Facing an NDIS reassessment for your child? You’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the process. Every week, over 1,200 Australian families receive reassessment letters demanding proof that their child’s disability still exists, often with impossible timeframes to respond. The reality is stark: more than 6,000 children under nine lost their NDIS access in the last financial year alone.
The question most parents ask is simple: When will my child lose their early intervention support?
Understanding these assessments becomes crucial when you consider that research consistently shows the first nine years of life are critical for brain development. The NDIS created the Early Childhood Approach specifically for children aged 0–9 with developmental delays or disabilities for this exact reason. Yet many Australian parents still wonder at what age NDIS stop providing early intervention support and what happens during the transition.
This step-by-step guide walks you through the entire NDIS reassessment process from receiving that first notification to gathering evidence and working through the review system if your child’s access gets removed. Here’s something that might surprise you: even if your child doesn’t meet the criteria for long-term funding, they may still access short-term early intervention supports through the Early Childhood Approach.
The key? Understanding the requirements and preparing effectively puts you in the best position to advocate for your child’s needs within the system.
Understanding NDIS Early Intervention Requirements
The NDIS early intervention requirements centre on supporting children with developmental concerns at the earliest possible stage. Early intervention forms a cornerstone of the NDIS approach, recognising that timely support can significantly improve outcomes for children with disability or developmental delay.
What does early intervention mean under the NDIS?
Early intervention under the NDIS provides targeted supports to children with developmental delay or disability during crucial developmental periods. The approach maximises each child’s potential and promotes their participation in everyday life. For children younger than 9, early intervention can be accessed without a formal diagnosis if there are concerns about their development.
The early childhood approach takes a family-centred and strengths-based view, acknowledging that parents and carers know their children best. Rather than focusing solely on the child, this approach places families at the centre of all services and supports, integrating intervention into daily activities.
Early childhood intervention aims to:
- Provide timely support matched to your child’s needs
- Give information about best-practice early intervention supports
- Increase your confidence to manage your child’s support needs
- Improve your child’s ability to participate in daily activities
- Increase inclusion in mainstream and community settings
- Connect you with other support services when needed
Why age 7 was a key transition point
Age 7 traditionally marked a significant transition point in the NDIS early childhood approach. This was based on the understanding that young children are in a core developmental stage where their brains and bodies are highly adaptable and receptive to learning new skills.
The early years set up how children will learn and develop later in life, making intensive support during this period particularly valuable. The overarching goal was to reduce or potentially eliminate the need for ongoing supports by intervening when children are most responsive.
However, this changed significantly on July 1, 2023. The NDIS extended the early childhood approach to include children younger than 9 years old. This extension ensures children and their families continue receiving specialised support during and after they transition to primary school, a critical adjustment period.
At what age does NDIS stop early intervention?
The NDIS early childhood approach now supports children until they turn 9 years old. Children who turned 7 after July 1, 2023, remain with their early childhood partner until age 9, assuming they still require support.
The NDIS initiates a transition process for children approaching the age limit. About 12 months before your child turns 9, they’ll begin their final early childhood plan. During this period, you should discuss with your Early Childhood Partner about transitioning either into the main NDIS scheme or to other supports.
Children with ongoing support needs don’t lose access to the NDIS altogether after turning 9. Instead, they transition to a local area coordinator who works with participants to develop and implement plans across their lifetime. Children with clear lifelong support needs continue to be eligible beyond age 9.
If your child’s functional capacity has significantly improved thanks to early intervention, they may no longer need NDIS support or may require reduced support through mainstream services. The NDIA will assist with transitioning to appropriate community-based supports in such cases.
Step 1: Receiving the Reassessment Notification
The reassessment process starts with official notification from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). Think of this initial contact as your starting gun; it marks the beginning of an important timeline for gathering evidence about your child’s ongoing needs.
How the NDIA contacts you
The NDIA reaches out approximately three months before your child’s plan reassessment is due. This gives you adequate time to prepare the necessary documentation. The agency uses several communication channels to ensure you receive this critical information:
- Email (if you’ve provided a valid address)
- Formal letter sent to your registered postal address
- Phone call to discuss booking a reassessment meeting
- SMS notifications in some cases
Initially, the NDIA uses your preferred contact method as listed in your records. A formal letter always follows, regardless of how you were first notified.
