What a check in is
A check in is the NDIA's way of keeping in touch with you while your plan is running. It is a conversation, not an assessment, and it is meant to make sure your plan still fits your life and that you have the right supports in place.
Since plans now often run for several years, check ins are how the NDIA notices problems between reassessments. They are usually by phone or video, and are run by your my NDIS contact: a local area coordinator, early childhood partner or NDIA planner.
When the NDIA checks in
According to the NDIA's guideline on using your plan, it may check in with you:
- At regular intervals, at least once a year or more often depending on your circumstances
- Before the plan reassessment date shown in your plan
- If your plan might not be working, for example you are using much more or much less funding than expected
- If you would like help to use the supports in your plan
- Whenever you ask. You can contact the NDIA to organise a check in at any time
What they will ask you
The questions are fairly predictable, so it helps to think about them beforehand. Expect to talk about:
- How you are going, and any questions about your current plan
- How you are going with your goals, and whether you have new goals or want to change them
- How you are using the NDIS supports in your plan, and whether they meet your disability support needs
- How you are using community services and other government services
- Whether your situation has changed, such as your living arrangements, health or the help you get from family
- Big changes coming up, like starting or finishing school or starting a new job
What can happen after a check in
There are three usual outcomes. If your plan is working, nothing changes and your plan simply continues until the next check in.
If you have the right supports but are struggling to use them, the NDIA may check in more often, help you connect with providers, or consider funding a support coordinator or recovery coach if that is reasonable and necessary for you.
If your plan no longer meets your needs, the NDIA will talk with you about a plan variation for a smaller change, or a plan reassessment that replaces your plan. The NDIA says it will not change your plan without telling you. For some people, mostly those who joined under the early intervention requirements, a check in can also lead to a review of whether you still need to be a participant. You would be given time to provide more information.
Check ins and the 2026 and 2027 changes
The check in before your reassessment date matters more than it used to. From 1 October 2026 the funding reset, a 50% cut to social, economic and community participation funding and 10% to improved daily living skills, is applied when a plan is created or reassessed. The NDIA contacts participants 2 to 3 months before a scheduled reassessment, and 60 days before a renewal.
From 1 February 2027, when a plan reaches its reassessment date a renewed plan is created and unspent funds do not roll over. Use the check in to explain any funding you could not use, for example because you could not find a provider.
How to prepare
A little preparation makes the conversation much more useful:
- Look at your spending in the my NDIS portal or app, by funding period, so you can explain any big gaps or overspending
- Write down what has changed since your plan started, with dates and examples
- Note what is working and what is not, including supports you cannot find a provider for
- Have recent therapy or progress reports handy if your needs have changed
- Ask someone who knows you well to join you, and take notes or ask them to