We’ve had many participants tell us how confused they were when they were first got their NDIS plan. We were too!
Before you get your hands on your sparkly new plan, the NDIS may be asking you about how you’d like to “manage your funds”. If you’ve never heard those words before, you won’t know what to do with them. Unfortunately, the NDIA isn’t always great at explaining things.
If you’ve just applied to the NDIS, or are about to head into a planning meeting, this post is for you.
The 3 management options
Agency managed: An agency managed plan is when your funds are managed by the NDIS. You can only use providers registered with the agency. As not every business is registered with the NDIS, you have less of a choice in who you use. We’ve found this especially true if you’re not living in a capital city! The NDIS will pay all your invoices without you seeing them. You then have less control over who gets paid, when and how much.
Self-managed: This option let you use almost any business or provider. Providers will send you invoices, and you need to claim them from the NDIS. You then have to pay the providers. It is up to you to make sure you are using the right services and providers. You need to keep invoices and receipts in case the NDIA decides to audit you. You also need to make sure you don’t run out of funding before your plan ends.
Plan managed: If you are ‘plan managed’ you can also choose almost any business or provider. Your plan manager pays your invoices and keeps track of your funding. They keep receipts and answer the NDIA audit questions. They can help guide you to make sure you are using your funds on NDIA approved services. You still have control over who you work with, but don’t have the headache of bookkeeping! The NDIA will give you a separate amount of funding to pay the plan manager. It does not come from your other funds, so you don’t ‘lose’ any funding.
You can also have a combination of two or all options. For example, you might want your Consumables funding self-managed, to make it easier to buy your continence products. Your Behaviour Support funding will probably be agency managed. The rest of your funding could then be plan managed, so you don’t have to deal with invoices.
Working out Which Option You Want
- Does dealing with money, invoices or the NDIA app / portal make your head spin? Use agency or plan managed options.
- Is it hard for you to pay bills on time? Use agency or plan managed options.
- Do you like knowing what providers have charged you for, and making sure their fees are correct? Use plan or self-managed options.
- Are you living in a regional, rural or remote area? Check that all your chosen providers are NDIA registered. Otherwise, choose plan or self-managed funding.
- Struggling to find the time (or inclination)? Ask for plan or agency managed funds.
- If you’re worried about being audited, use plan or agency managed options.
- Are there custody issues for a child participant? It’s generally best to choose plan or agency managed options.
It’s important to note that you can change your mind when you get a new plan. If it’s too scary to go self-managed with your first plan (or more), ask for plan management. Also ask the NDIA to give you funds to help you learn how to manage your own plan. Your plan manager or another provider can then help you learn how to do this.
Choosing a Plan Manager
If you have not had a plan manager before, it can be hard to know how to pick one that is going to be a good fit for you. All plan managers must be registered with the NDIA. They also have to follow guidelines and rules. Plan managers do use different systems and processes, so it’s good to think about what’s important to you. Don’t be afraid to ring around a few plan managers and ask them some questions.
Things to think about when choosing a plan manager:
- Do you want someone who has an office locally, so you can see them in person?
- Do you have accessibility requirements – in person or when communicating?
- How quickly will they be able to pay your provider’s invoices?
- Can you get them on the phone if you need to, or will they reply to your email or text message?
- Do you want options when it comes to approving provider invoices?
- If you prefer using an app to check your finances, does the plan manager have one?
- If you have multiple NDIS plans you need to manage, can you do this easily? For example, if you have a plan and so do your children, can you use the same plan manager? Will their app let you see each plan’s funding?
If you’d like to talk with us, you can call us on 03 5446 5400, text on 0429 800 482, or email hello@ontimeplanservices.com.au. We have an office in Eaglehawk, Bendigo, and are happy to meet up with you anywhere in the Greater Bendigo area.
My Plan Funding is Not What I Asked For
The NDIA likes to make certain types of funding agency managed, even if it legally doesn’t have to be. For example, they often like to make support coordination agency managed. Many support coordinators aren’t NDIA registered, so then you can’t use their services.
If your plan funding isn’t managed how you’ve requested it, let the NDIS know. They need to have a good reason not to agree with your request. In that case, they will need to tell you why they’ve made that decision. If they’ve made a mistake, ask them to fix it.
Links
YouTube video – “How to – Manage Your NDIS Plan – Overview” https://youtu.be/0KT3g3sf6-I?si=fJpsRotVy2a-GQ3_
YouTube video – “How To – Self-managing your NDIS Plan” https://youtu.be/8ehiTpWEw40?si=s90yfQXsJPDagvoX
