How to be more independent with NDIS Plan Management

July 11, 2022

NDIS plans are individual to every participant, with funding allocated to help you achieve your goals the way you want, on your own terms.

Although how you choose to navigate your NDIS Plan Management is entirely up to you, there are third-party Plan Managers like Disability Plan Services who are available to make things a little easier and build your capacity along the way.

So, what are some things to consider when engaging an NDIS Plan Manager?

NDIS plan management options

There are three main ways you can choose to manage your NDIS plan:

1. through a third-party plan manager, such as the Disability Plan Services team
2. by the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency)
3. ‘do it yourself’ by self-managing.

Alternatively, you may choose a combination of two management options. For example, you may choose to self-manage one part of your plan and have a Plan Manager assist with other elements.

1. Third-party plan managers, such as the Disability Plan Services team

The role of an NDIS Account Manager is to build capacity and independence within NDIS participants.

By choosing to have an NDIS Account Manager from an independent organisation, such as Disability Plan Services, independence is  supported and encouraged. Our plan managers and NDIS support coordinators can help you with:

• increasing financial and plan management skills
• paying providers on your behalf
• completing NDIS plan budget reports and providing greater budget oversight
• understanding your personalised NDIS plan
• broadening your support systems
• connecting with providers
• reducing complexity in your support environment, enabling you to connect with supports
• negotiating support solutions with multiple stakeholders, achieving a well-coordinated plan implementation
• managing crisis points, ensuring you have access to relevant supports during a crisis.

2. NDIA-managed

The NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) is the national governing body whose role is it to implement the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

While the NDIA offers similar plan management services to third party plan managers, the NDIA is an internal agency management option and offers less choice and control for NDIS participants. In what way?

This option may be suitable if you want minimal involvement with your NDIS plan.

The NDIA pays providers on behalf of NDIS participants, with the features of this option including:

• choosing from a select range of NDIS registered providers having book-keeping and spending records completely managed by the NDIA
• seeing what claims providers are making and keeping track of budgets through the ‘myplace’ portal.

3. Self-managed

Choosing to self-manage NDIS funding gives you the flexibility and choice to decide how you purchase approved supports to pursue your personal plan goals.

This also gives NDIS participants flexibility to use any provider, registered or unregistered, and control the responsibility of your NDIS funding, including paying providers and record-keeping.

There are multiple extra responsibilities when choosing self-management to remember, including:

• accessing supports must link to goals specifically outlined in your NDIS plan
• making clear agreements with providers about the supports to be received, including how they will be provided and paid for
• managing funding to ensure the costs of support are providing value-for-money and can be met within budget
• claiming and paying for supports by making payment requests and paying for supports on time
• keeping invoices and receipts showing payment of supports have been made using NDIS funding
• showing how self-managed funding has been used to pursue goals within NDIS plans at review meetings
• advising the NDIA of any significant changes in personal circumstances which may result in being unable to meet the responsibilities as a self-manager
• participating in payment auditing, including providing invoices, receipts, and other evidence to show funding has been spent in line with NDIS plans.

Things to consider when choosing an NDIS plan management option

With the complex NDIS system often difficult to navigate alone, it’s important to consider how having someone to assist with NDIS Plan Management can help make things easier.

Some important questions to ask when choosing an NDIS Plan Management option include:

• how much time do you have to put aside for self-management?
• what does your NDIS plan budget allow?
• how much control do you have to have?
• what are your main goals and does your plan management option impact these?
• could it be beneficial to half-manage a NDIS plan and use assistance where needed?

At Disability Plan Services, we understand each NDIS participant has individual requirements, goals, and needs, and we believe it’s important that you live as independently as possible and remain in control of your plan budget as much, or as little, as you like.

The team at Disability Plan Services offers plan management that comes at no additional cost to you – simply request it at your plan meeting or review and extra budget will be allocated to you.

If you are interested in Disability Plan Services NDIS plan management, or would like to know more about how we can assist you with becoming more independent, contact us here.