When you’re getting started on the NDIS, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or even confused by the choices you have when it comes to managing your funding. But there are some differences between the choices, the responsibilities that come with each and the flexibility they have.
Here at Plan Tracker, we’re big on simplifying the NDIS for you and your loved ones so you can explore your options easily and make the right decision about what works best for you. So let’s take a look at the 3 ways your NDIS Plan can be managed and what they mean.
Download 3 Ways to Manage NDIS Budget
Agency (NDIA) Management
Agency Management is when the NDIA manages the NDIS Plan, and service providers claim directly from the NDIA when a support has been provided.
What am I responsible for if I’m agency managed?
- choosing your Support Providers
- agreeing to terms of service and signing a Service Agreement with each provider you choose, so they can claim from the NDIA portal
Benefits & Important Notes
- your chosen service providers will claim directly from the NDIA, when a support has been provided.
- you can pay up to the NDIS price guide
- no additional funding is provided for this option
- you can view top-level information through the NDIS portal with regards to your support budget balances
- less flexibility – you can ONLY use registered providers
Plan Management
A registered plan management provider manages the NDIS funding for supports on the participant’s behalf.
Plan Management is funded or paid for separately, by the NDIS, so it doesn’t affect your other budgets.
Are you looking for a Plan Manager? Get in touch with us today! Register here or call 1800549670 or email a copy of your NDIS Plan to hello@plantracker.com.au
What am I responsible for?
- choosing or endorsing your Plan Manager
- finding & organising your own supports, including your own support workers
- deciding when and how your supports are provided
- advising your providers who your Plan Manager is (so they know where to send invoices)
What is my Plan Manager responsible for?
- providing you with a service agreement, to be signed by the Plan Manager and the participant or nominee
- creating a service booking for your Plan Managed budgets
- processing claims through the NDIS portal
- paying your provider invoices directly & on-time
- keeping records and receipts for purchases & supports provided, claimed and paid
- ensuring you do not overspend (ie. spend more than your plan budgets)
- informing you where your budgets are up to (generally in the form of a monthly statement, although some providers like Plan Tracker send weekly updates, and we also have a safe and secure Portal (which is also an App) so you can view your up-to-date budgets anytime)
- Take a quick tour of the Portal here
Benefits & Important Notes
- more flexibility – you can use both registered and non-registered providers
- you can pay up to the NDIS price guide (if you’re unsure, ask your Plan Manager)
- a separate budget called “Improved Life Choices” is provided by in your NDIS plan to pay for your Plan Manager
- your Plan Manager can tell you exactly where you balances are up to (some, like Plan Tracker, have apps for this!)
*At Plan Tracker Plan Management, we believe good information = good decisions. So we’re bringing our app free-of-charge to all of our Plan Managed clients, which will allow participants & families to log in anytime, day or night, and view where their budgets are up to, as well as the use of our fantastic planned spending tool that helps to translate funding into support hours. Learn more about our Portal and App here.
Self-Management
What am I responsible for?
- finding & organising your own supports, including your own support workers
- deciding when and how your supports are provided
- processing claims through the NDIS portal
- paying your provider invoices directly & on-time
- keeping records and receipts for purchases & supports provided, claimed and paid
- ensuring you do not overspend (ie. spend more than your plan budgets)
*It is important, that you, or someone who can help you, are able to meet these obligations.
Benefits & Important Notes
- more flexibility – you can use both registered and non-registered providers
- you can pay above the NDIS price guide (if you wish to use a provider that charges more)
- you may pay a helper from your NDIS plan budgets to assist you with self-managing if you wish to
- if you keep good records, you will know exactly where you balances are up to
Requesting automated payments (for transport funding only)
Where transport has been included in a participant’s plan. Transport funding is automatically deposited into a participant’s personal bank account weekly, fortnightly or monthly, as negotiated.
Have questions? Get in touch with us on Facebook – we’d love to know what you want to learn more about!