Important note: If your plan has passed its end date but you haven’t heard anything, don’t panic, your funding won’t suddenly stop. The NDIA will contact you to schedule your reassessment meeting. Your current plan continues until a new one gets approved.
What the initial letter or SMS includes
The reassessment notification contains essential information to help you understand what’s happening next. The letter typically outlines:
- Which eligibility requirements are being reviewed
- What evidence do you need to provide
- How much time do you have to respond (90 days from the letter date)
- Your rights during the reassessment process
- How to request additional time if needed
- Confirmation that you can continue using your current NDIS supports during the reassessment
The letter might also mention an upcoming check-in discussion where the NDIA will talk about booking your plan reassessment meeting and what information you’ll need to provide.
Here’s some good news: the timeframe for submitting evidence has been extended from 28 days to 90 days as of early 2025, following feedback from participants and the disability sector. This gives you substantially more time to gather comprehensive documentation.
Common concerns about the legitimacy of contact
With scams targeting vulnerable individuals becoming more common, many parents rightfully question whether communications they receive are genuine. To verify the legitimacy of NDIS communications:
- Check your email folders thoroughly, including spam and junk folders
- Verify the sender’s email domain ends with @ndis.gov.au
- Confirm the postal address on file is correct and up-to-date
- Call the official NDIS contact number to verify if you received a legitimate notification
If you believe your plan has been extended automatically but haven’t received any notification, first check all your email folders, including spam. Then contact the NDIS directly to confirm your status and ensure they have your current contact details.
Remember: The NDIA will never ask for bank details or passwords via email or SMS. If you’re ever unsure about the authenticity of a communication, contact the NDIS through their official channels before providing any personal information.
Step 2: Gathering and Submitting Evidence
Your notification has arrived. Now the real work begins. The quality and scope of your documentation will determine whether your child continues receiving NDIS support. This isn’t about ticking boxes; it’s about building a compelling case that demonstrates your child’s ongoing needs.
What evidence is required
The NDIS demands specific evidence demonstrating your child’s ongoing disability or developmental delay. Think of this as building a comprehensive picture rather than simply providing paperwork. Essential documentation includes:
- Medical reports from treating doctors or specialists confirming your child’s diagnosis
- Therapy assessments showing functional impacts of the condition
- Detailed reports from healthcare professionals outlining support needs
- Evidence shows that early intervention supports will positively improve your child’s functional capacity
For children under 6 with developmental delay, the requirements are slightly different. You must provide evidence from health, allied health or early childhood professionals who use multiple sources of information about your child’s abilities in everyday activities. The evidence should clearly demonstrate impacts on mobility, communication, social interaction, learning, self-care and self-management.
How long do you have to respond
Good news: the NDIA extended the timeframe for providing additional information from 28 days to 90 days as of February 2025. This change came after significant advocacy efforts from the disability sector. The NDIA can also extend this timeframe beyond 90 days if you’re actively working to obtain the necessary information.
Once they receive your evidence, the NDIA must decide within 14 days. However, if your request doesn’t include sufficient evidence, it may be declined.
Tips for preparing documentation
Start immediately. Don’t wait, begin gathering your documentation the moment your notification arrives. Organise existing reports and book appointments with specialists as soon as possible.
Need help gathering the right documentation for your child’s assessment? Reach out to HandinHand for professional advice on meeting NDIS early intervention requirements.
For the strongest application, provide a complete picture of your child’s life and how they benefit from early intervention. Here’s the crucial point: reports must clearly describe functional impacts rather than just listing diagnoses. The NDIA wants to see how your child’s condition affects their daily life.
Functional Capacity Assessments explained
While not mandatory, a Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) can significantly strengthen your evidence. Typically conducted by an Occupational Therapist, an FCA evaluates your child’s abilities across six key areas: communication, learning, mobility, self-care, self-management, and social interaction.
