What Happens After Your I-CAN v6 Assessment

Understanding your NDIS budget and next steps

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and reflects publicly available information about the NDIS I-CAN assessment framework and NDIS plan processes. This guide does not constitute professional disability support or legal advice. NDIS processes are subject to change — always verify current details with the NDIA.

Most preparation guides focus on getting ready for the assessment day itself. But what comes after the assessor leaves can be just as consequential. Your I-CAN v6 results flow directly into your NDIS plan — determining how much funding you receive, what categories it sits in, and what supports you can actually access.

Understanding the process from assessment to plan — and knowing your rights at every stage — puts you in a much stronger position to advocate for yourself and implement your supports effectively.

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The Assessment Is Over — What Comes Next?

When the assessor wraps up, many participants feel a mixture of relief and uncertainty. The conversation is done, but the administrative process that shapes your next plan is only just beginning.

Most guidance on the I-CAN v6 assessment stops at the assessment day. That is a significant gap. The assessor's report, the NDIA's planning decision, and the structure of your new plan all follow from your assessment results — and each stage involves distinct timelines, decision-makers, and review rights.

The post-assessment process typically unfolds as follows:

1. The assessor completes and submits their report to the NDIA
2. The NDIA prepares a new or revised plan based on that report and your stated goals
3. You receive your plan, review it, and decide whether to accept or challenge it
4. You implement your plan — engaging providers, signing service agreements, accessing supports
5. Your plan is reviewed at a scheduled date or earlier if your circumstances change significantly

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Step 1: The Assessor's Report

After your assessment, the assessor prepares a formal report that documents your functional capacity ratings across each of the 12 I-CAN domains. This is more than a transcript of your conversation — the assessor applies professional judgement, draws on their direct observations, and incorporates the supporting documentation you provided to assign structured ratings in each domain.

What the assessor's report typically contains:

• A functional capacity rating for each of the 12 domains, on a standardised scale
• Clinical observations and reasoning supporting each rating
• References to the supporting evidence you provided at the assessment
• Notes on your informal support arrangements and carer availability
• Environmental and contextual factors that affect your daily functioning
• Recommendations regarding specific support types, where relevant

You are entitled to request a copy of your assessment report. Under the NDIS Act 2013, participants have the right to access information about decisions that affect their plan. Contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 or log into the myplace portal at ndismyplace.gov.au to request your documentation. Reviewing the report yourself is strongly recommended — it allows you to understand the basis for your plan and identify any domain where the rating does not accurately reflect your needs.

The timeline from assessment to report submission to the NDIA typically ranges from 2–4 weeks, though this can vary depending on the assessor's organisation and the complexity of your presentation.

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Step 2: The NDIA's Planning Decision

Once the NDIA receives the assessor's report, a planning delegate considers it alongside your existing plan history, your stated goals, and the reasonable and necessary criteria under section 34 of the NDIS Act 2013.

Under section 34, a support is considered reasonable and necessary if it:

• Relates to your disability
• Helps you pursue your goals or live more independently
• Is not more appropriately funded by another system (such as health or mainstream education)
• Represents value for money
• Is effective and beneficial based on available evidence

The planning decision determines:

• The total funding level for your new plan
• How that funding is allocated across the three budget categories — Core Supports, Capital Supports, and Capacity Building
• Which supports are stated (tied to a specific purpose or provider type) versus flexible
• The plan duration — typically 12 months, though some participants receive plans of up to 3 years where needs are stable

The relationship between your I-CAN functional ratings and your funding level is not a simple formula. Planning decisions involve professional judgement and consideration of your individual context. Two participants with comparable ratings may receive different funding if their goal profiles, informal support availability, or living situations differ significantly.

Typical timeline from assessment to plan: 4–8 weeks, though complex needs, incomplete evidence, or high NDIA workload can extend this period. If you have not received your plan within 8 weeks, contact the NDIA directly or speak with your Support Coordinator to follow up.

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Understanding the Three Budget Categories

Your NDIS plan organises funding into three distinct categories. Understanding what each category covers — and the flexibility rules that apply — is essential for implementing your supports effectively.

Core Supports

Core Supports fund the day-to-day assistance you need because of your disability. For most participants with significant daily living needs, Core Supports represent the largest budget category.

Key flexibility rule: Core Supports budgets can generally be used flexibly across all four sub-categories. If you spend less on consumables in a given month, those funds can typically be redirected to daily activities support. This makes Core Supports the most practical and adaptable part of your plan.

Capital Supports

Capital Supports fund specific, higher-cost items or home modifications.

