“Reasonable & necessary” — support justification statement

A short statement that connects a support you are requesting to the six reasonable-and-necessary criteria the NDIA must consider.

Who it's for

This statement is for participants and their supporters who want to show the NDIA that a particular support meets the 'reasonable and necessary' test. It's useful when you're requesting funding for something new, defending an existing support, or preparing for a planning meeting or review.

It works alongside your other documents, such as a plan reassessment letter or allied-health reports. Rather than repeating your whole story, it takes one specific support and clearly connects it to the criteria the NDIA must legally consider before it can fund anything.

Why write it

The NDIA can only fund supports that are reasonable and necessary, and it must weigh six things: whether the support relates to your disability; whether it helps you pursue your goals; whether it's value for money; whether it's likely to be effective and beneficial; whether it takes account of your informal supports from family and community; and whether it's most appropriately funded by the NDIS rather than the health or education system.

Writing a short statement that speaks to each of these makes the planner's job easier and your case stronger. It shows you understand the rules and have thought about how your request fits them.

How to write it

Name the support clearly, then work through the six criteria one at a time. Focus on function and goals, not diagnosis alone: explain how your disability affects daily life and how this support helps you do the things that matter to you.

For value for money, explain how the support prevents bigger problems or reduces reliance on more costly help. Be honest about informal supports, showing what family or community already provide and where the gaps remain.

Explain why the NDIS, not health or education, is the right funder. Keep it concise, factual and specific, and attach evidence where you can. A calm, well-organised statement is far more persuasive than a long or emotional one.

Template

Support requested: [name the support and rough cost/hours]

1. Related to my disability: [how the support relates to your disability, not a general life cost].
2. Helps me pursue my goals: [name the goal in your plan it supports].
3. Represents value for money: [why it is cost-effective — e.g. prevents a costlier support later].
4. Likely to be effective and beneficial: [evidence it works for people in my situation].
5. Takes account of informal supports: [what family/community already do, and the gap that remains].
6. Most appropriately funded by the NDIS: [why this is not the role of health, education or another system].

Attached evidence: [list reports/letters].

About this template

What does 'reasonable and necessary' mean in the NDIS?
It's the test the NDIA uses to decide what to fund. A support must relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals, represent value for money, be likely to be effective and beneficial, take account of informal supports from family and community, and be most appropriately funded by the NDIS rather than the health or education system.
What are the six reasonable and necessary criteria?
The support must: relate to your disability; help you pursue your goals; be value for money; be likely to be effective and beneficial; take account of informal supports such as family and community; and be most appropriately funded by the NDIS rather than another system like health or education. The NDIA must consider all six.
How do I prove a support is reasonable and necessary?
Address each of the six criteria directly, focusing on how your disability affects everyday function and how the support helps you reach your goals. Use concrete examples and attach professional evidence such as an allied-health report. Explaining value for money and why the NDIS is the right funder, rather than diagnosis alone, makes your statement more persuasive.
Does my diagnosis alone justify NDIS funding?
No. The NDIS funds supports based on how your disability affects your everyday function and goals, not on a diagnosis by itself. Two people with the same condition can need very different supports. Focus your statement on what you can and can't do, the impact on daily life, and how the requested support helps you live more independently.
What are informal supports and why do they matter?
Informal supports are the unpaid help you get from family, friends and your community. The NDIA must take these into account when deciding what to fund, because they can meet some needs. In your statement, be honest about what informal supports already provide and clearly show the gaps that still need funded, reasonable and necessary support.

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Novida is an independent directory, not the NDIA. We explain each form in plain English and link you to the official copy — always download and submit the current version from the official website, as forms are updated from time to time.