First-Time NDIS Applicants and the I-CAN v6

What to expect at every step — and how to prepare

Disclaimer: This article reflects publicly available information about the NDIS access process and I-CAN v6 framework as at September 2026. The new eligibility criteria take effect from January 2028. This guide does not constitute professional disability support or legal advice. For personalised guidance, contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 or a Local Area Coordinator.

---

Applying to the NDIS for the first time is a process that many people find confusing, stressful, and opaque. The new planning framework — including the I-CAN v6 assessment — adds a new dimension to that process for applications from early 2027 onwards.

This guide walks through every step of the first-time application process under the new framework: from understanding whether you might be eligible, through the access decision, to the I-CAN v6 assessment, and into your first plan.

---

Step 1: Understanding Whether You Might Be Eligible

The NDIS supports Australians with permanent and significant disability. "Permanent" means your condition is not expected to improve to the point where you no longer have disability-related support needs. "Significant" means your disability substantially affects your ability to manage daily life.

Under the new eligibility rules (from January 2028):

The key shift is that eligibility will be based on functional capacity rather than diagnosis. The question is not "do you have [condition]?" but "does your condition permanently and significantly affect how you function in daily life?"

Additionally, to demonstrate that your impairment is permanent, you will need to show that you have tried all publicly funded treatments that could reasonably improve or alleviate your impairment. This does not mean you need to have tried every possible treatment — only treatments that are publicly funded (through Medicare, the PBS, or public hospitals) and widely accepted as appropriate for your condition.

Who may benefit from applying:

• Adults and children with permanent disability (physical, cognitive, sensory, neurological, or psychosocial)
• People whose disability significantly limits daily activities despite treatment
• People who would benefit from funded supports to increase independence and participation

Who may not qualify under the new framework:

• People with conditions that are temporary or fluctuating without permanent functional impact
• People whose conditions can be adequately managed through mainstream health services
• People aged 65 and over who have not previously been NDIS participants (they access the aged care system instead)

---

Step 2: Making an Access Request

The first formal step is an access request to the NDIA.

You can do this by:

• Calling the NDIA on 1800 800 110
• Visiting an NDIA office
• Contacting a Local Area Coordinator in your area

What you will need for an access request:

• Proof of identity (passport, birth certificate, Medicare card)
• Evidence of your Australian residency
• Evidence about your disability — typically a letter or report from your treating specialist describing your condition and its functional impact

You do not need to have all your evidence perfectly assembled before making an access request. The NDIA will guide you on what additional information is needed.

---

Step 3: The Access Decision

The NDIA reviews your access request and the supporting evidence to determine whether you meet the eligibility criteria.

What the NDIA is assessing:

Under the current process (before January 2028): Whether your disability is permanent and significant, based on diagnostic information and functional impact reports.

Under the new process (from January 2028): Whether you have substantially reduced functional capacity that is permanent, having tried all publicly funded appropriate treatments.

Timeline: Access decisions typically take 21 days, though complex cases may take longer. If the decision is delayed, you can follow up with the NDIA.

If access is refused: You can request an internal review of the decision, and if still unsuccessful, apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). A disability advocate can assist with this process.

---

Step 4: The I-CAN v6 Assessment

If your access request is approved, the next step is the I-CAN v6 support needs assessment — the process that determines what your plan will fund.

What the assessment involves:

• A structured 60–90 minute conversation with an accredited assessor
• The assessor covers all 12 I-CAN domains, gathering information about how your disability affects daily functioning in each area
• The assessment draws on your verbal account, the preparation documents you provide, and any supporting evidence (allied health reports, specialist letters)
• The assessor writes a report rating your support needs across each domain

The assessment is free — funded by the NDIA. You do not need to pay for it, and it is not funded from your plan.

---

Step 5: The Planning Meeting

After the assessment, an NDIA planning delegate uses the assessment results to build your first NDIS plan.

You will have an implementation meeting to discuss how the plan has been constructed. This is your opportunity to raise any concerns about the plan before it is finalised.

What your first plan will include:

• Funded supports across the relevant budget categories (Core Supports, Capacity Building, Capital Supports)
• The funding level in each category, based on the I-CAN v6 assessment outcomes
• A plan review date — typically 12 months from when the plan was issued for a first plan

---

What First-Time Applicants Most Need to Know

You need functional description, not just diagnosis

The most common mistake first-time applicants make is submitting a letter from their doctor that says "this person has [diagnosis]" without describing how the condition affects daily life.

The NDIA (and under the new framework, the I-CAN v6 assessment) needs to understand what you cannot do or find significantly difficult across the 12 domains — not just what condition you have.

Ask your GP, specialist, and allied health professionals specifically for a functional impact description — how the condition affects your ability to manage self-care, household tasks, mobility, communication, community participation, and health.

Build your evidence base before applying

The strongest applications combine:

• Medical specialist evidence (establishing the diagnosis and permanence)
• Functional impact evidence (establishing what the disability actually prevents or impairs)
• Your own preparation documentation (describing daily life in functional terms across the 12 I-CAN domains)

ICANReady can help you build the preparation documentation — the systematic domain-by-domain description of how your disability affects daily life — before your access request or before your I-CAN v6 assessment.

Start keeping a daily diary now

Four weeks of daily diary entries documenting what you can and cannot do, what support you currently rely on (formal or informal), and what would happen without that support is some of the most powerful evidence you can bring to the access process.

See our dedicated guide: How to Keep a Daily Support Diary for Your I-CAN v6 Assessment

Common first-time applicant mistakes to avoid

Understating needs. Many people instinctively minimise their difficulties, especially in formal settings. The assessment is not a test of whether you are "disabled enough" — it is a process to identify what support would genuinely help you.

Describing best-day functioning. Your typical functioning and your worst-day functioning are both relevant. Don't only describe what you can manage at your best.

Relying only on a diagnosis letter. A diagnosis letter without functional description is much weaker evidence than a functional assessment report.

Not knowing the 12 domains. Understanding what the I-CAN v6 assesses helps you ensure the preparation documentation you bring covers the relevant ground. Read The 12 I-CAN v6 Domains Explained before your assessment.

---

ICANReady was built specifically to help people — including first-time applicants — build a thorough, domain-by-domain preparation document that describes daily functional needs in the language the I-CAN v6 assessment requires.

Try ICANReady free →

---

For information on the NDIS access process, visit ndis.gov.au. For Local Area Coordinator contact details, visit the NDIS website or call 1800 800 110. For independent advocacy support, contact Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA).