Top 5 things to consider before choosing NDIS Plan Management

June 21, 2021

Choosing NDIS Plan Management

If you’re considering switching over to plan management (called Improved Life Choices in your plan) or you’ve just started your NDIS journey, it’s important to not let yourself become overwhelmed by all the information available to you. Before commencing your first plan there are a few key decisions you need to make that will help shape the way you access supports. 

To help your decision-making, here’s our top 5 considerations when thinking about NDIS plan management:

  1. You don’t need to jump through any hoops to receive funding for NDIS plan management! Simply let your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIA representative know that this is your preferred option and they will include additional funding within your plan to access the support of a plan manager.

 

  1. You still remain in control of how your plan budgets are spent – just without the difficult ongoing financial administration. An NDIS plan manager will work alongside you to ensure complete transparency of your budgets and take care of the paperwork for you. 

 

  1. Funding for NDIS plan management (Improved Life Choices) may not always be permanent due to its category as a capacity building support. What is capacity building NDIS? This type of support is designed to help build your proficiency and teach you the skills you need to do these tasks on your own in the future. If you are unable to manage the administration of your plan yourself however, it is likely you will continue to receive funding for NDIS plan management.

 

  1. You may be required to meet with your Plan Manager. Although not necessarily a drawback, committing to NDIS plan management means you also need to commit a small amount of your time to having catch ups with your chosen Plan Manager – either in person or remotely. This ensures regular communication and a mutual understanding between parties.

 

  1. You are not limited to working with only NDIS-register providers. As an independent, third-party, Plan Managers are able to secure supports for you from a wide range of providers, including non-registered. Although some people prefer to work with only registered providers, some smaller providers cannot afford the costs involved and therefore remain unregistered. With NDIS plan management, you have freedom and choice of providers. 

If you’re still pretty new in your journey and you’re looking for more information about your NDIS plan management options, keep reading to learn more. 

 

Back to basics

When it comes to managing the ongoing financial administration of your plan funds, including keeping track of budgets, paying providers and record-keeping, your NDIS plan management options consist of the following:

YOUR OPTIONS FOR NDIS PLAN MANAGEMENTWHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
NDIA-managed or Agency-managed
  • Limited to choosing only registered NDIS service providers
  • You may not be able to work with your preferred service provider
  • Use an online portal to track your budget
  • Prices paid to service providers are non-negotiable
Self-managed
  • You must appoint your own support services and liaise with providers
  • You pay for your services directly
  • Extensive record-keeping is required
  • You must access the online portal to complete online forms each time you pay someone
  • More time-consuming for you
Managed by an independent plan management agency, such as Disability Plan Services
  • No extra cost to you – simply ask for additional budget for a registered Plan Management provider
  • We pay bills on your behalf and handle all record-keeping
  • We manage your budget and keep you informed of any remaining or low funds
  • We provide you with tailored advice on how you should/can be spending your budget to maximise services
  • We help you prepare for NDIS plan reviews
  • We liaise with service providers on your behalf and can negotiate better rates
  • We help you to navigate the NDIS in simple language you can understand

 

If you’re unsure whether NDIS plan management is the right option for you, or you’re still searching for the perfect Plan Manager near you, read some of these stories from real NDIS participants!

 

At Disability Plan Services, we are an independent NDIS registered provider of plan management with many years of experience. We take the time to get to know you and understand what you want and need so you can rest assured that we’re always doing what’s best for you.

Our experienced team handle all the difficult administration of your plan funds including paying suppliers, budgeting to ensure you maximise your funding and provide regular recommendations based on your funds and goals.

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