Improving assessment, allocation and flexible funding

We have made improvements to assessments, allocation and flexible funding. This is part of ongoing work to stabilise and strengthen the disability support system.

The changes came into effect between February and April 2026. They respond to feedback from disability community in 2025, and the Independent Review in 2024. 

This page summarises the changes and links you to more information.

More choice and control over flexible funding

People who get flexible funding now have more choice and control over how they spend their funding.

The purchasing rules for flexible funding were removed from 1 April 2026. (Note that the purchasing rules remain for Choice in Community Living arrangements).
More guidance is now available to help people manage their flexible funding.

Learn more about flexible funding

Consistent assessment and allocation of support

We have improved the way disabled people’s needs are assessed and supports are allocated so it is more consistent, no matter where you live.

You will experience these changes when you either:

seek DSS-funded support for the first time
have a reassessment in the future.

The changes mean:

All NASCs (Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination organisations) and Enabling Good Lives sites across the country use the same approach to assess people’s needs and allocate supports.
Before the assessment, you will get information on what to expect and how to prepare.
Information from the assessment conversation is used to build your My DSS Funding Plan, which guides how to use your flexible funding.

Find out more about how to access support

Learn more about what to expect at your needs assessment or reassessment

Carers’ needs can be included

The changes also include carers’ needs:

Family, whānau and carers’ needs may now be part of the assessment when their support is important to the disabled person’s needs and wellbeing.
Assessments will include questions about caring, options for respite or wellbeing breaks, and supports to reduce stress for carers and those they support.
Information from these assessment conversations feeds into the My DSS Funding Plan, which can include specific support for carers where appropriate.
This means funding can be used to help carers take a break, manage their own wellbeing, and have back-up options they trust if they are unavailable.
Every situation is different. Sometimes a disabled person may not require family involvement.

Reassessments

Reassessments, which were temporarily paused from February 2026 to allow for the new process, began again from October 2026.

As they are ready, NASCs and EGL sites will progressively restart regular scheduled reassessments. Timing may vary between services as they continue to embed the process.

Early reassessments for people whose needs have changed were not affected by the pause and can still be requested at any time.

Note: The pause in reassessments did not apply to residential support packages. These continue as normal.

The My DSS Funding Plan

The My DSS Funding Plan is part of the consistent assessment and allocation approach for DSS-funded supports.

Over time, everyone who gets flexible funding will move to the new My DSS Funding Plan. This will happen at your next review or reassessment.

The My DSS Funding Plan helps you understand what funding you have, what the funding is intended for, and the outcomes the funding is meant to support. It helps guide and plan how your flexible funding is used.