Deciding how your NDIS funding will be managed is a crucial choice that is often overlooked or not fully explained during an NDIA planning meeting. Understanding the difference between plan managed vs self managed NDIS options can help you choose the funding management approach that best suits your needs, lifestyle, and level of support.
How your NDIS funding is managed affects who pays your invoices, how your budget is tracked, and which providers you can access. It’s important to tell the NDIA how you want your funding managed so this can be correctly included when your NDIS plan is created or reviewed.
In this guide, we focus primarily on plan managed vs self managed NDIS, covering:
- Agency or NDIA managed: The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) manages your NDIS funds. The NDIS will pay registered providers for services on your behalf. They will also make decisions about the providers and types of services you can use, and you can only use NDIS-registered providers.
- Plan Managed NDIS: With plan managed NDIS, a plan manager will manage all the admin tasks related to spending your NDIS funds. They will pay all your bills and keep the necessary records on your behalf. Providers send their invoices directly to the plan manager so there is no work for you.
- Self Managed NDIS: With self managed NDIS, you or your plan nominee manages your NDIS funds. This means that providers send their invoices directly to you for payment. You will need to claim these funds from the NDIS portal yourself and keep the necessary records in case of an audit.
Plan Managed vs Self Managed NDIS: Key Differences
In the table below we have listed some of the basic differences between each of these options:
| Plan Managed NDIS | Self Managed NDIS | NDIA Managed | |
| Where are invoices sent? | Plan Manager | You (participant) or your authorised representative | The NDIA |
| Who is responsible for record keeping? | Plan Manager | You (participant) or your authorised representative | The NDIA |
| What providers can you use? | NDIA registered & non registered providers | NDIA registered & non registered providers | Only NDIA registered providers |
| Who ensures provider compliance? | Plan Manager | You (participant) or your authorised representative | The NDIA |
- Access more providers – You can use both registered and unregistered NDIS providers, which means you have more options to choose from
- No more admin = less stress – a plan manager pays bills, keeps records and tracks your NDIS plan so you don’t have to!
- Help understanding your plan – a good plan manager will also help guide you on how you can spend your funding
- Budget support & tracking – a plan manager will keep track of your budget, letting you know when you are running low of funds
- Finding Services – your plan manager may help connect you with supports in your area
- Increased Confidence – you can improve your skills around managing your budget
- Need to open a seperate bank account & pay providers
- Choose & organise your own providers
- Keep records for 7 years for auditing & manage budget
Benefits of Self Managed NDIS
- Access more providers – you can use both NDIS registered and non-NDIS registered providers
- No NDIS price restrictions – you are not limited by the NDIS price guide for supports, however you do need to be cautious of budgeting as funds can be exhausted quickly if providers have no limits
- More rural support options – with access to more providers and no NDIS price restrictions this can provide for more support options in a rural setting that don’t charge exorbitant travel costs
- Employ your own staff – this is one of the main reasons people choose to be self-managed. For more information on this CLICK HERE to read our resource:
Challenges of Self Managed NDIS
- Admin Burden – Time, effort and knowledge to uphold NDIS standards
- Provider Control – Not restricted to price guide so providers can charge at a higher rate, which can go through your budget much more quickly
- Record Keeping – you will need to keep 7 years of receipts/evidence incase of audit, and manage auditing process when contacted by NDIA
- Financial & Budgeting Risk – managing funds independently can result In over/under spending if you have not received proper training or guidance on how to budget accordingly
- We not only know the NDIS, we understand the types of support that are needed
- We are a small team of dedicated plan managers with years of experience both professional and personal
- We take the time to talk to families, participants, carers and providers to help you understand how to make the most from how to make
- You can pick up the phone and ask us a question whenever they feel like it
- At your Initial NDIS Plan meeting (before you receive your plan)
- At your NDIS Plan Review/Reassessment meeting
- During your plan
At your initial planning meeting
During your initial NDIS planning meeting you can simply request that your NDIS plan includes plan management funding. This will NOT impact any of the other funding in your plan.
You can also submit the ‘Request for plan management’ letter to your NDIS planner or LAC before, during or after this meeting.
You will need to ‘endorse’ a plan manager and let the NDIS know WHO you would like your plan manager to be in order for them to provider plan management supports.
Do you want Plan Hero Plan managers to be your NDIS plan manager?
DOWNLOAD this letter to use for your meeting
Not sure who you want as your plan manager yet?
Download our letter here and use this for your meeting
At your NDIS plan review or reassessment
During your plan review or reassessment you can discussed LAC or NDIA planner that you wish for your new plan to be plan managed. This will NOT impact any of the other funding in your plan.
You can also submit the ‘Request for plan management’ letter to your NDIS planner or LAC before, or during this meeting.
You will need to ‘endorse’ a plan manager and let the NDIS know WHO you would like your plan manager to be in order for them to provider plan management supports.
Do you want Plan Hero Plan managers to be your NDIS plan manager?
DOWNLOAD this letter to use for your meeting
Not sure who you want as your plan manager yet?
Download our letter here and use this for your meeting
During your plan
To request a change to plan management during your plan, you simply need to get in touch with the NDIS and put in a request or light touch review:
- Call the NDIS on 1800 800 110 or contact your LAC (listed on your plan)
- Let them know you would like to switch to plan management and request a Light touch Plan Review
- If approved, this change can usually take 3-4 weeks
Start with asking yourself these questions:
- What are your individual needs and goals?
- What types of supports/services do you need?
- What is your level of comfort with administrative tasks?
- What is your level of NDIS knowledge?
Evaluate your abilities
- What are your organisation skills like?
- Do you have sufficient financial literacy & budgeting skills?
- What is your current workload, and can you take on the responsibility of self managing?
Seek opinions & advice
- Chat to your family & friends or connect with people who are already on the NDIS and ask their funds are managed, and how they find it
- Ask the professionals – reach out to providers and ask them about their role
- Check out our resources for more guidance
For more tips and resources around NDIS plan management – Go to our handy resource: NDIS Plan Management
Once you’ve completed our registration we will reach out to you within 24-48 hours to let you know what the next steps are, but keep an eye on your emails
Want to know more? To find out more about us CLICK HERE
