What to Do If Your I-CAN v6 Outcome Doesn't Reflect Your Needs

A step-by-step guide to your options — and how to prevent this outcome

Disclaimer: This article reflects publicly available information about NDIS review rights and the I-CAN v6 process as at September 2026. Review processes and timelines may be subject to change. This guide does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, contact a disability advocate through DANA at dana.org.au.

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Sometimes the I-CAN v6 assessment does not accurately capture genuine support needs. Sometimes the plan built from it does not reflect the assessment results. Sometimes both.

This happens. Assessment sessions are 60 to 90 minutes. Assessors are human. Conditions that are invisible, fluctuating, or difficult to articulate under pressure may not be fully captured. And the NDIA's plan-building process can produce outcomes that participants and their families experience as disconnected from their daily reality.

When this happens, you have options. This guide explains them.

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Step 1: Get Your Assessment Report

The first step after receiving an assessment outcome is to obtain a copy of the I-CAN v6 assessment report.

Under the new framework, participants are entitled to receive this report. If you have not received it, contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 or through your myNDIS portal and request it.

Read the report carefully. Look for:

• Statements that don't accurately describe your daily functioning
• Domains where the rating seems inconsistent with your actual support needs
• Evidence you provided (verbal descriptions, documents) that appears to be absent or understated
• Statements about your capacity that reflect your best-day performance rather than your typical daily reality

Make written notes about each concern, with specific examples of what was described inaccurately and what the accurate description should be.

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Step 2: The Implementation Meeting

After the assessment report is issued, you have the right to an implementation meeting — a structured conversation with the NDIA about how your plan has been built in response to the assessment.

This is your first and best opportunity to raise concerns.

What to do at the implementation meeting:

• Ask the NDIA to explain how each section of the plan relates to the assessment results
• Raise specific concerns about statements in the assessment report that you believe are inaccurate
• Ask what evidence was used to build each part of the plan
• If a section of the plan does not match the assessment (e.g., the assessment rated you Level 4 in Mobility but the plan does not reflect high mobility support needs), ask the NDIA to explain the discrepancy
• Have your Support Coordinator or a disability advocate present if possible

Document everything. Keep notes of what was said in the meeting. If you are promised actions or told that issues will be reviewed, follow up in writing.

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Step 3: Internal Review

If concerns are not resolved at the implementation meeting, the next step is an internal review of the NDIA's decision.

What is an internal review?

An internal review asks the NDIA to reconsider its own decision — specifically, the plan that resulted from the assessment. A different NDIA officer reviews the original decision and all supporting evidence.

Time limit: You have 3 months from the date you received the NDIA's decision (your new plan) to request an internal review. Do not delay — this deadline is strict.

How to request one:

Contact the NDIA by phone (1800 800 110), through the myNDIS portal, or in writing. State that you are requesting an internal review of your plan decision, and provide the date you received the decision.

What to submit with your internal review request:

• A clear, written statement explaining which parts of the plan you believe are incorrect and why
• Your I-CAN v6 assessment report (if you have it), with annotations highlighting inaccurate statements
• Any supporting evidence you have — OT reports, specialist letters, carer statements, daily diaries — that supports a different outcome
• Specific examples of support needs that are not reflected in the plan

The most important principle: Be specific. "The plan doesn't reflect my needs" is not sufficient. "The plan allocated X hours per week of personal care support, but my OT assessment and daily support log show I require X+Y hours because of [specific, documented reason]" is what a review needs.

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Step 4: Administrative Review Tribunal (ART)

If the internal review does not resolve the issue to your satisfaction, you can escalate to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).

What is the ART?

The ART is an independent body that reviews NDIA decisions. It is separate from the NDIA and can substitute its own decision for the NDIA's — including increasing plan funding if it determines the NDIA's decision was incorrect.

Time limit: Applications to the ART must generally be made within 28 days of receiving the internal review decision, though extensions may be granted in some circumstances.

What to expect:

ART proceedings are more formal than an internal review. You will need to present your case with supporting evidence, and the NDIA will present its position. Proceedings may be conducted in writing, by telephone, or in a formal hearing.

Getting representation: Consider getting a disability advocate or legal representative for an ART matter, particularly if the funding at stake is significant. Community Legal Centres, disability legal services, and disability advocacy organisations can assist. Some provide representation; others provide advice.

Important statistical context: The majority of NDIS cases that go to the ART are decided in favour of the participant. The NDIA gets it wrong at a meaningful rate, and review processes exist precisely to correct this.

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Specific Scenarios and What They Mean

Scenario 1: The assessment report contains factual errors

Raise at the implementation meeting. Provide specific, documented corrections. If not resolved, request an internal review specifically targeting the assessment report's inaccuracies, with supporting evidence showing what your actual functioning is.

Scenario 2: The assessment captured your best day, not your typical day

This is one of the most common issues — particularly for fluctuating conditions. Document your typical range with specific recent examples (daily diary entries, support worker logs, carer observations). An internal review can produce a new assessment if the evidence shows the original was based on atypical presentation.

Scenario 3: The plan is lower than the assessment results suggest it should be

The assessment and the plan are technically separate. If the assessment rates your needs at Level 4 in a domain but the plan does not reflect adequate support for Level 4 needs, the internal review should focus on the plan-building decision, with the assessment report itself as evidence of what the plan should contain.

Scenario 4: Your support needs have changed significantly since the assessment

This may not be a review situation — it may be grounds for requesting a plan review based on changed circumstances. Contact the NDIA to discuss. Changed circumstances (a significant health event, a change in informal supports, a significant functional change) can trigger a plan review before your scheduled date.

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How Good Preparation Reduces the Risk

The single most effective thing you can do to reduce the risk of a poor outcome is to prepare thoroughly before the assessment.

A well-prepared participant:

• Has described their daily support needs specifically and accurately across all 12 I-CAN domains in a written preparation document
• Has brought current allied health reports that corroborate their self-report
• Has provided a support person or carer statement as supplementary evidence
• Has described their typical range of functioning — not just their best day

This preparation does not guarantee a good outcome. But it substantially reduces the gap between what the assessor observes and what the participant's genuine needs actually are — which is the gap that most commonly produces poor outcomes.

ICANReady was built to help close that gap. By guiding you through all 12 domains before the assessment, it ensures the assessor has the fullest possible picture from the start.

Try ICANReady free →

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For independent advocacy and review support, contact Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) or your state or territory disability advocacy service. For legal advice about NDIS appeals, contact a Community Legal Centre or disability legal service in your jurisdiction.