NDIS | Impariment Notices, what are they?

NDIS Impairment Notices: what has changed & what it means for people living with young onset Parkinson’s

Many people living with young onset Parkinson’s are starting to receive Impairment Notices from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). For others, these notices will arrive during their next plan review or when they transition to a new type of plan.

This change marks a major shift in how the NDIS works. The system is moving away from being based only on your Parkinson’s diagnosis and toward a system focused on your specific impairments and how they affect your daily life. Understanding this change is vital for our community to ensure you receive the right funding for the supports you need.

What is an Impairment Notice?

An Impairment Notice is a formal letter from the NDIA that confirms two things:

1. You have met the access requirements to be an NDIS participant.
2. The specific impairment categories the NDIA has accepted as the reason you need support.

Since 1 January 2025, all new participants receive this notice when they join. If you are already in the NDIS, you will receive one later, usually when your plan is being reviewed or moved to the new “PACE” computer system.

The notice will list one or more of these six categories:

• Neurological (most common for Parkinson’s)
• Physical
• Cognitive
• Psychosocial (mental health impacts)
• Sensory (sight or hearing)
• Intellectual

For people with Parkinson’s, impairments are often recorded as neurological and physical, but it is important to check if cognitive or psychosocial categories are also listed if Parkinson’s affects your thinking or mental health.

How this differs from the old process

The previous approach

In the past, the NDIS relied heavily on a diagnosis letter from your specialist or neurologist. You might have used “List B” to show your condition was permanent, but you still had to provide extra medical evidence to prove it significantly impacted your life. In the past, participants often had to pay for their own expensive reports, such as the WHODAS or Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs) administered by an OT to prove their level of disability. This often led to inconsistent decisions, where two people with the same diagnosis received very different levels of help. Under the new rules, these assessments are no longer the central requirement they once were. While they are still useful for helping you identify how Parkinson’s affects your day-to-day life, they are no longer the primary way the NDIA decides on your funding.

The new approach

The new system focuses entirely on the functional impact of your impairments rather than just the name of your condition. The NDIA now looks at:

• Which specific impairments are permanent (unlikely to go away)?
• How do those impairments reduce your functional capacity in daily activities like walking, communicating, or managing your own self-care?

The goal is to recognise that Parkinson’s affects everyone differently. One person may need help with mobility, while another may need more support with communication or cognitive tasks.

Why the Impairment Notice is the “key” to your funding

Your Impairment Notice is now the most important document for your plan. Under updated laws (specifically Section 34 of the NDIS Act), the NDIS can only fund supports that are directly linked to the impairments listed on your notice.

This means:

• If your notice lists a neurological impairment: You can likely access funding for things like physiotherapy, exercise physiology, or specialised equipment.
  • If a category is missing: If Parkinson’s affects your mental health (psychosocial) or memory (cognitive), but those are not on your notice, it will be much harder to get funding for counselling or cognitive therapy. You should immediately request a review.
  • For example: If your notice lists a neurological impairment, supports such as physiotherapy, mobility aids or personal care may align.
    If cognition or mental health impacts are not listed, supports relating to those areas may be harder to approve unless the notice is updated.

Looking ahead: 2026 & “New Framework” Plans

These notices are the first step toward “New Framework Planning,” which is expected to begin in mid-2026. In this new system, the NDIA will use a tool called I-CAN v6 to assess your “whole-of-person” support needs. Instead of a long list of individual items, you will receive a flexible budget based on the impairments listed on your notice.

What should you do?

1. Check your Impairment Notice: As soon as you receive your Impairment Notice, check that it covers all the ways Parkinson’s affects you (physical, neurological, cognitive, etc.). You do not need to apply for an impairment notice separately; the NDIA will issue it to you. However, preparation is key:
   • Review Your Impairments: Think carefully about how Parkinson’s affects your balance, fatigue, communication, mood, continence and attention. Ensure these impacts are clearly described in your planning meetings.
     
   • Check Your Records: You have the right to request access to your NDIS records, including your original application and any medical evidence you previously submitted. This helps you see how the NDIA has currently classified you.
     
   • Ask Questions: At your next review, ask exactly which impairment categories apply to you and how your supports are linked to them.
   • Request a Variation if Needed: Impairment notices can be changed. Because Parkinson’s is a progressive condition, your symptoms may change or worsen over time. If your notice is missing a new or worsening impact, you can ask the NDIA to vary it.
   • Gather evidence: If a category is missing, you will need medical reports from your GP or neurologist to show the NDIA why it should be added.
2. Know your rights: If you disagree with what is on your notice, you have the right to ask for an internal review. If you are still not satisfied, you can appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).

Our goal with YOPX is to make sure your NDIS journey is as smooth as possible. Ensuring your Impairment Notice is accurate is the best way to secure the “reasonable and necessary” support you need to maintain wellbeing and independence.

While we do our best to provide accurate information at the time of posting, things are changing in the NDIS space. It is best to confirm this information with your support coordination, LAC partner or the NDIS if you have further questions.