Plan changes / Life transitions
Going into hospital? How your NDIS plan and supports keep working
· Written by the Forward Planning Plus team · Last reviewed 22 October 2026
NDIS Registered Provider #4050161030 · Valid invoices processed in 1–2 business days* · Queensland-based team
Want your plan managed by a Queensland-based team?
This is general information only. It isn't medical, legal or financial advice. Talk to your treating team about your health care.
Who this is for: NDIS participants with a planned or unexpected hospital stay, their families and carers, and support coordinators.
Who should you tell when you go into hospital?
The hospital staff. The NDIA says to let them know you're an NDIS participant if they need to work with the NDIA on your changed needs. They'll tell the NDIA you're in hospital, with your consent.
You can also tell the NDIA yourself by:
- calling 1800 800 110
- talking to your my NDIS contact
- submitting an enquiry through the NDIA's service hub.
Your care plan
Bring your care plan. The NDIA suggests giving your care plan to hospital staff so they know what you need.
Your rights: the NDIA says you have the right to the same health care as everyone else, and hospitals must make changes to help with your disability needs.
Not on the NDIS yet? With your consent, hospital staff can contact the NDIA if they think you might be eligible, and help you apply while you're in hospital.
Who helps with what while you're in hospital?
Personal care and taking medicine
Who: Hospital staff
What the NDIA says: "Hospital staff will take care of you while you're in hospital."
Your usual support worker
Who: Not NDIS-funded in hospital
What the NDIA says: You can't use NDIS funding for this, "because you'll receive support from hospital staff instead."
Support for a complex communication need or managing behaviours of concern
Who: Can be NDIS-funded
What the NDIA says: You can use NDIS funding for these supports while you're in hospital.
Hospital services, ambulance transport, medicines
Who: Health system
What the NDIA says: The NDIA can't fund services you can get through the health system, such as services at public or private hospitals.
Not sure whether a support counts? Ask your my NDIS contact or support coordinator before you book it.
What is a hospital liaison officer?
A hospital liaison officer (HLO) is an NDIA staff member who works with the health system, including hospitals. They link the NDIA with state and territory hospital staff.
An HLO can:
- work with you and your health team during your stay
- gather evidence with hospital staff if your plan needs to change because of your hospital stay
- help the hospital apply for home and living supports or home modifications before you go home, if needed
- help you apply to the NDIS if you're not a participant and might be eligible.
With your consent, they'll discuss things like how long you've been in hospital, when you'll be ready to leave, and any changes to your disability support needs.
Will my NDIS plan change after a hospital stay?
It might, if your needs have changed. The NDIA says a specialised NDIA planner will meet with you. Together you'll talk about your goals and the information and evidence from the hospital, to create any changes to your current plan (or your first plan).
There are 2 ways a plan can change:
- Plan variation (small change): for example, funding for short-term supports if your situation changes suddenly, or crisis or emergency funding for a significant change in your support needs. The NDIA says it will decide within 21 days once it has the information and evidence, and you'll get a copy of a varied plan within 7 days.
- Plan reassessment (significant change): when your plan no longer meets your needs and is replaced with a new one.
Read more in our guide to NDIS plan reassessments and plan variations.
Disagree with a decision? You can ask for an internal review.
What happens when you leave hospital?
Getting ready to go home:
- Your hospital staff make a plan for you to leave hospital, and include your support coordinator if you have one.
- The NDIA asks who your support coordinator is, so they can be part of the discharge process.
- Once a new or changed plan is approved, the NDIA tells your hospital staff what supports are in it, such as home modifications or a support worker.
- With your consent, the NDIA also shares your plan with your support coordinator.
After you get home: you can use your NDIS supports and connect with your my NDIS contact. Your my NDIS contact or support coordinator can help you implement your plan, use and pay for your supports, and work out any changes you need.
What about your providers and invoices?
If your regular supports pause while you're in hospital, these steps can help keep things tidy:
- Talk to your regular providers about your hospital stay and when supports should restart.
- Check your service agreements. The NDIA says a good service agreement includes how much supports cost, how the provider gets paid, and what to do when you disagree or something goes wrong.
- Watch your budget when you're home. If your plan changed, your budgets may look different.
If you're plan-managed, your plan manager keeps records of your invoices and uses the NDIS portals to pay your providers from your plan. Here's how plan management works. Want to check an invoice first?
Try our NDIS invoice checker.
How Forward Planning Plus can help
Forward Planning Plus is a registered NDIS plan manager (NDIA registration 4050161030) with a Queensland-based team, and it's no cost to you.
- We work alongside your support coordinator.
- Our portal sends low-funding alerts.
- We call back within 24 hours on business days.
Related reading:
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to tell the NDIA I'm going into hospital?
Let hospital staff know you're an NDIS participant. With your consent, they'll tell the NDIA. You can also call the NDIA on 1800 800 110, talk to your my NDIS contact, or use the service hub.
Can I use NDIS funding to pay my support worker in hospital?
Generally no. The NDIA says hospital staff provide your support in hospital. The exception is support for a complex communication need or managing behaviours of concern.
What does an NDIS hospital liaison officer do?
A hospital liaison officer is an NDIA staff member who links the NDIA with hospital staff. They can help gather evidence if your plan needs to change, and help the hospital apply for home and living supports or home modifications before you go home.
How quickly will the NDIA contact me?
The NDIA says it will be in touch within 4 days once it's told your plan may need to change, or that you want to apply to the NDIS.
Will my NDIS plan change after a hospital stay?
It may, if your needs have changed. The NDIA says a specialised NDIA planner will meet with you. Changes can be a plan variation (smaller change) or a plan reassessment (significant change).
Does the NDIS pay for hospital treatment or medicines?
No. The NDIA says it can't fund services you can get through the health system, such as services at public or private hospitals, ambulance transport or medicines.
Last reviewed: 22 October 2026
General information only. This isn't medical, legal or financial advice. Talk to your treating team about your health care, and to the NDIA or your support coordinator about your plan. The NDIA says it is updating its website to reflect new NDIS legislation, so always check the latest on ndis.gov.au.