Plan MANAGEMENT RESOURCES

 Plan Management is a service within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia that helps participants manage the financial aspects of their NDIS plans. It involves working with a Plan Manager, who acts as an intermediary to handle budgeting, processing invoices, and paying service providers on behalf of the participant.

A Plan Manager helps participants by:

1. Managing the Budget: Ensuring funds are allocated and spent in line with the participant’s goals and the NDIS plan.
2. Paying Providers: Processing and paying invoices directly to service providers, taking the financial management burden off the participant.
3. Providing Guidance and Support: Offering advice on how to best use NDIS funds, staying informed on any plan changes, and ensuring participants have the support they need to navigate the NDIS effectively.

Plan Management is an alternative to self-managing NDIS funds or having the NDIS Agency manage funds directly, and it provides participants with flexibility and control without the stress of day-to-day financial administration.

Plan Management does not cost participants anything out of pocket. The cost is fully funded by the NDIS, specifically under the “Improved Life Choices” support category. This means if a participant chooses to have a Plan Manager, the NDIS allocates additional funds for Plan Management services on top of the participant's regular funding for supports and therapies.

There is a one-time set up fee and a monthly rate outlined in the NDIS: Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits Catalogue. The full catalogue can be found on https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/pricing-arrangements

Here’s how you can ensure it’s included:

1. Request It at Your Planning Meeting: During your initial NDIS planning meeting or any plan review, inform your NDIS planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) that you’d like Plan Management. You can mention that you want “Improved Life Choices” included in your plan, as this category covers Plan Management services.
2. Explain Your Preference: Mention any reasons you prefer Plan Management, such as wanting more control and flexibility with your providers without the responsibility of managing payments and budgets yourself. Plan Management is intended to reduce financial and administrative stress, so it's widely supported.
3. Check Your Plan Once Approved: After your meeting, review your plan once it’s approved to ensure “Improved Life Choices” is included. If it’s not, you can request a review of your plan to add it.

Yes, you can change Plan Managers at any time during your NDIS plan. The process is relatively simple, as you’re not locked into a particular provider for the duration of your plan. Here’s how it generally works:

1. Notify Your Current Plan Manager: Inform your current Plan Manager that you’d like to make a change, as they will need to stop claiming their monthly service fees and ensure all pending invoices are processed.
2. Find a New Plan Manager: Research and select a new Plan Manager that better suits your needs. You might want to look for someone with a strong communication approach or faster payment processing, depending on your priorities.
3. Sign a Service Agreement: Once you’ve chosen a new Plan Manager, you’ll sign a new service agreement with them. This allows them to start managing your plan immediately.

Switching Plan Managers is designed to be flexible, so you can always find the right fit for your needs.

If there are no issues with the invoice, invoices will be processed within 2 business days.

If an invoice requires approval, clarification or amending, the time frame for invoice processing will be dependent on how quickly the issue can be resolved.

Yes. You control how your plan is managed. There are different options you can choose:

• Standing Authority - you can provide written confirmation that you authorize your providers invoices to be approved and processed automatically
• Approval Required - you can advise that you would like to review and approve all invoices we receive on our behalf
• Mixture - you can provide automatic authorization for certain providers, and ask to review others.
  

A benefit of plan management is that it is flexible and can be managed how you like.