The short answer
An NDIS change of circumstances is any change in your life that the NDIA needs to know about so it can make sure your plan still works for you, such as a new address, a change in your disability or support network, a compensation payment or a trip overseas of more than 6 weeks.
You can tell the NDIA by calling 1800 800 110, through its service hub, through your my NDIS contact or at a local office. What happens next depends on the change: you may simply keep using your plan flexibly, the NDIA may vary part of your plan, or, for a significant and ongoing change, it may reassess your plan and make a new one.
What counts as a change of circumstances?
The NDIA lists these examples of changes to tell it about:
- your contact details, like your address or phone number
- moving out of residential accommodation
- changes to your disability
- changes to your support network, such as family or friends who help you
- changes to your name, pronouns or information about your gender
- going overseas for more than 6 weeks
- receiving compensation.
Some changes are temporary and others are longer term or permanent. A big change, like an injury or illness, can affect the support you need for a while or for good. Moving house, a change in who lives with you or who helps you, and starting or finishing work or study can all change how your plan fits your life.
Do I have to report a change?
Yes. The NDIA describes letting it know when your situation changes as one of your responsibilities as a participant, along with understanding your plan, keeping records of what you buy and telling it if something goes wrong.
Telling the NDIA helps it make sure your plan still works for you. For compensation, the NDIA says it's your responsibility to let it know if you've received compensation or are in the process of making a claim.
How do I tell the NDIA?
For changes to your details that don't need a change to your plan, such as a new phone number or address, you can:
- call the NDIA on 1800 800 110
- send an enquiry through the NDIA's service hub
- talk to your my NDIS contact
- visit your local NDIA office.
If the change means you need more, less or different NDIS supports, there are two request forms:
- Plan variation request form, for smaller changes to your current plan. You, your plan nominee or child representative can ask at any time, and someone else, like a support coordinator, can ask with your consent.
- Plan reassessment request form, for significant and ongoing changes to your support needs. Only you, your plan nominee or your child representative can send it.
Send the completed form, with your evidence, through the service hub, by mail to NDIA, GPO Box 700, Canberra ACT 2601, or in person at a local office. If you're not sure which form fits, the NDIA suggests talking to your my NDIS contact, support coordinator or recovery coach first.
What happens next?
The NDIA looks at what's changed and the information you've given, then works out which of three paths fits:
- No plan change. If the change is short-term, you can often use your plan flexibly to buy the NDIS supports you need, because the flexible budgets are listed at the support category level. Your support coordinator or my NDIS contact can help with this. (Our guide to NDIS support budgets and categories explains which budgets are flexible.)
- A plan variation. The NDIA changes only part of your plan when the change fits within your overall package of supports. A variation can add short-term supports if your situation changes suddenly, or crisis or emergency funding after a significant change in your support needs.
- A plan reassessment. If the change is significant and your plan no longer meets your needs, the NDIA replaces your plan with a new one. Read what happens at an NDIS plan reassessment.
When you send a request form, the NDIA's decision is one of three outcomes: it varies your plan, creates a new plan, or doesn't change your plan. If it doesn't change your plan, it explains why.
Has something changed for you?
Text us and we'll go through what to report and what support fits now.
What evidence helps?
Not every change needs evidence. Updating your goals or changing how your funding is managed can usually be done in your current plan, and the NDIA may only ask why you want the change.
When the change means a new plan, the NDIA may need more information, such as reports from the professionals who know your needs or from your support workers. The NDIA says you must give the evidence with the complete form when you ask for a change.
For a reassessment, the evidence needs to show a significant change to your ongoing support needs, and recent usually means within 4 months of your request and after your current plan was approved.
Before asking for different supports, it's worth checking that the NDIS can fund them: some supports come from other government services instead, such as health or education. If you're not sure what to send, ask your my NDIS contact.
How long does it take?
The NDIA states these timeframes on its own pages:
- Plan variation: a decision within 21 days once the NDIA has the information and evidence it needs. It will tell you if it needs more time, and you get a copy of a varied plan within 7 days.
- Plan reassessment: the NDIA says it will tell you its decision within 90 days, and you can keep using your current plan while it decides.
