What is NDIS Plan Management?

Your guide to being NDIS Plan Managed

NDIS Plan Management is a service available for people whose NDIS plans are ‘plan-managed’.

A Plan Manager is responsible for the financial management of your NDIS plan. Their role includes:

• Receiving and paying invoices from providers that you use.
• Managing NDIS claims and reimbursements on your behalf.
• Monitoring your budget and spend against your plan duration, notifying you if you are using too much or too little.
• Providing statements so you can see your funding usage.
• Promptly answering any questions you may have about your plan or invoices.

How do I pay my plan manager?

The National Disability Insurance Agency (the organisation that runs the NDIS) provides funding within your NDIS plan to pay for a Plan Manager so you’re not out of pocket. Plan Managers are paid a monthly fee for the duration of your plan, and this comes out of the ‘Improved Life Choices’ part of your Capacity Building budget. Any set-up fees are also covered by your funding.

How do I become plan-managed?

There are three ways to manage your NDIS funding:

1. Plan-managed: a Plan Manager pays your providers on your behalf, tracks your spend, and completes any financial reporting required by the NDIA.
2. Agency-managed: the NDIA manage funding and pay your providers on your behalf.
3. Self-managed: you receive your NDIS plan funds, which you use to pay providers yourself.

At your planning meeting, tell NDIS staff or your local area coordinator you would like a NDIS plan manager to support you.

If you are agency-managed or self-managed but want to be plan-managed, it’s easy to change over. Simply call the NDIS on 1800 800 110 or your Local Area Coordinator, whose contact details will be on your NDIS plan. Let them know you want to change how your funds are managed.

There are not any major eligibility criteria that you need to meet in order to become plan-managed, but you may be asked to explain your reasons for making the request. This can be as simple as wanting more assistance with managing your funding (if you are self-managed), or wanting access to a broader range of services, such as providers who are not NDIA-registered (if you are agency-managed).

Plan management is available to early childhood and adult participants.

What are the benefits of plan management?

Our team of Plan Managers love what they do because plan management can drastically improve a participant’s NDIS journey – it’s so rewarding to play a role in this!

While working with participants, we see a few clear benefits:

• We’re immersed in the NDIS, so we can help you understand your plan and entitlements if you are unsure about something, helping you to get the most out of your plan.
• We handle the daily administration, such as paying invoices, tracking your spending, and notifying you of anything important. Compared with self-management, plan-management involves far less work for you.
• Plan-managed participants have a lot more choice and control than agency-managed participants. They can choose from a broader range of providers, including N unregistered providers, whereas agency-managed participants can only use NDIS registered providers.

How is a Plan Manager different to a Support Coordinator?

A Support Coordinator is responsible for arranging your supports based on your NDIS funding, goals, and your individual circumstances. They work with you to select service providers, manage the referral process, and check in with you to make sure that you’re happy with your supports. They also complete end-of-plan reporting on your behalf.

When you compare the duties we outlined in the first question above, it’s clear that a Plan Manager and a Support Coordinator perform very different roles. So, having a Plan Manager and a Support Coordinator on board can make you absolutely unstoppable in the pursuit of your goals.

How do I change plan managers?

Good news: changing plan managers is nowhere near as complicated as it seems. If you’re not happy with your current plan manager, you can change to a new one at any time. Selecting a new plan manager can be tricky, you can check out this article for a few important things to consider when choosing your next plan management provider. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Find a new plan manager that you want to try. Make initial contact with them and check that they can take you on. Let them know that you’ll be transferring from another plan manager.
2. Write an email to your current plan manager to let them know you’re switching to a new provider. Request that they confirm the date that they will release your account; this is typically between 15 and 30 days from when you cancel.
3. Contact the new plan manager and give them the green light to start managing your plan when your old plan manager stops.

It’s as easy as that! Plus, your Support Coordinator or Psychosocial Recovery Coach (if you have one) can help you to complete this process.

There are no costs associated with changing NDIS plan managers as your plan covers set-up fees.

We appreciate this is a big decision - but we're always here to help. If you have a question about your plan or how to become plan managed you can call us on 8256 9800, send us an email or fill out our online form.

speak to our team about your situation