How Eligibility Is Changing: The NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment
The NDIS functional capacity assessment explained in plain English: what's changing, when, and how to prepare. Confirm current dates with the NDIA.
What is a functional capacity assessment?
What is changing, and when?
Diagnosis or function: what's the real shift?
What does the I-CAN v6 tool actually look at?
I'm already on the NDIS — will I be reassessed?
What is NOT changing (the part worth holding onto)
A real-life example
How to prepare for a support-needs assessment
Common pitfalls to avoid
If you disagree with a decision
What about children and people who don't qualify?
What to do next
Frequently asked questions
What is an NDIS functional capacity assessment?
It's a structured look at how much support you need for everyday activities — self-care, mobility, communication, community participation and managing your life — rather than judging you on your diagnosis alone. Under the reforms, a trained assessor uses a standard tool (I-CAN v6) to record your support needs. It shapes how your plan budget is worked out and, later, forms part of eligibility decisions.
Will my diagnosis still matter?
Yes. The shift is toward functional capacity, but your medical reports and diagnosis still help explain why you have the support needs you describe. What changes is that the decision leans more on the practical, ongoing impact of your impairment. Keeping current reports from your GP and allied health team remains important.
When does the functional capacity assessment start?
The new planning framework and support-needs assessment are planned to roll out from 1 April 2027, progressively through to 31 December 2030, with eligibility based on functional capacity from 1 January 2028 at the earliest. These dates are proposed and have already shifted once, so confirm the current timing with the NDIA before relying on any date.
I'm already a participant — do I have to do anything now?
No. For existing participants, the new approach is expected to arrive as your plan renews, not all at once. You don't need to act today. When you get notice of a reassessment or renewal, that's the time to prepare — gather up-to-date reports, keep a short diary of harder days, and ask a support coordinator or advocate to help.
What if I disagree with the outcome?
You can ask the NDIA for an internal review, and if you're still unhappy, apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), the independent body that reviews NDIS decisions. Extra appeals-advocacy funding exists in 2026-27 to help, and a disability advocate can support you — often for free. Act promptly, because review requests have time limits.