NDIS Update: Impairment notices – what you need to know

SINCE 1 JANUARY 2025

Starting in January 2025, every new participant in the NDIS will receive a document called an ‘impairment notice’. This notice confirms that the individual has a permanent disability or significant impairment. It also outlines which specific impairments qualify for disability or early intervention support through the NDIS.

If your child, teen or young adult is already on the NDIS, they’ll get this notice the next time they renew or transition to a new plan. Don’t worry if you don’t receive an impairment notice right away – each family’s timeline will look a bit different as the NDIS rolls this out.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE IMPAIRMENT NOTICE?

• If your child qualifies under the disability or early intervention pathway.
• The specific impairments that are recognised by the NDIS.

Under the new rules, your child’s NDIS plan will include supports that align with the needs identified in their impairment notice.

IMPAIRMENT CATEGORIES

The NDIS now focuses on the following types of impairment categories:

• Intellectual
• Cognitive
• Neurological
• Sensory
• Physical
• Psychosocial

Your child’s impairment notice might include one or more of these categories.

If they have multiple impairments (for example, both physical and intellectual), you may see different types of supports for each.

WHY THIS CHANGE?

Two children can have the same diagnosis but need very different supports. By shifting the focus from diagnosis to impairment, the NDIS hopes that each child will get the specific help they need, based on how their disability or condition affects their everyday life.

IMPAIRMENTS AND YOUR CHILD’S NDIS PLAN

The impairments on your child’s notice will guide funding decisions and determine what supports can be included in their plan. If at any point you feel the impairment notice is incorrect or missing information, you can request to change it.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW

If you’d like to find out the information the NDIA used to decide your child’s eligibility for the NDIS, you can complete a Participant Information Access request. While this isn’t a formal impairment notice, it can help you understand what the NDIA used to grant access. It’s a helpful first step while waiting for the official notice, especially if you have a plan review or reassessment coming up.

KEY POINTS

From 1 January 2025, all new NDIS participants will receive an impairment notice

Existing participants will get their impairment notice when they review or transition to a new plan

An impairment notice confirms a permanent disability or significant impairment that meets NDIS eligibility

There are six impairment categories under the NDIS.

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Here to help.
At Leap in!, the team is there to support you through these updates and provide clear, timely information as further details become available. Check out their NDIS Changes page for all the latest updates on the NDIS reforms. leapin.com.au/ndis-changes