Functional Capacity Assessments for Disability Support Pension (DSP) Applications
Independent, Occupational Therapist-led evidence of how your condition affects everyday functioning — designed to sit alongside your treating doctors' reports and support a Disability Support Pension claim or review with Services Australia (Centrelink).
NDIA-Managed Participants Welcome
We provide impartial functional evidence only. Eligibility for the Disability Support Pension is determined solely by Services Australia — we never guarantee an outcome.
How an FCA supports a DSP claim
A Disability Support Pension claim relies on evidence that your condition is fully diagnosed, treated and stabilised, and that it significantly impacts your capacity to function and work. A Functional Capacity Assessment adds an independent, structured picture of that day-to-day impact.
Our Occupational Therapists assess and document functional limitations across the areas that matter most — providing objective evidence that complements your treating health professionals' reports.
Impairment-aligned evidence
Functional limitations documented in a structured way that is relevant to the impairment framework used for DSP assessment.
Everyday functional impact
Self-care, mobility, communication, social interaction, learning and capacity for work — assessed and evidenced.
Complements medical evidence
Designed to sit alongside your GP and specialist reports, not replace them.
Independent & impartial
An independent Registered NDIS Provider — we assess objectively and never guarantee an outcome.
A clear, supported process
1. Enquiry
Tell us about the claim and your condition. We confirm suitability and next steps within one business day.
2. Telehealth assessment
A structured functional assessment with an experienced Occupational Therapist — 100% virtual, Australia-wide.
3. Evidence-based report
A clear, objective functional capacity report you can provide alongside your DSP claim.
4. 5-business-day turnaround
Your written report is delivered within a standard five business days of your appointment.
Functional Capacity Assessments for DSP Applications — FAQs
Can a Functional Capacity Assessment support a Disability Support Pension claim?
Yes. A Functional Capacity Assessment provides independent, objective evidence of how a person's condition affects everyday functioning — self-care, mobility, communication, social interaction and capacity for work. This functional evidence complements your treating doctors' reports and can be used to help demonstrate the impact of your impairment when claiming or reviewing a Disability Support Pension.
Is a DSP Functional Capacity Assessment the same as the NDIS FCA?
The assessment method is the same rigorous, Occupational Therapist-led functional evaluation. The difference is the reporting emphasis: a DSP-focused report frames functional limitations in language relevant to a Disability Support Pension claim and the fully-diagnosed, treated and stabilised impairment context, whereas an NDIS FCA focuses on reasonable-and-necessary supports.
Do you decide whether I qualify for the DSP?
No. Eligibility for the Disability Support Pension is determined solely by Services Australia (Centrelink). We are an independent Registered NDIS Provider and Occupational Therapy practice — we provide impartial functional capacity evidence. We never guarantee an outcome.
How is the assessment delivered and how long does it take?
Assessments are delivered 100% virtually (telehealth) Australia-wide, and the written report is provided within a standard 5-business-day turnaround after the appointment and any supporting documents are received.
Will my treating doctor still need to provide evidence?
Yes. A DSP claim relies primarily on your treating health professionals' evidence that your condition is fully diagnosed, treated and stabilised. Our functional capacity report is designed to sit alongside that medical evidence and add an independent, structured picture of day-to-day functional impact.
What is the difference between DSP evidence and NDIS evidence?
Both draw on the same rigorous, Occupational Therapist-led functional assessment, but the reporting emphasis differs. DSP-focused evidence describes how a fully diagnosed, treated and stabilised condition limits everyday functioning and capacity for work, in language relevant to a Disability Support Pension application. NDIS evidence focuses on identifying the reasonable and necessary supports a participant needs to pursue their goals. Services Australia assesses DSP eligibility; the NDIA assesses NDIS access and funding.
Can a Functional Capacity Assessment support a DSP review?
Yes. If your circumstances have changed or you are asked to provide updated information, an assessment can document your current functional capacity. It provides independent, objective evidence of present-day impact that you can submit alongside your treating professionals' reports. It does not determine the review outcome — that remains a decision for Services Australia.
Will a Functional Capacity Assessment guarantee DSP approval?
No. No assessment or provider can guarantee a Disability Support Pension outcome. Eligibility is determined solely by Services Australia based on all the evidence before it. We provide impartial, independent functional evidence only; we do not decide eligibility and never promise a result.
Can a Functional Capacity Assessment also assist with an NDIS application?
It can. Because the underlying functional assessment is the same, the information gathered may also be relevant to an NDIS access request or plan reassessment. If you need evidence tailored specifically to the NDIS, we can focus the report accordingly — speak with our team about your goals before booking.
Can family members participate in the assessment?
Yes. With your consent, a family member, carer or advocate is welcome to be present and to provide their observations. Collateral information about how your condition affects everyday tasks can add valuable context to the functional picture, while the clinical interpretation remains the Occupational Therapist's.
Can support workers provide information as part of the assessment?
Yes. With your consent, support workers who assist you regularly can contribute observations about the practical help you require and the barriers you experience day to day. This collateral information helps build an accurate, real-world picture of functional impact.
How long does a DSP Functional Capacity Assessment remain relevant?
There is no fixed expiry, but evidence is generally most persuasive when it reflects your current situation. As a guide, functional evidence is most useful within roughly 6–12 months, and sooner if your condition or circumstances have changed. Services Australia decides how much weight to give any piece of evidence.
What information should I provide before the assessment?
It helps to have your key medical documentation ready — diagnoses, specialist and GP reports, relevant test results, and any current treatment details — along with a summary of the everyday tasks you find difficult. Providing this in advance lets the Occupational Therapist prepare and keeps your appointment focused.
What if I have multiple medical conditions?
That is common and important. A Functional Capacity Assessment considers the combined, real-world impact of all your conditions on everyday functioning rather than looking at any single diagnosis in isolation — which can be particularly relevant where several conditions together affect your capacity.
Can the report be used as supporting evidence during a review or appeal?
Yes. An independent functional capacity report can be submitted as supporting evidence during a review or appeal, alongside your treating professionals' reports. It documents the functional impact of your condition; the outcome of any review or appeal is determined solely by Services Australia (and, where relevant, the Administrative Review Tribunal).
Need functional evidence for a DSP claim?
Book an independent, Occupational Therapist-led Functional Capacity Assessment — delivered virtually, Australia-wide.