NDIS Plan Management Explained

Plan management is one of three ways to manage your NDIS funding. A plan manager is a registered provider who handles the financial administration of your plan — paying your providers, tracking your spending, and providing financial reports.

The key advantage: plan management gives you access to both registered and unregistered providers, while having someone else handle the paperwork. For most participants, it is the best balance of flexibility and simplicity.

Your NDIS plan can be managed in one of three ways (or a combination):

You can also have a mix — for example, some budget categories plan-managed and others self-managed. You can request to change your management type at your next plan review, or sometimes mid-plan by contacting the NDIA.

Your plan manager:

• Pays your providers — they receive invoices from your providers and pay them on your behalf
• Tracks your budget — they monitor spending across your support categories so you know what you have left
• Provides financial statements — regular reports showing where your funding has been spent
• Checks invoices — they verify that claims are within NDIS price limits and align with your plan
• Manages claims — they submit payment claims to the NDIA through the myplace portal

A plan manager does not help you choose providers or coordinate your supports — that is the role of a support coordinator. The plan manager's job is purely financial administration.

Plan management fees are set by the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits:

The most important thing to know: plan management fees are funded from a separate budget line called Improved Life Choices. This funding is added on top of your other supports — choosing plan management does not reduce your Core, Capacity Building, or Capital budgets.

In other words, plan management is effectively free to the participant. The NDIA funds it because it helps participants exercise choice and control.

Plan management has become the most popular management type because it combines flexibility with minimal effort:

• Wider provider choice: Unlike NDIA-managed plans, you can use any provider — registered or unregistered. This is particularly important in regional areas where registered providers may be limited.
• No admin burden: Unlike self-management, you do not need to pay providers upfront, keep receipts, or submit reimbursement claims.
• Budget visibility: Your plan manager tracks your spending and provides regular statements, so you always know where you stand.
• No cost to you: Fees come from a separate budget that does not reduce your other funding.
• Easy to start: You can request plan management in your next plan review, and most plan managers can onboard you within a few days.

All plan managers must be NDIS registered. When choosing, consider:

• Reporting quality — how often do they send budget statements? Can you see your spending in real-time through a portal or app?
• Invoice turnaround — how quickly do they pay your providers? Slow payments can damage your relationship with providers.
• Communication — can you reach them easily when you have questions? Do they respond within a reasonable time?
• Technology — do they have an online portal or app where you can track budgets and submit invoices?
• Experience — how many participants do they manage? Are they familiar with your support types?

Most plan managers offer a free initial consultation. Take advantage of this to ask questions and assess whether they are a good fit.

You can change plan managers at any time. The process is straightforward:

• Choose a new plan manager
• Give your current plan manager notice (check your service agreement — typically 14 days)
• Your new plan manager will set up with the NDIA and begin receiving claims
• Your existing budget and spending history carries over

There is no penalty for switching. Some participants trial a couple of plan managers before settling on the right fit.

Some participants consider self-management for greater control. Here is how they compare:

Self-management can work well if you are confident managing finances and want to negotiate rates. But for most participants, plan management delivers the same provider flexibility with far less work.

You can also use a combination — for example, self-manage one budget category while plan-managing the rest.

If you do not currently have plan management:

• At your next plan review, tell your planner or LAC that you want plan management. Explain that it will help you exercise choice and control.
• Mid-plan change: In some cases, you can request a plan variation to add plan management without waiting for a full review. Contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110.
• New participants: When going through the planning process for the first time, request plan management. It is a standard inclusion and rarely refused.

Remember: plan management funding comes from a separate budget. Adding it does not reduce any of your other support funding.