Change of circumstances

Letting the NDIA know when your situation changes significantly, which may lead to a plan reassessment.

What it means

A change of circumstances means letting the NDIA know when something significant changes in your life or your support needs. Life does not stay the same, and when things shift in an important way, the NDIA needs to know so your supports can keep up with what is actually happening for you.

The kinds of changes that matter include a change in your health, your living situation, or your informal supports, such as the family or friends who help you. A significant change is one that has a real effect on the support you need, rather than a small or temporary one. Telling the NDIA about these changes helps keep your plan accurate and useful.

In practice

In practice, a significant change can be a reason to ask for a plan reassessment, so that your plan keeps matching your needs. For example, if your health declines, you move to a new home, or a family member who used to help you is no longer able to, the support in your current plan may no longer be enough.

Letting the NDIA know allows them to consider whether your plan should be looked at again. This helps make sure you are not left with a plan that no longer fits your situation. It is a good idea to keep any relevant information about the change, so you can explain clearly what has happened and why it affects the support you need.

A real example

For example, Aisha had been getting a lot of daily help from her sister, but her sister moved interstate for work and could no longer provide that support. Aisha let the NDIA know about this significant change to her informal supports and asked for a plan reassessment, so her plan could reflect the extra help she now needed day to day.

Change of circumstances — FAQs

What counts as a change of circumstances?
A change of circumstances is something significant that changes in your life or support needs, such as a change in your health, your living situation, or your informal supports like family and friends who help you. It is a change that has a real effect on the support you need, rather than a small or temporary one. These are the changes worth telling the NDIA about.
Why should I tell the NDIA?
Telling the NDIA about a significant change helps keep your plan accurate and matching your needs. If your situation shifts, the support in your current plan may no longer be enough or may no longer fit. Letting the agency know allows them to consider whether your plan should be looked at again, so you are not left with a plan that no longer suits you.
Can a change lead to a plan reassessment?
Yes. A significant change can be a reason to ask for a plan reassessment, so your plan keeps matching your needs. If your health, living situation or informal supports change in an important way, the support in your current plan may no longer be enough. Letting the NDIA know allows them to consider whether your plan should be reassessed.
What sort of changes should I report?
Report changes that are significant, meaning they have a real effect on the support you need. Examples include a change in your health, a change in your living situation, or a change in your informal supports, such as a family member who used to help you no longer being able to. Small or temporary changes generally do not need to be reported in the same way.
What should I do when my circumstances change?
Let the NDIA know about the significant change, and if it means your current plan no longer fits, you can ask for a plan reassessment. It helps to keep any relevant information about the change so you can explain clearly what has happened and why it affects the support you need. This makes it easier for the NDIA to understand your situation.

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