What a letter of support is
When you apply to the NDIS, or ask for a change to your plan, the NDIA needs evidence about your disability. That evidence can be formal, such as a completed form or a standardised assessment, or informal. The NDIA says evidence from a treating health professional can include completing the supporting evidence form, filling in section 2 of the access request form, giving existing reports or assessments, or writing a letter or email.
A letter of support is that last option: a letter written for the purpose, in the professional's own words. It is most useful when it is specific to you and adds information that forms and reports do not.
Who should write it
The NDIA says your evidence should come from a treating health professional who is the most appropriate person for your primary disability, has treated you for at least 6 months, and is registered to practise in Australia or New Zealand. It also needs to be recent.
A GP is often a good choice because they know your history. For some disabilities a specialist is better placed, for example a neurologist for multiple sclerosis, a psychiatrist for psychosocial disability or an audiologist for hearing loss.
What a strong letter includes
The NDIA says evidence to support eligibility should confirm your primary disability, confirm its impacts on the different areas of your life, describe previous treatments and outcomes, describe future treatment options and their expected outcomes, and be original and specific to you. In practice a strong letter covers:
- Your diagnosis or diagnoses, and which one is primary
- How long the professional has treated you and in what role
- Treatments tried, for how long, and what happened
- Whether the impairment is permanent or likely to be, and why
- How it affects mobility, communication, social interaction, learning, self care and self management, with real examples
- How often you need help and what kind, including prompting and supervision
- Any standardised assessment results they hold, such as a GMFCS level or WHODAS score
Letter, form or report?
A letter is flexible, but it can miss things. The supporting evidence form, and the Evidence of Psychosocial Disability form for mental health conditions, prompt the professional to cover what the NDIA needs. A functional capacity assessment goes into far more detail about daily life and support needs.
Many people give a mix: a completed form, a short letter that adds context, and existing reports. For List A conditions, a letter or report confirming the diagnosis and its level may be enough. For other conditions, add evidence about function, such as the preferred assessment tool for your type of disability.
Letters for plan changes and supports
Letters of support are also used after you join, for example to explain a significant and ongoing change for an unscheduled reassessment, or why you need a particular support. The more the letter links your needs to the support you are asking for, the more useful it is. Since 27 August 2026 only you, your nominee or your guardian can request an unscheduled reassessment, but your professionals can provide the evidence.
Tips for getting a useful letter
- Book a longer appointment and explain what the letter is for
- Bring a list of what you need help with, how often, and what happens on bad days
- Give the doctor the NDIA's evidence checklist or the supporting evidence form
- Ask for plain language and specific examples rather than general statements
- Read it before it is sent and ask for corrections if something is missing
- Ask whether there is a fee, as GP letters are often not covered by Medicare