As NDIS Plan Managers, we get asked a lot of questions about plan management. To help NDIS participants we have taken the most commonly asked questions and answered them. This includes: - What is plan management? - How do I pay my plan manager? - How do I become plan-managed? - What's the different between plan-managed, agency-managed and self-managed? - What are the benefits of plan management? - How do I change plan managers? - What's the difference between a Support Coordinator and a Plan Manager? Get the most out of your plan with Lighthouse Disability’s team of experienced and NDIS registered Plan Managers. To find out more information about plan management visit our website: https://lighthousedisability.org.au/support-services/ndis-plan-managers

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NDIS Plan
Management
Beginner’s
Guide

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To help NDIS participants, we decided to
take the most commonly asked questions
asked about plan management and answer
them.

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To start, there are
three ways to manage
your NDIS funding
plan-managed,
agency-managed and
self-managed

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Agency-managed is when the
NDIS
pays your providers on your
behalf

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Self-managed is when you
receive your NDIS plan funds,
which you use to pay providers
yourself

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Plan-managed is when a Plan
Manager pays your providers on
your behalf, tracks your spend,
and completes any financial
reporting required by the NDIA

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A Plan Manager is
responsible for the financial
management of your NDIS
plan.

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Their role includes receiving
and paying invoices from
providers that you use

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Managing NDIS claims and
reimbursements on your
behalf

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Monitoring your budget and spend
against your plan duration,
notifying you if you are using too
much or too little.

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Promptly answering any questions
you may have about your plan or
invoices.

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There’s a lot more on NDIS
Plan Management here:
https://lighthousedisability.org.au/posts/
answering-your-ndis-plan-management-questions

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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.

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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.

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Any set-up fees are
also covered by your funding.

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To become plan-managed,
at your planning meeting,
tell NDIS staff or your local area
coordinator you would like a NDIS
plan manager to support you.

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If you are agency-managed or self-
managed but want to be plan-
managed, it’s easy to change over.

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Simply call the NDIS on 1800 800 110
or your Local Area Coordinator,
whose contact details will be on your
NDIS plan.

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Let them know you want to change
how your funds are managed.

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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.

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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).

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Looking for more information on
NDIS Plan Management?
Check out more information here:
https://lighthousedisability.org.au/posts/
answering-your-ndis-plan-management-questions

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There are a few other clear
benefits to Plan Management.

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Plan Managers are immersed in the
NDIS, so can help you understand
your plan and entitlements if you
are unsure about something,
helping you to get the most out of
your plan.

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Plan Managers 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.

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Plan-managed participants have a
lot more choice and control than
agency-managed participants.

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They can choose from a broader
range of providers, including
unregistered providers, whereas
agency-managed participants
can only use registered
providers.

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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!

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Good news: changing plan
managers is nowhere near
as complicated as it seems.

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Step 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.

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Step 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.

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Step 3: Contact the new plan
manager and give them the green
light to start managing your plan
when your old plan manager
stops.

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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

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Get the most out of your plan with
NDIS Plan Management
Find out more here:
https://lighthousedisability.org.au/posts/
answering-your-ndis-plan-management-questions