Increase NDIS Funding

Under the NDIS Act 2013, you have clear rights to request additional funding when your circumstances change or when your current supports are insufficient to meet your reasonable and necessary needs. Section 34 of the Act establishes that supports must be reasonable and necessary, taking into account factors like your goals, current informal supports, and the cost-effectiveness of different support options.

The NDIA cannot simply deny funding increases without proper consideration of your evidence. If you can demonstrate that additional supports meet the reasonable and necessary criteria, you have strong grounds for a funding increase. This might include new medical evidence, changes in your living situation, or goals that require different types of support.

Many participants don't realise that plan reviews under Section 48 can be requested at any time, not just when your plan is due for renewal. You can also access internal reviews under Section 100 if you disagree with a plan decision. Understanding these pathways is crucial for successfully increasing your funding.

You can request increased NDIS funding in several specific circumstances that demonstrate changed needs or insufficient current supports. The most common scenarios include:

• Medical deterioration: If your disability has progressed or you've developed additional health conditions requiring more support
• Life transitions: Moving out of home, starting work or education, or changes in family circumstances
• Insufficient current funding: When your allocated budget doesn't cover the supports needed to achieve your plan goals
• New evidence: Recent assessments from allied health professionals showing increased support needs

The key is demonstrating that your needs have genuinely changed since your last plan was approved. Simply wanting more funding isn't sufficient - you need to show how additional supports are reasonable and necessary for your specific circumstances.

Building a strong case for increased NDIS funding requires comprehensive evidence that clearly demonstrates your changed circumstances and support needs. Professional reports carry the most weight with the NDIA, particularly from specialists familiar with your disability.

Medical evidence should be recent (ideally within 6 months) and specifically address how your condition impacts your daily functioning. For example, if you need additional psychology services under Category 15 (Improved Daily Living), your report should quantify the hours required and explain why the current allocation is insufficient.

Functional capacity assessments are particularly valuable as they provide objective measurements of your abilities and support requirements. These reports should connect your functional limitations directly to the supports you're requesting, making it clear why additional funding is reasonable and necessary.

Understanding the structure of NDIS support categories helps you target your funding increase request effectively. Each category has specific pricing arrangements and evidence requirements that influence how the NDIA assesses requests.

Category 7 (Support Coordination) funding might need increasing if you have complex needs requiring specialist coordination at $221.95 per hour rather than standard support coordination at $88.78 per hour. Category 15 (Improved Daily Living) often requires increases when participants need additional allied health services, with psychologists currently funded at $214.41 per hour.

When requesting increases, be specific about which categories need additional funding and why. For instance, if you need more physiotherapy services, calculate the total hours required and multiply by the current price limit to show exactly how much additional funding you need in Category 15.

The formal process for increasing NDIS funding follows specific steps that must be completed correctly to ensure your request is properly considered. Start by contacting the NDIA on 1800 800 110 to discuss your changed circumstances and determine whether a plan review or early plan review is most appropriate.

Document everything in writing, including dates of phone calls, reference numbers, and the names of NDIA staff you speak with. Request an early plan review if your circumstances have significantly changed, or wait for your scheduled plan review if the changes are less urgent.

Prepare your evidence package before submitting your request. This should include all medical reports, allied health assessments, and a clear written statement explaining how your needs have changed and what additional supports you require. Be specific about the type and quantity of supports needed, referencing the reasonable and necessary criteria from Section 34.

Submit your request through your preferred channel - online via the NDIS portal, by phone, or through your support coordinator if you have one. The NDIA has 90 days to complete a plan review, though complex cases may take longer.

If the NDIA rejects your funding increase request, you have the right to request an internal review under Section 100 of the NDIS Act 2013. This provides a formal pathway to challenge decisions you believe are incorrect or unfair.

You must request an internal review within 3 months of receiving the decision you want to challenge. Contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 and specifically state that you want to request an 'internal review of a reviewable decision' - using this exact language ensures your request is processed through the correct pathway.

Internal reviews are conducted by different NDIA staff who weren't involved in the original decision. They reassess all your evidence and can increase, decrease, or maintain your current funding. The process typically takes 60-90 days, and you'll receive a written decision explaining the outcome.

If you're still not satisfied after the internal review, you can appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), though this should be considered a last resort after other options have been exhausted.