Agency-managed (NDIA-managed)

When the NDIA holds your funding and pays your providers directly, so you use registered providers and claims go through the agency.

What it means

Agency-managed, also called NDIA-managed, is one of the three ways you can manage the funding in your NDIS plan. With this option, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) holds your funding and pays your providers directly on your behalf. You do not handle the money yourself or receive invoices to pass on.

The other two options are plan-managed, where a separate plan manager looks after payments and paperwork for you, and self-managed, where you take on the money and record-keeping yourself. You can choose a single option or a mix across different parts of your plan. Agency management is often the most hands-off choice when it comes to administration, because the NDIA does the paying and the claiming.

In practice

When your plan is agency-managed, you can only use providers who are registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Providers claim payment through the agency's system after they deliver a support, and the cost is drawn from your plan budget. This means you generally will not see invoices or pay anything upfront for covered supports.

Agency management can suit people who prefer less paperwork and are comfortable working within the registered provider network. The trade-off is less flexibility: you cannot use unregistered providers, and there can be less room to negotiate on price. You can keep an eye on your budget through the myplace participant portal, and if agency management stops suiting you, you can ask about changing to plan-managed or self-managed at a plan review.

A real example

For example, Marcus prefers not to deal with invoices or paperwork, so his plan is agency-managed. His registered physiotherapist and support workers claim their payments directly through the NDIA after each session, and the amounts come out of his plan budget. Marcus checks his remaining funding through the myplace portal whenever he wants to.

Agency-managed (NDIA-managed) — FAQs

What does agency-managed mean?
Agency-managed, or NDIA-managed, means the NDIA holds your NDIS funding and pays your providers directly. You do not handle the money or receive invoices yourself. It is one of three management options, alongside plan-managed and self-managed. It is often the most hands-off choice for paperwork, because the agency does the paying and claiming for you.
Can I use any provider if I am agency-managed?
No. If your plan is agency-managed, you can only use providers registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. You cannot claim for unregistered providers. If you want a wider choice that includes unregistered providers, you could ask about moving to plan-managed or self-managed, which both allow registered and unregistered providers.
How do providers get paid under agency management?
Registered providers deliver your support and then claim payment through the NDIA's system. The agency pays them directly and draws the cost from your plan budget. You generally will not see invoices or pay anything upfront for covered supports. You can track your remaining funding through the myplace participant portal.
What are the pros and cons of being agency-managed?
The main advantage is less paperwork, because the NDIA handles paying and claiming. The main trade-offs are less flexibility: you can only use registered providers and may have less room to negotiate prices. It can suit people who are happy within the registered provider network and prefer a hands-off approach to administration.
Can I change from agency-managed to another option?
Yes. You can ask to change how your plan is managed, usually at a plan review, though you can raise it with the NDIA at other times too. You might switch to plan-managed for support with paperwork while keeping wider provider choice, or self-managed for the most control. Your goals and circumstances help guide the best fit.

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