• Assistive Technology (AT): Wheelchairs, communication devices, hearing aids, and other equipment prescribed by an accredited allied health professional
• Home Modifications: Structural changes to your home to improve access and safety — ramps, ceiling hoist infrastructure, accessible bathrooms

Key flexibility rule: Capital Supports are not flexible — funding for a specific item can only be used for that item. Higher-cost AT and home modifications also require formal quotes and specialist reports justifying the specific equipment or modification before approval.

Capacity Building Supports

Capacity Building funds time-limited supports that build your skills and independence over time.

Key flexibility rule: Capacity Building funding can be used within sub-categories but cannot be transferred to Core or Capital budgets. Therapy funding cannot be redirected to personal care, for example. Unspent Capacity Building funding is not rolled over at plan end — use it before your plan expiry date.

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Reading Your Plan: What to Look For

When your NDIS plan arrives — via post or through the myplace portal — read it carefully before taking any action. Many participants hand their plan directly to a Support Coordinator without reviewing it themselves, which means errors or omissions may go unnoticed.

Key sections to review:

1. Your goals: Your plan should accurately reflect the goals you discussed during the planning process. If goals are missing, inaccurately worded, or framed in a way you do not recognise, note this — it matters for how the plan is implemented.

2. Stated versus flexible supports: Some supports in your plan will be listed as stated, meaning they must be used for a specific purpose with a specific provider type and cannot be redirected. Check whether any critical supports have been made stated when you expected flexibility.

3. Budget totals by category: Review the total allocated to each budget category. If your Core Supports budget seems insufficient for the frequency and nature of daily assistance you genuinely require, this warrants closer examination.

4. Specific support items: Some plans list individual support items — a certain number of therapy hours, or a specific piece of assistive technology. Check that these align with what was discussed and assessed.

5. Plan duration: Standard plans run for 12 months. If your needs are evolving or fluctuating, a shorter plan with an earlier review may serve you better than a longer plan with a stable budget that may not keep pace with changes.

6. What is absent from the plan: Take note of any supports that were discussed, assessed, or that you consider essential but that have not been funded. A support's absence is as important as its presence.

Tip: If you have received a copy of the assessor's report, compare it directly with your plan. If the budget does not appear to reflect the functional ratings documented in the report, this may indicate a discrepancy in the planning decision — and could be grounds for an internal review.

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If Your Plan Feels Wrong: What to Do

If your plan does not accurately reflect your genuine support needs — because funding is insufficient, key supports are missing, or budget allocations appear inconsistent with your assessment — you have formal rights under the NDIS Act 2013.

Requesting an Internal Review

The most immediate option is to request an internal review from the NDIA. Internal reviews must be requested within 3 months of receiving the planning decision.

To request an internal review:

1. Contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 or submit your request in writing via the myplace portal at ndismyplace.gov.au
2. Clearly identify the specific aspect of the planning decision you are challenging
3. Provide supporting evidence alongside your request

Evidence that strengthens an internal review:

• Recent allied health functional assessments (within 2 years) addressing the specific domains in question
• A detailed written personal statement describing your day-to-day support needs with specific examples of tasks, frequency, and what happens when support is unavailable
• Letters from treating specialists addressing the functional impact of your disability
• Carer or support worker statements describing the assistance they provide
• Documentation of any relevant change in your circumstances since the assessment

A review delegate within the NDIA — a different person from the original decision-maker — will reconsider the decision in light of your submission. The NDIA is required to notify you of the outcome of the internal review.

Administrative Review Tribunal (ART)

If you are not satisfied with the internal review outcome, you can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) for an independent external review. This is a formal legal process. You are not required to have a lawyer to apply, but for complex cases, support from a disability advocacy organisation is strongly recommended.

Organisations such as Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) and state-based disability advocacy services can help you understand the process, prepare your application, and navigate proceedings. Their services are typically free to NDIS participants.

If you believe your plan significantly underestimates your needs, do not wait — the 3-month window for requesting an internal review begins from the date of the planning decision.

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Implementing Your Plan: The First 90 Days

Once you are satisfied your plan reflects your genuine needs, implementation begins. The first 90 days are critical — getting supports set up efficiently ensures you benefit from your full plan budget rather than losing months of funded time.

Steps to prioritise in the first 90 days:

1. Engage your Support Coordinator — if Support Coordination is included in your plan, contact your Support Coordinator as soon as the plan is active. Their role is to help you identify suitable providers, negotiate service agreements, and ensure your funded supports are operational.

2. Identify and engage providers — for each funded category, identify suitable providers and request formal service agreements that document the supports to be delivered, the rate, and the cancellation terms.

