Managing Support Coordination Cashflow: Getting Paid Without Going Broke
A practical guide to support coordination cashflow: payment timing, the 90-day claim window, cash buffers and invoicing discipline for Australian coordinators
How support coordination cashflow actually works
Who holds the money changes when you get paid
The 90-day claim window — the deadline that bites
How much cash buffer you actually need
Worked example: the first-quarter cash gap
Watch the plan, not just the invoice
Rejected claims, held payments and conflict-of-interest scrutiny
Frozen rates and the margin squeeze
On-costs, GST and the money that was never yours
Systems that keep cashflow honest
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get paid as a support coordinator?
It depends on who manages the plan. NDIA-managed claims submitted through the myplace provider portal commonly clear within a few business days of a valid claim. Plan-managed invoices are slower and more variable, often one to two weeks depending on the plan manager's cycle, and self-managed participants pay on their own timing. Treat these as indicative and learn each payer's real pattern from your own history.
What happens to unbilled support coordination hours after 90 days?
From 1 December 2026 the claim window shortens from two years to 90 days, so an hour not claimed within 90 days of delivery is generally lost revenue. This makes weekly invoicing a financial control, not just admin. Confirm the exact date and rule against health.gov.au/securingtheNDIS and the Federal Register of Legislation, as some reform elements depend on the bill's passage.
How much cash reserve should a support coordination business hold?
A workable target is four to six weeks of fixed costs — payroll, super, software, insurance and your own drawings — held in a separate account. Lean toward the higher end if you employ staff on a SCHADS payroll, because their pay is due on the roster cycle regardless of when your claims clear. The reserve exists to fund the gap between delivering hours and the money landing.
Do plan managers pay support coordinators faster than the NDIA?
Usually the opposite. NDIA-managed claims made directly through the provider portal tend to clear within a few business days, while plan-managed invoices pass through the plan manager's own processing cycle and commonly take one to two weeks. A caseload weighted toward plan-managed participants therefore carries a longer cash gap and needs a larger buffer.
Can I bill support coordination for a participant whose plan funds have run out?
No. Once the support coordination budget in a plan is exhausted, there is nothing to claim against, and any further hours are unbillable even though you have done the work. Monitor remaining funds against the plan end date every month and pace your hours so the budget lasts, and confirm a new service booking is in place after any plan renewal before resuming billable work.