will let you know their decision within 21 days. There are three potential outcomes: you will receive a varied plan, a completely new plan (with a plan meeting booked to discuss decisions within 28 days), or your plan will remain unchanged. If the NDIA does not complete your reassessment before the scheduled date, a plan continuation will automatically occur, extending your current plan and its funding levels for another 12 months so your supports are not interrupted.
How can you prepare your evidence for a successful review?
To prepare your evidence for a successful review, you should organise your documents to show how your funding directly relates to your permanent impairment and helps you work towards your goals. Work closely with your treating healthcare professionals to ensure that every report explicitly addresses how your condition limits your functional capacity in the six core domains. One concrete next step you can take is to ask your therapists to structure their recommendations to show how specific NDIS supports increase your independence, assist you in social activities, or help you find and keep work. The reports should clearly connect your long-term support needs to NDIS funding guidelines, demonstrating why these needs cannot be fully met by mainstream systems like public healthcare or community services. Collect recent reports from your support workers showing how daily prompting or physical assistance is currently utilised in your household. Make sure all files are clearly labelled with your participant details before sending them to the NDIA through the service hub or your local office.
Key Takeaways
- Document Functional Impact: Ensure your medical reports focus heavily on how your permanent impairment restricts daily activities in the six core domains (communicating, socialising, learning, mobility, self-care, and self-management) rather than relying solely on the name of your diagnosis.
- Observe Key Reassessment Timelines: Expect a check-in from your my NDIS contact two to three months before your plan's reassessment date. Once a change of situation is identified, the formal reassessment starts within 21 days, and the NDIA will communicate its decision within 21 days of receiving your evidence.
- Prepare for Eligibility Reviews: Under legislative changes introduced from 3 October 2024, existing participants may face eligibility reassessments under Section 24, requiring ongoing proof that their lifelong condition still requires NDIS-specific supports.
- Utilise Plan Continuations Safely: If the NDIA does not complete your plan reassessment before its scheduled date, your plan will automatically continue for 12 months with identical core and capacity building funding, ensuring your supports remain active.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about NDIS evidence and permanence requirements and is not intended as legal, medical or financial advice. NDIS rules, prices and timeframes change regularly — always check the official source before acting, and seek professional advice for your own situation.
Information current as at 10 August 2026.