3. Access and monitor the myplace portal — log into ndismyplace.gov.au to track your spending against each budget category, review provider claims, and manage your plan. Regular monitoring helps prevent unexpected budget exhaustion.

4. Book Capacity Building supports early — therapy and specialist support appointments often have long waiting lists. Make referrals and bookings as a priority, and remember that unspent Capacity Building funding does not carry over at plan end.

5. Keep clear records — maintain records of services received, support hours delivered, and any provider concerns or incidents. This documentation is essential if you need to change providers, challenge a claim, or request a plan review.

Note on plan management types: Your plan may be managed by the NDIA directly (NDIA-managed), through a registered Plan Manager (plan-managed), or by yourself (self-managed). Each arrangement has different rules about which providers you can engage and how payments are processed. If you are uncertain which type applies to your plan, contact the NDIA or your Support Coordinator.

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Plan Reviews: Scheduled vs Unscheduled

Your NDIS plan is not a fixed, permanent document — it is reviewed regularly to ensure it continues to reflect your evolving needs.

Scheduled Reviews

Most NDIS plans are reviewed at the end of the plan period, typically 12 months. As your plan approaches its end date, the NDIA will initiate the review process. If an I-CAN v6 assessment was used to inform your current plan, a reassessment may be part of the scheduled review.

Preparing for a scheduled review involves documenting your current support needs, gathering updated evidence from your treating team, and identifying any changes in your circumstances or functioning since your last assessment. For a comprehensive approach to this preparation, read: How to prepare for your I-CAN v6 assessment — a step-by-step guide.

Unscheduled (Early) Reviews

You can request an early, unscheduled review if:

• Your circumstances have significantly changed — a new or worsening diagnosis, deterioration in functioning, or a major life event such as the breakdown of informal carer support
• Your current plan is materially not meeting your support needs in a way that affects your daily safety, health, or wellbeing
• You have new clinical evidence indicating a significant change in your functional capacity

Contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 to request an early review, and provide clear supporting documentation explaining why your current plan no longer meets your needs. If the NDIA declines the request and you believe a review is warranted, a Support Coordinator or disability advocate can help you make the case.

For guidance on what changes to the NDIS legislation and assessment framework mean for plan reviews and funding decisions, read: NDIS 2026 changes explained.

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Prepare for Your I-CAN v6 Assessment with ICANReady

Knowing what happens after your assessment puts you in the strongest possible position — both to challenge a plan that falls short and to implement one that accurately reflects your needs from day one.

ICANReady is a document preparation tool built specifically for NDIS participants and carers preparing for the I-CAN v6 assessment. It guides you through all 12 I-CAN domains in plain language and generates a structured preparation document you can bring to your assessment — available at launch for AUD $29.

Join the ICANReady waitlist — it's free →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get my NDIS plan after the I-CAN v6 assessment?

Typically 4–8 weeks after the assessment, though this can vary depending on the complexity of your needs and NDIA workload. If you haven't received your plan within 8 weeks, contact the NDIA directly on 1800 800 110 or speak with your Support Coordinator to follow up.

Can I negotiate my NDIS budget after it is issued?

You cannot directly negotiate your budget, but you can request an internal review if you believe the plan doesn't reflect your genuine support needs. Providing detailed reasoning and evidence from your treating team — including recent allied health reports and a personal written statement — significantly strengthens the case for a review. The NDIA is required to reconsider the decision in light of the evidence you provide.

What is the difference between Core Supports, Capital Supports, and Capacity Building in my plan?

Core Supports fund daily activities, consumables, transport, and social and community participation — and offer the most flexibility between sub-categories. Capital Supports fund specific purchases like assistive technology and home modifications, and the funding cannot be redirected. Capacity Building funds time-limited supports like therapy, employment assistance, and support coordination — and cannot be transferred to Core or Capital budgets.

What if my assessment result is significantly different from my current plan?

Request an internal review within 3 months of receiving the planning decision. Gather additional evidence from your treating team, including updated functional assessments and medical letters. Consider engaging a disability advocate from DANA or a state-based advocacy service. If the internal review outcome is still unsatisfactory, you can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) for an independent external review.

Do I have to accept the plan that is issued after the I-CAN assessment?

You can request changes before formally accepting your plan, and you can accept the plan while simultaneously requesting a review — the two processes can run concurrently. You are not locked in indefinitely — all participants are entitled to a scheduled review at plan end, and unscheduled reviews are available when circumstances change significantly.

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Sources: NDIS Act 2013, NDIA — Understanding your plan, NDIS Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Act 2024, Administrative Review Tribunal, Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA)