What are the three ways to manage NDIS funding?

The three options are agency-managed, plan-managed and self-managed. Agency-managed means the NDIA pays your registered providers directly. Plan-managed means a plan manager pays providers and does the paperwork for you. Self-managed means you handle the money yourself, paying providers and claiming back. Each option differs in how much paperwork you do and which providers you can use.

Which option has the least paperwork?

Agency-managed has the least paperwork. The NDIA pays your providers directly, so you do not handle invoices or make claims yourself. The trade-off is that you can only use NDIS registered providers with this option. You can still see your spending and claims in the my NDIS portal, so you keep visibility over your budgets while the admin is handled for you.

Does a plan manager cost me anything from my other budgets?

No. The plan manager is funded on top of your other supports, from its own funding in your plan. The cost of plan management does not come out of your Core, Capacity Building or Capital budgets, so it does not reduce the funding available for the supports you actually need. This is one reason plan management is a popular middle-ground option.

Can I use unregistered providers?

It depends on your management type. If you are plan-managed or self-managed, you can use both registered and unregistered providers, which widens your choice. If you are agency-managed, you can only use NDIS registered providers. Many good providers choose not to register, so if using unregistered providers matters to you, plan management or self-management is the way to go.

What are the responsibilities of self-managing?

When you self-manage, you arrange and pay for your supports, then claim the money back through the my NDIS portal. You need to keep records of your spending, keep invoices and receipts, make sure your purchases are in line with your plan, and be ready to show how the funding was used. It offers the most control and choice, but the most responsibility.

How do I change my plan management type?

The most common time to change is at a plan reassessment, when your plan is reviewed and rebuilt. You can also raise a change between reassessments by contacting the NDIA. If your current approach is not working, it is worth getting in touch rather than waiting for the plan to end. A support coordinator or local area coordinator can help you make the change smoothly.

Which management option gives the most choice and control?

Self-managed gives the most choice and control. You can use any provider that offers value for money, including unregistered providers, and negotiate how your supports are delivered. The trade-off is more responsibility for paying providers, claiming funds and keeping records. It suits people comfortable handling money and paperwork, or who have a family member or nominee able to help.

Plan management options: self, plan and agency managed

The three ways to manage your funding, what each involves, and how to choose.

Once your NDIS funding is approved, someone has to handle the money side of things: paying providers, keeping records and making claims. How that happens depends on your plan management type, and you get a say in which option suits you.

There are three ways to manage your funding: agency-managed, plan-managed and self-managed. This guide explains how each one works, what it means for the providers you can use, and how to change your mind at a plan reassessment or by contacting the NDIA.

In this guide

There are three ways to manage NDIS funding: agency-managed, plan-managed and self-managed.
Agency-managed means the NDIA pays registered providers directly, with the least paperwork for you.
Plan-managed means a plan manager pays providers and does the paperwork, and is funded on top of your other supports.
Self-managed gives you the most choice and control, including unregistered providers, but the most responsibility.
You can mix management types across your plan, and you can change your approach at a plan reassessment or by contacting the NDIA.

The three options

Your plan management type decides who handles the payments and paperwork behind your funding. It does not change how much funding you receive or what your funding is for. It changes who pays your providers, how much record-keeping you do, and which providers you are able to use.

The three options are agency-managed, plan-managed and self-managed. Agency-managed keeps things simple and hands the admin to the NDIA. Plan-managed puts a plan manager in the middle to handle payments and paperwork for you. Self-managed puts you in charge of the money, with the most control and the most responsibility.

There is no single right answer. The best option depends on how much choice you want over providers, how comfortable you are with paperwork and record-keeping, and how much time you have. Many people also mix the options across different parts of their plan, which we cover further down.

Agency-managed

Agency-managed, sometimes called NDIA-managed, is the most hands-off option. The NDIA pays your providers directly. When a provider delivers a support, they claim the cost from the NDIS system, and you do not handle invoices or make claims yourself. This means the least paperwork of the three options.

The main trade-off is that agency-managed funding can only be used with NDIS registered providers. Registered providers have gone through the NDIS registration process, but there are many good providers who choose not to register, and you would not be able to use them with this option.

Agency-managed can suit people who want a simple, low-effort arrangement and are happy to choose from registered providers. You can still see your spending and claims in the my NDIS portal, so you keep visibility over your budgets even though the NDIA is handling the payments on your behalf.

Plan-managed

Plan-managed sits in the middle. You choose a plan manager, who is a provider that handles the money side of your plan. When you receive a support, the invoice goes to your plan manager, who pays the provider from your funding and keeps the records. You get regular statements so you can see what has been spent.

A big advantage of being plan-managed is that you can use both registered and unregistered providers. This widens your choice considerably compared with agency-managed, while still keeping the paperwork off your plate. It is a popular middle ground for people who want more choice without taking on all the admin.

