Who is a Plan Manager?

A person who manages the financial aspects of an NDIS participant’s plan on their behalf. This includes receiving funding from the NDIS, paying invoices from service providers, and keeping records of expenses.

What is Plan Management?

There are different ways of managing the funding allocated to a participant – Agency-managed, Self-managed, and Plan-managed, or Participants may choose a combination of the three.

• Plan-managed: The NDIA will provide additional funding in a plan to pay for a Plan Manager who pays service providers on behalf of a Participant, helps keep track of funds and takes care of financial reporting. Participants can use registered or unregistered providers but must stay within NDIS price guide limits. Plan managers are registered with the NDIA and are required to meet certain quality and safety standards, such as those set out in the NDIS Practice Standards. They act as a financial intermediary and knowledge base to guide participants through maximising their funding to achieve their goals, while relieving them of the administrative burden.
• Agency-managed: The NDIA manages the payments and administration of NDIS plans for those that don’t have the time or ability to manage themselves. Under this option, only registered NDIS service providers can be used, and must adhere to the NDIS price guide limits.
• Self-managed: Self-managed participants have full control and responsibility for managing their NDIS funds. Participants can use registered or unregistered providers, but are not bound by NDIS price limits. In addition, self-managing NDIS funds includes administrative tasks such as paying service providers, keeping complete budget records and claiming directly from the NDIS portal.

What Qualifications do Plan Managers need?

Plan Managers must have certain financial qualifications, as well as experience in the disability field, and are required to be registered NDIS providers assessed against the verification module of the NDIS Practice Standards.

How do Plan Managers get paid?

Plan Managers are reimbursed through a fixed rate per month per participant, regardless of participant complexity. An additional plan setup fee may be allocated for new plans. The funding for Plan Management is paid by NDIA in addition to a Participants plan, is available to any Participant on request, and does not affect the level of support received.

How do I become Plan-Managed?

At your planning meeting you can tell NDIS staff that you would like a plan manager to support you. The NDIS will include funding in your plan to pay for your plan manager. This is separate from your other services and supports in your budget. If you are mid-plan and want to change, contact NDIS on 1800 800 110 to discuss how you can include plan management in your plan.

Where can I find more information about Plan Management?

To help you understand plan management, the NDIS has released the ‘NDIS Guide to Plan Management’. This guide will help you to understand:

• what to expect from plan management
• the roles, responsibilities and activities of plan management providers
• the broader system plan management providers operate under.