What Are NDIS Check-ins?
You may hear that families are getting phone calls called check-ins. A check in is a call from a NDIS contact to have a conversation with you about the progress of your NDIS plan or your child’s NDIS plan.
A NDIS contact can be an LAC partner (APM, Mission Australia) or Wanslea or an NDIS planner. It is a way to discuss what is working (or not) in the current plan
- A check-in can result in no change to a plan, a plan review or a plan reassessment.
- You may get a check-in call regarding an upcoming plan that is due to expire. If you do not want any changes to your plan, you need to let them know.
- If you have changes that are needed, you need to let them know
- If you are not ready to talk about the progress of your plan, you can ask to postpone the check-in.
- You may have more than one check-in per NDIS plan.
- Sometimes the NDIA monitors spending funding (overbudgeting or underbudgeting), so you need to be aware of your spending/budgets.
Types of Plan Changes & Required Documents
| Change Type | It Means What | What Documents Are Needed |
| Plan Extension | Plan expiry date is extended with another 12 months of funding added. Start date remains the same. | No new evidence usually required · Helpful: confirmation of ongoing supports · Optional: updated carer impact statement |
| Plan Duplication | Entirely new plan with a new start date. Same funding categories and budgets as before | No new evidence required · Keep previous plan documents handy · Optional: carer impact statement to highlight ongoing needs |
| Plan Variation | Small change to current plan (e.g., address, management type). Dates usually unchanged. | Evidence supporting the change requested (e.g., proof of new address) · If changing management type: signed request form · Optional: carer impact statement |
| Plan Reassessment This used to be called an annual plan review | Full review meeting with new plan issued. Requires evidence, progress reports, and a carer impact statement. Reports for a plan re assessment need to be started at least 8 months before the end of the plan is due. Costs for these reports also need to be factored. You will get a new plan with new start and end dates. You will have funding periods allocated if the plan is created after May 2025. | Updated therapy progress reports (OT, speech, physio, psychology) · Any new assessments (functional capacity, behaviour, health) · Carer impact statement (essential) · Specialist/medical reports if relevant · School reports (IEP, transition reports) · Quotes for supports/services requested · Evidence of changes in circumstances (e.g., leaving school, moving out, new diagnosis) |
| Plan Review | There are 2 types of internal reviews. · A review of a reviewable decision (S100) · Change of circumstances review. (S48) | To find out more about reviews go here: NDIS Plan Reviews: I don’t agree with the NDIA’s decision! Where to from here? |
Funding Periods (New Since May 2025)
Funding periods are new to any new NDIS plans created after May 2025.
These are periods of time that are allocated to your budgets. You can only use a certain amount of funding per funding period. A funding period could be 3 months
How to Handle a Check-in
- Find a time that suits you – if the call is inconvenient, reschedule.
- Be clear about what you want:
- no changes
- plan review
- plan duplication
- plan reassessment
- Be prepared
- Have your evidence/progress reports ready or give a date when they will be completed and uploaded into the portal.
- Have a carer impact statement – this is recommended for every planning meeting/plan reassessment.
- Remember: big changes require strong evidence (e.g., leaving school, moving out, new diagnosis).
- Support person: You may want your Support Coordinator or another trusted person with you. If so, reschedule the call so they can join
- After your check-in
- Request an email confirming what was discussed/agreed.
- Follow up with therapists if progress reports are outstanding
- Sometimes you may get a phone call from a NDIS contact if they are following up on a complaint you have made. This is not the same as a check in. This phone call would be to discuss your complaint. To make a complaint go here: NDIS Feedback and Complaints
Useful Links
The NDIS fact sheet about check ins is available on the NDIS website.
(This information is current – 05 September 2025)
by Maggie Visser and Peta Kennedy at DDWA.