Importantly, the plan manager is funded on top of your other supports. The cost of plan management comes from its own funding in your plan and does not come out of your Core, Capacity Building or Capital budgets. In other words, having a plan manager does not reduce the funding available for the supports you actually need.

Self-managed

Self-managed gives you the most choice and control. You manage the funding yourself: you arrange your supports, pay your providers, and claim the money back through the my NDIS portal. Because you are in charge, you can use any provider that offers value for money, including unregistered providers, and negotiate how supports are delivered.

With that control comes more responsibility. You need to keep records of your spending, keep invoices and receipts, make sure the supports you buy are in line with your plan, and be ready to show how the funding was used. Some people find this straightforward, while others prefer to hand the admin to someone else.

Self-management suits people who want maximum flexibility and are comfortable handling money and record-keeping, or who have a family member or nominee able to help. It offers the widest choice of providers and the most say over how your supports work, as long as you stay within your plan and spend on supports that are reasonable and necessary.

Mixing options and choosing

You do not have to pick just one approach for your whole plan. Many people mix management types, for example self-managing one part of their funding while having a plan manager look after the rest, or keeping some supports agency-managed for simplicity. This lets you match the level of control to each part of your plan.

When choosing, think about three things: how much choice you want over providers, how much paperwork you are willing to do, and how much time and confidence you have to manage money. If you want the widest provider choice and are happy with admin, self-managing appeals. If you want choice without the admin, plan management is a strong middle ground. If you want it simple, agency-managed keeps effort low.

It is worth talking through your preferences before your planning meeting, so your plan is set up the way you want from the start. There is no penalty for choosing the simpler option, and no requirement to take on more than you are comfortable with.

How to change your management type

Your management type is not locked in forever. The most common time to change it is at a plan reassessment, when your plan is reviewed and rebuilt. This is a natural point to tell the NDIA you would like to switch, for example from agency-managed to plan-managed so you can use a wider range of providers.

You can also raise a change between reassessments by contacting the NDIA. If your circumstances change or you find your current approach is not working, it is worth getting in touch to talk about your options rather than waiting for the plan to end.

When you do change, give some thought to what the switch involves in practice. Moving to plan-managed means choosing a plan manager, while moving to self-managed means being ready to keep records and make claims. If you are unsure, a support coordinator or your local area coordinator can help you weigh up the options and make the change smoothly.

Frequently asked questions

What are the three ways to manage NDIS funding?: The three options are agency-managed, plan-managed and self-managed. Agency-managed means the NDIA pays your registered providers directly. Plan-managed means a plan manager pays providers and does the paperwork for you. Self-managed means you handle the money yourself, paying providers and claiming back. Each option differs in how much paperwork you do and which providers you can use.
Which option has the least paperwork?: Agency-managed has the least paperwork. The NDIA pays your providers directly, so you do not handle invoices or make claims yourself. The trade-off is that you can only use NDIS registered providers with this option. You can still see your spending and claims in the my NDIS portal, so you keep visibility over your budgets while the admin is handled for you.
Does a plan manager cost me anything from my other budgets?: No. The plan manager is funded on top of your other supports, from its own funding in your plan. The cost of plan management does not come out of your Core, Capacity Building or Capital budgets, so it does not reduce the funding available for the supports you actually need. This is one reason plan management is a popular middle-ground option.
Can I use unregistered providers?: It depends on your management type. If you are plan-managed or self-managed, you can use both registered and unregistered providers, which widens your choice. If you are agency-managed, you can only use NDIS registered providers. Many good providers choose not to register, so if using unregistered providers matters to you, plan management or self-management is the way to go.
What are the responsibilities of self-managing?: When you self-manage, you arrange and pay for your supports, then claim the money back through the my NDIS portal. You need to keep records of your spending, keep invoices and receipts, make sure your purchases are in line with your plan, and be ready to show how the funding was used. It offers the most control and choice, but the most responsibility.
Can I mix different management types in one plan?: Yes. You do not have to choose just one approach. Many people mix management types, such as self-managing one part of their funding while a plan manager looks after the rest, or keeping some supports agency-managed for simplicity. Mixing lets you match the level of control and admin to each part of your plan, rather than applying the same approach to everything.
How do I change my plan management type?: The most common time to change is at a plan reassessment, when your plan is reviewed and rebuilt. You can also raise a change between reassessments by contacting the NDIA. If your current approach is not working, it is worth getting in touch rather than waiting for the plan to end. A support coordinator or local area coordinator can help you make the change smoothly.
Which management option gives the most choice and control?: Self-managed gives the most choice and control. You can use any provider that offers value for money, including unregistered providers, and negotiate how your supports are delivered. The trade-off is more responsibility for paying providers, claiming funds and keeping records. It suits people comfortable handling money and paperwork, or who have a family member or nominee able to help.

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