The assessment process involves an initial meeting, information gathering, practical assessment, report writing, and review. Yes, it’s time-consuming (taking up to 10 hours across multiple sessions), but an FCA provides objective evidence from a qualified professional that can justify specific supports.
Why parent statements may not be enough
You know your child better than anyone, but the NDISF primarily relies on professional assessments. Parent statements provide valuable context, yet they must be supported by professional documentation.
There’s one exception: if your child has a condition already identified as always resulting in permanent impairment (listed in the Operational Guidelines List D), less documentation may be required. Otherwise, detailed professional evaluations remain essential for demonstrating ongoing support needs.
Step 3: NDIA Review and Decision Process
Once your evidence is submitted, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) starts evaluating whether your child continues to meet NDIS early intervention requirements.
How the NDIA evaluates eligibility
The NDIA follows a structured assessment approach once it receives your documentation. They review all information about your child’s disability or developmental delay to determine if it meets their criteria. This evaluation focuses on both the diagnosis and its functional impact on your child’s daily life.
The NDIA typically makes decisions within 21 days of receiving complete documentation. If they need additional information, they’ll decide within a further 14 days after receiving it.
The evaluation centres on two critical questions:
- Whether the condition is likely to be permanent
- Whether early intervention supports would benefit your child’s development
What criteria must your child meet?
Children must meet specific requirements based on how they initially accessed the scheme to continue receiving NDIS funding:
For children over 6 who initially entered through developmental delay:
- They must now have a formal diagnosis
- The condition must be likely permanent
- The impact must result in substantially reduced functional capacity
For children accessing through early intervention pathways, they must demonstrate:
- They have an impairment likely to be permanent
- Early intervention supports would benefit them long-term by potentially reducing future support needs
- The support addresses functional impacts in mobility, communication, social interaction, learning, self-care, or self-management
- NDIS is the most suitable funding source
Children under 6 can still access support through developmental delay criteria without a formal diagnosis. The NDIA looks for evidence showing the condition’s permanence and its ongoing impact on functional capacity.
What happens if your child is found ineligible
If the NDIA determines your child no longer meets the requirements, you’ll receive a letter explaining the decision and your options. Your child’s participant status may be revoked at this point.
After receiving an ineligibility decision, you have several options:
- Request an internal review within 90 days
- Provide additional evidence if available
- Seek guidance from your early childhood partner about alternative supports
If you disagree with the decision, you have the right to request a review. You cannot make a new access request while your review is in process; you must complete the review first.
Children found ineligible may still access mainstream supports through other systems like education or healthcare, particularly if their needs are less complex or not disability-specific.
Step 4: What to Do If Your Child Is Removed
Losing NDIS access doesn’t mean the end of the road. Taking immediate action gives you the best chance of having the decision overturned through the formal appeal process, which has specific timeframes you must follow.
How to request an internal review
You have three months from receiving the NDIA’s written decision to request an internal review. Multiple pathways exist for submitting your request:
- Complete and send the “Request for a Review of a Decision” form
- Send an enquiry through the NDIS contact page with supporting evidence
- Call the NDIA on 1800 800 110
- Visit an NDIS or partner office
- Mail a letter with supporting evidence to the NDIA’s Chief Executive Officer
Your request needs to clearly explain why you disagree with the decision, what decision you expected, and include any new or existing evidence you want reconsidered. Struggling with NDIS early intervention requirements after your child’s removal from the program? Contact Terawatt for professional guidance on your options and next steps.
The NDIA typically completes internal reviews within 60 days of receiving your request.
Options for external review through ART
Still unsatisfied with the internal review outcome? You can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) for an external review. The deadline is strict: 28 days from receiving the internal review decision.
The ART replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in October 2024. Applying for an ART review costs nothing and can be done:
- Online (preferred method)
- Via email to reviews@art.gov.au
- By post to your capital city’s ART office
How to advocate through MPs and petitions
Don’t overlook the power of political advocacy. Contact your local Member of Parliament about your situation while pursuing formal reviews. MPs can sometimes help you work through complex government systems or raise systemic issues affecting multiple Australian families.
