Plan manager

A provider funded to pay your invoices and track your budget if you’re plan-managed.

What it means

A plan manager is a provider funded in your NDIS plan to take care of the money side of your supports when you are plan-managed. Their job is to pay your providers' invoices, keep track of how much of your budget you have used and left, and handle the paperwork so you do not have to. They sit between you and your providers, making claims from the NDIS on your behalf.

Importantly, the funding for plan management is added on top of your other supports. It comes from a separate part of your plan and does not reduce the money you have for your therapy, support workers or other supports. So choosing a plan manager does not cost you anything from your support budgets.

In practice

When a provider does some work for you, they send the invoice to your plan manager instead of chasing you for payment. The plan manager checks the invoice, claims the money from the NDIS and pays the provider. Many plan managers give you an app or regular statements so you can see your spending at a glance.

Because you are plan-managed, you can use registered or unregistered providers, which gives you more choice. A good plan manager can also help you understand your budget, flag when funds are running low and answer questions about what your funding can and cannot cover, taking a lot of the stress out of managing invoices.

A real example

For example, when Marcus started using a new physiotherapist, the clinic simply emailed its invoices straight to his plan manager. His plan manager checked each one, claimed it from the NDIS and paid the clinic, then sent Marcus a monthly statement. Marcus never had to pay upfront or fill in a claim form himself.

Plan manager — FAQs

What does a plan manager actually do?
A plan manager pays your providers' invoices, claims the money from the NDIS on your behalf, tracks how much of your budget you have used and left, and handles the paperwork. Many also give you statements or an app so you can see your spending. In short, they take care of the financial admin so you can focus on using your supports.
Does having a plan manager cost me part of my supports budget?
No. Plan management funding is added on top of your other supports and comes from a separate part of your plan. It does not reduce the money you have for therapy, support workers or other supports. This means choosing a plan manager does not take anything away from the budgets you use to pay for your actual supports.
How do I get a plan manager in my plan?
You ask for plan management during your planning meeting or plan review, and if it is included, funding for it is added to your plan. Once it is there, you can choose which plan manager you want to use. You are free to pick a plan manager that suits you and can change to a different one if you are not happy.
Can I use unregistered providers if I have a plan manager?
Yes. Being plan-managed means you can usually choose registered or unregistered providers, which gives you more choice than being agency-managed. Your plan manager pays them on your behalf regardless of whether they are registered. This flexibility is one of the main benefits of plan management, letting you work with the providers who best suit your needs.
How is a plan manager different from a support coordinator?
A plan manager looks after the money, paying invoices and tracking your budget. A support coordinator helps you understand your plan, find and connect with providers and put your plan into action. They are separate, separately funded roles, and you can have both. One handles the financial admin while the other helps you organise and use your supports.

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