My 4-year-old recently received an NDIS plan due to developmental delays, mainly in communication and daily living skills. We’ve been fortunate to get some initial support, but we’ve just completed further assessments, and we’re expecting an official diagnosis soon. I’m wondering, once we have this new information, should I push for an update to the current plan?
Right now, we’re using more hours with our support worker than what’s been allocated, and while it’s been really beneficial, I know this pace isn’t sustainable without additional funding.
Has anyone been through this? What’s the best way to approach the NDIS for a plan review? We’re also balancing sessions with different specialists and I want to ensure we’re maximising the resources we have.
Hi @MountainMystic_1997 I am a provider who works with children (don’t worry I am not going to try to sell anything ). Just thought some of the experiences other people I have worked with might help you.
I would go through your allied health professionals to get a plan review once you have a diagnosis and all supporting documents. I say this mainly because different disabilities require different supports and some of those disabilities have supports the NDIA just expects everyone with those disabilities to need. I also suggest you do it when you get the diagnosis rather than delaying as there can be a waiting period and your current funding will have to last through that (one family I am with had to wait three months to then be told they hadn’t submitted all the documents, then proved they had and were then told a review would happen within another 21 days).
In the mean time I would make sure the supports you have in place are aware of the funding situation and see if any might be able to help you out in the short term in exchange for long term services once the funding is approved. I wrote a piece here that you may find useful Ideas for negotiating for non negotiators.
Depending what area you are in there may also be other services that can help without putting too big a dent in your funding. You don’t really want to make great progress but then go from full supports to no supports for a period of time. Sometimes there isn’t much choice. It can be difficult to navigate, especially when it comes to kids. Everyone just wants to do the best for their children.
Managing NDIS plans can be really challenging, especially when you’re trying to do what’s best for your child. In addition to what Lauren has already said, keeping detailed notes on how the support worker is helping can strengthen your case for more funding. You might also want to get a letter from your pediatrician supporting your request. Keep pushing, you’re doing a great job.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply Lauren. I really appreciate you sharing your experiences and insights, especially from the provider’s perspective. The advice to go through our allied health professionals for the plan review makes a lot of sense, and I’ll definitely get on that as soon as we have the formal diagnosis in hand. The last thing we want is to hit any delays, especially if we need to stretch our current funding in the meantime.
I hadn’t considered talking to our current support team about the funding situation, but it’s a great idea to see if there’s some flexibility while we wait. I’ll also check out your article on negotiating, sounds like it could be really helpful for us right now.
It’s definitely a challenge to balance everything, but like you said, we all just want what’s best for our kids. Thanks again for the advice.
Thank you so much for the encouragement and advice Michael. It’s definitely overwhelming at times, but hearing from others who’ve been through it really helps. I’ll start keeping more detailed notes on how our support worker is making a difference. It makes sense that this could really help when it comes time to ask for more funding.
I hadn’t thought about getting a letter from our pediatrician, but that’s a great suggestion too. I’ll reach out to them and see if they can provide something that backs up our request. It’s comforting to know that there are steps we can take to strengthen our case. Thanks again for the support. I’m just trying to do everything I can to make sure my little one gets the best care possible.
I forgot to say that I actually read your piece yesterday Lauren. It was really eye opening and gave me a lot to think about. I didn’t realise there were so many angles to negotiating with providers.
The tips on handling cancellation charges and being upfront about our budget from the start were really helpful. I’ve always been a bit hesitant to negotiate, but knowing that it’s not just about cutting costs but also about finding the right match gives me a lot more confidence.
Like I said in the article some providers are very open to it and some aren’t and sometimes it is just a business survival choice.
Most people when all settled and depending on the disability get the funding they need and just pay the rates and it works out for everyone.
My advice is more for the cases like yours where they are either in transition, are underfunded or just need more than their funding allows at the present time. And there are solutions to every problem. Ultimately there are so many providers that you will find someone to work with as long as the terms are beneficial to both sides.
I really appreciate the reassurance. It’s true, I’ve always thought of negotiating as something only businesses do, but realising it can actually help both sides find a better fit makes it less intimidating.
@MountainMystic_1997 I’ve been in a similar situation, and it helped to gather all the reports from my younger brother’s therapists before requesting a plan review. They can really emphasise how the additional support hours are making a difference, which could help in securing more funding.
@Lauren very nice of you to assist. I haven’t been around for a while, so have just noticed the providers on the forum and the directory has been launched. Good to have someone like you around.
). Just thought some of the experiences other people I have worked with might help you.