What is NDIS Plan Management?

NDIS plan management is a service that helps participants manage the financial and administrative side of their NDIS plan. A Plan Manager pays provider invoices, claims funding from the NDIS on your behalf and tracks your plan budget. Plan management services are fully funded by the NDIS, meaning there is no cost to participants when funding is included in their plan. 

Each time you access a service or purchase equipment using your NDIS funding, you are entering into a financial transaction that must follow NDIS rules and guidelines.

Plan Management is simply the choice about who will be responsible for tracking your budgets and paying invoices for services or purchases under your plan.

For some people living with disability, managing finances and paperwork can feel overwhelming. That’s why it’s important to consider how you would like your NDIS funding administered.

During your NDIS planning meeting, your plan manager will ask how you would like to manage your funding. There are three main options available.

How does NDIS Plan Management work?

Using plan management is straightforward:

1. You request plan management during your NDIS planning meeting.
2. Funding is included under Improved Life Choices in your plan.
3. You choose a Plan Manager.
4. Your providers send invoices to the plan manager.
5. The plan manager pays invoices, claims funds from the NDIS and tracks your spending.

This allows participants to focus on achieving their goals rather than managing paperwork.

Learn more about our Plan Management services

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Plan Management explained

There are 3 main ways you can manage your NDIS plan:

1. Self-Managed 

In a self-managed plan, NDIS participants or their carers can nominate themselves to administer claims manually through the NDIS Portal. You would choose this path if you’re confident in organising your own services, finances and record keeping. You can also choose to use service providers who aren’t Registered NDIS Service Providers. 

2. Agency Managed 

In an agency managed plan NDIS participants defer responsibility for their plan management to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) The majority of NDIS plans are managed this way and alleviating the burden of tracking and managing finances. However, agency management is less flexible than other plan management options as you are limited only to services provided by NDIS registered providers. 

3. Plan Managed 

With plan management, NDIS participants can nominate an independent Registered NDIS Service Provider to assist with the financial aspects of their plan. You can access funding in your NDIS plan to pay for Plan Management services under the Improved Life Choices category. Like self-managed plans, you can also choose to use service providers who aren’t Registered NDIS Service Providers.  

Benefits of using an NDIS Plan Manager

An NDIS Plan Manager can help simplify the financial side of your plan by:

• Paying your provider invoices
• Processing service and item payments
• Claiming funds from your NDIS plan and paying providers
• Providing monthly budget statements to help track spending

If you want the freedom to choose from a broader range of providers without managing the financial paperwork, plan management may be the right option.

Ability Options offers NDIS Plan Management services to eligible participants across Australia.

Learn more about our Plan Management Services