NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA)

A Functional Capacity Assessment or FCA is a comprehensive assessment of a person’s function across a range of daily activities and environments. The FCA will be used to justify the funding or supports required for the participant.

Generally, a FCA will consist of an interview and the completion of standardised and non-standardised assessments. The FAC assessment can take between two to three hours. The report writing time can take a further 10 hours, with additional time allocated for travel.

A FCA will identify a participant’s support needs to ensure they receive the appropriate level of funding in their NDIS plan.

FCAs can be completed at various stages through a participant’s NDIS journey. Initially when a participant is accepted onto the NDIS a FCA will outline areas the NDIS should provide adequate supports. FCAs may also be completed if there is a change in circumstance and there is inadequate funding for the participant or at plan review time. Plan review is a time where a participant can be assessed against their current NDIS goals and provision made for new or emerging goals.

The information included in a FCA is comprehensive, it will include your medical history, social history including any support you may be receiving, effect on your carers (if relevant), evaluation of the home environment, and functional assessment. The functional assessment includes observations and assessments of your function and completion of standardised assessments.

Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs) assessment areas include:

• Performance within NDIS functional domains
• Mobility/motor skills
• Communication
• Social interaction
• Learning
• Self-care
• Self-management

The FCA report includes a summary of recommendations tailored to individual needs. An occupational therapist will evaluate if each support is “Reasonable and Necessary” based on NDIS criteria.

NDIS “Reasonable and Necessary” Criteria:

Recommendations Categories: