What impairment information is
Information about your impairment categories is included in a letter we send you when you first become an NDIS participant. It’ll tell you which impairment categories met the disability or early intervention requirements, or both.
You’ll be sent this information if you applied to the NDIS after 1 January 2025.
Impairments relate to the disability or early intervention requirements
When we use the word impairments, we’re describing a loss of or damage to your body’s function and/or structure including:
- how your body works
- how your body is structured
- how you think and learn.
We use the word impairment because it's in the NDIS laws.
The NDIS laws focus on how your disability affects what you can do in everyday life. People with the same disability may have different impairment categories and need different supports.
There are 6 impairment categories
The categories are:
- intellectual
- cognitive
- neurological
- sensory
- physical
- impairments relating to a psychosocial disability.
You may have more than one impairment category. More impairment categories doesn’t always mean you need more NDIS support.
Impairment categories don’t apply to children younger than 6 with developmental delay only. This relates to the early intervention requirements. Their impairment information will list ‘developmental delay’ instead of an impairment category.
What impairment information is for
Your impairment categories information is included in the letter you get that tells you you’re eligible for the NDIS.
These categories link to the impairments that meet our early intervention, disability requirements, or both.
What happens when you get impairment information
We’ll create a plan with you
We work with you to create your NDIS plan based on your needs, goals and circumstances.
You’ll be invited to a plan meeting with an NDIA planner. They’ll explain your plan and answer questions.
Learn more about creating a plan.
If you think your impairment information is wrong
You might want to ask for a change if:
- there’s a mistake with your impairment categories listed in the letter
- you have a new impairment that meets the disability, early intervention requirements or both
- you have new evidence about an impairment that you didn’t give us and it may change your impairment categories.
You can talk to your my NDIS contact or contact the National Contact Centre on 1800 800 110.
We’ll look at your request and the information you give us to decide if your impairment categories need to change.
We’ll contact you to explain the decision. We’ll also send you a letter confirming the outcome.
You can ask for an internal review if you don’t agree with the decision.