A change to your contact details doesn't need a decision; you just tell the NDIA.
What if my support needs went up or down?
Either way, the steps are the same. If you expect the change to be short-term, talk to your my NDIS contact or support coordinator about using your current budgets flexibly.
If you expect it to be longer term or permanent and you need more, less or different NDIS supports, ask for a variation or a reassessment with evidence of the change.
A drop in support needs is worth reporting too. The NDIA can only fund supports that relate to your disability, and a plan that reflects the support you use now is easier to use well.
What if I get compensation?
If you're injured, for example in a car accident or a public place, you might receive compensation as a lump sum, a series of payments, or ongoing supports from a government insurance scheme. You can still be an NDIS participant and claim compensation, and you can keep using your NDIS plan while a claim is in progress.
Tell the NDIA if you've received compensation or are making a claim: call 1800 800 110, tell your NDIS partner when you apply, talk to your my NDIS contact, or email the NDIA's compensation information form.
The NDIS can't fund supports already paid for by compensation, so the NDIA may recover an amount from a compensation payment or adjust your plan. It works with you and gives you information before an adjustment is applied.
How do the October 2026 changes fit in?
The NDIA's guide to changing your plan notes that new NDIS laws have changed plan reassessments, and that you can ask for changes outside your regular reassessment when there are significant or ongoing changes to your situation or support needs.
From 1 October 2026, two budget categories are also being reduced as plans are created, reassessed or renewed. That reduction on its own isn't a change of circumstances that leads to a reassessment.
Our guide to the support budget changes from 1 October 2026 explains what's affected and the variation pathway for people with high support needs. For the numbers behind plans in our region, see our NDIS statistics for South East Queensland.
What if I don't agree with the decision?
You can ask for an internal review of a decision about your plan that you don't agree with, including a decision not to vary your plan or not to do a reassessment. Ask within 3 months of receiving the decision in writing.
If you still disagree after the internal review, you can ask the Administrative Review Tribunal for an external review. You can also call the NDIA on 1800 800 110 first and ask it to explain the decision.
Common questions
What is a change of circumstances for the NDIS?
It's any change the NDIA needs to know about so your plan still works for you, such as new contact details, changes to your disability or support network, receiving compensation, or going overseas for more than 6 weeks.
How do I report a change of circumstances to the NDIS?
Call 1800 800 110, use the NDIA's service hub, talk to your my NDIS contact or visit a local office. If you need a change to your plan, use the plan variation or plan reassessment request form.
Will my plan change if I report a change?
Not always. Short-term changes can often be managed by using your plan flexibly. Otherwise the NDIA may vary your plan, create a new plan or leave it as it is.
Who can ask for a plan reassessment?
Only you, your plan nominee or your child representative. Someone else, like a support coordinator, can ask for a plan variation if you give consent.
How long does a plan variation take?
The NDIA says it will decide within 21 days once it has the information and evidence it needs, and you'll get a copy of a varied plan within 7 days.
Sources
- NDIS, What are your responsibilities (current as of 20 August 2026). www.ndis.gov.au (read 10 Nov 2026)
- NDIS, How to ask for a change to your plan (current as of 29 October 2026). www.ndis.gov.au (read 10 Nov 2026)
- NDIS, Guide to changing your plan (current as of 27 August 2026). www.ndis.gov.au (read 10 Nov 2026)
- NDIS, What is a plan variation (current as of 19 October 2026). www.ndis.gov.au (read 10 Nov 2026)
- NDIS, What is a plan reassessment (current as of 30 September 2026). www.ndis.gov.au (read 10 Nov 2026)
- NDIS, How to prepare for a plan reassessment (current as of 27 August 2026). www.ndis.gov.au (read 10 Nov 2026)
- NDIS, What is compensation (current as of 29 October 2026). www.ndis.gov.au (read 10 Nov 2026)
- NDIS, What is a decision review (current as of 27 July 2026) and How to request a review of a decision (current as of 25 September 2026). www.ndis.gov.au (read 10 Nov 2026)
- NDIA news, Changes to support budgets from 1 October (1 Oct 2026). www.ndis.gov.au (checked 7 Nov 2026)