How Long Should a Functional Capacity Assessment Be?

When people first hear about Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs), one of the common questions is: How long is the report supposed to be?

The short answer is: long enough to tell the full story — clearly, thoroughly, and with evidence that stands up to NDIS scrutiny.

What Does the NDIS Need to See?

The NDIS is not interested in padding or repetition — but they do want enough detail to make informed decisions. That means an FCA should include:

  • A clear summary of the person’s day-to-day functioning

  • Insights across all relevant life domains (like communication, mobility, self-care, and social participation)

  • Evidence of functional limitations and their real-world impacts

  • Strong, well-linked support recommendations

  • A connection between goals, needs, and reasonable and necessary supports

For some people, this can be captured in 15 pages. For others, it might take 25 or more. It really depends on the complexity of the person’s situation — and whether the assessor is willing to go deep.

Our Approach at Seeds OT

At Seeds, we set out to write comprehensive ones. Reports that are clear, structured, and ready to be understood by planners, support coordinators, and anyone else involved in the decision-making process.

We believe in including the full picture: the nuance, the context, and the things that don’t always show up on paper but matter in everyday life. That might mean a longer report than some, but never a bloated one. Every section earns its place.

We know our reports are read — and often commended — by NDIS teams, advocates, and reviewers. That tells us we’re hitting the right balance: in-depth enough to support outcomes, and refined enough not to overwhelm.

Why This Matters

Ultimately, the value of an FCA lies in whether it helps secure the right supports — and whether it reflects the person as they really are. A rushed or surface-level report may be cheaper or faster, but if it misses key details, the consequences can be costly down the line.

We’re proud to invest the time it takes to do it properly.

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Functional Capacity vs Diagnosis: Why the NDIS Cares About What You Can Do