Access to support after removal
Early intervention supports don’t necessarily end at removal; alternative pathways exist based on your child’s specific needs:
- The NDIS Appeals Program provides free support from skilled disability advocates
- Legal services through your state’s Legal Aid Commission if there’s a wider community benefit
- Mainstream disability services and programs
- Community-based supports
The reality is that even after NDIS removal, your child may still access crucial support through these alternative channels.
Conclusion
The NDIS early intervention process demands patience, organisation, and strong advocacy skills. Understanding the system puts you ahead when preparing for reassessments and transitions. The extension of the early childhood approach to include children under 9 years old represents a significant improvement, allowing continued support during the critical primary school adjustment period.
Documentation remains the cornerstone of maintaining NDIS access. Start gathering evidence immediately after receiving your reassessment notification. For expert assistance with understanding and meeting NDIS early intervention requirements, reach out to HandinHand for professional advice tailored to your family’s needs. Their guidance proves invaluable when compiling the functional assessments and specialist reports necessary to demonstrate ongoing support requirements.
The review and appeal processes exist to protect your child’s rights, but these processes have strict timeframes you must follow. Even if your child doesn’t qualify for continued NDIS funding, alternative support pathways through mainstream services, community programs, and other government initiatives remain available.
Early intervention aims to give your child the best possible start in life. Your persistent advocacy plays a crucial role in securing the support they need during their developmental years. The system may seem complex at first, but breaking it down into manageable steps as outlined in this guide makes the process more approachable.
Armed with the right knowledge and preparation, you can confidently work through the NDIS early intervention requirements and ensure your child receives appropriate support for their unique journey.
Key Takeaways
Understanding NDIS early intervention requirements and preparing effectively can make the difference between maintaining and losing crucial support for your child’s development.
• Start gathering evidence immediately – You now have 90 days (extended from 28) to submit comprehensive documentation, including medical reports, therapy assessments, and functional capacity evaluations.
• Age 9 is the new transition point – The NDIS extended early childhood support from age 7 to 9, giving families more time during the critical primary school adjustment period.
• Professional documentation is essential – While parent statements provide context, the NDIA requires formal assessments from healthcare professionals demonstrating functional impacts across six key areas.
• Appeal options exist with strict deadlines – If your child loses access, you have 90 days for internal review and 28 days for external review through the Administrative Review Tribunal.
• Alternative supports remain available – Even after NDIS removal, children can access mainstream disability services, community programs, and other government initiatives based on their specific needs.
The key to success lies in understanding that early intervention focuses on functional capacity rather than just diagnosis. Comprehensive professional evidence showing how supports benefit your child’s development in daily activities significantly strengthens your case for continued NDIS access.
FAQs
Q1. At what age does NDIS early intervention support end?
NDIS early intervention support now extends until a child turns 9 years old. Children who turned 7 after July 1, 2023, will remain with their early childhood partner until age 9, assuming they still require support.
Q2. What evidence is required for NDIS early intervention reassessment?
Required evidence includes medical reports confirming diagnosis, therapy assessments showing functional impacts, detailed reports from healthcare professionals outlining support needs, and evidence demonstrating how early intervention supports will improve the child’s functional capacity.
Q3. How long do parents have to respond to a reassessment notification?
As of February 2025, parents have 90 days to respond to a reassessment notification and provide the necessary documentation. This timeframe can be extended if you’re actively working to obtain the required information.
Q4. What happens if a child is found ineligible for continued NDIS support?
If a child is found ineligible, parents can request an internal review within 90 days, provide additional evidence if available, or seek guidance about alternative supports. If still unsatisfied, they can apply for an external review through the Administrative Review Tribunal within 28 days of the internal review decision.
Q5. Can children with ADHD receive NDIS funding?
Children with ADHD can receive NDIS funding if their condition significantly impacts their daily functioning and meets the eligibility criteria. The NDIS recognises ADHD as a neurodevelopmental disorder that can affect a child’s ability to participate in social, educational, and daily activities.