What plan management options are there?

How you manage your NDIS plan is completely up to you and you can mix and match.

Your options are:

Self-management - you (or a nominee) pay providers and manage the records yourself. Maximum flexibility, most admin.
Plan management - a plan manager like Provider Choice pays your providers and tracks your budget for you. You keep the same provider choice as self-management, without the paperwork. The NDIA funds this separately, so it costs you nothing.
Agency management (NDIA-managed) - the NDIA pays your providers directly. Least admin, but you can only use NDIS-registered providers.
A combination - for example, self-managing some supports and plan-managing the rest.

You can nominate a plan manager at your planning meeting, or any time after your plan is approved.

Not sure which way to go? Email us at hello@providerchoice.com.au and we'll help you weigh it up for your situation.

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Compare your options

Can I include Plan Management in my plan?

Yes. Every NDIS participant has the right to ask for plan management in their plan and the NDIA funds it separately, so it doesn't cost you anything from your support budget.

Just tell your planner you'd like your plan to be plan-managed. You can ask at your first planning meeting, at a reassessment, or request a change any time in between.

At Provider Choice, we manage the invoices and budgets while you keep full choice and control over your providers. And if your long-term goal is to self-manage, we'll help you build up to it at your own pace.

Ready to add us to your plan? Email hello@providerchoice.com.au and we'll walk you through exactly what to say to your planner.

How can I get help with self managing my supports?

You don't have to figure out self-management alone.

The NDIS has guides on self-management on their website and your my NDIS contact can talk you through your responsibilities. Peer support groups are also gold - other self-managers are often the best source of practical tips.

And here's our favourite pathway: start with plan management. We handle your invoices and budgets while you watch how it's done, learn the rules and build confidence. When you're ready, you shift to self-managing - some supports or all of them, at whatever pace works for you.

Email hello@providerchoice.com.au and tell us where you're at. We'll help you map out the path.

What is a self-managed plan?

Self-management means you're in charge of the money side of your plan. You choose your providers, pay them directly and the NDIS reimburses you through the myplace portal, usually within a couple of days.

It gives you the most flexibility of any option: you can use any provider you like (registered or not) and negotiate prices directly.

You don't have to self-manage everything, either. Plenty of people self-manage some supports and have a plan manager look after the rest.

If you like the idea of self-managing but aren't ready to dive in, that's exactly what we help with. Start plan-managed with us, learn how it all works and step up to self-management when it suits you. Email hello@providerchoice.com.au to chat about it.

What are my responsibilities when I self-manage my plan?

Self-managing puts you in the driver's seat. With that comes a few responsibilities. You'll need to:

Choose your supports and plan how you'll use your funding across your plan
Pay your providers and claim reimbursement through the myplace portal
Keep your records - invoices and receipts for everything you buy with NDIS funds (keep them for five years)
Spend within the rules - your funding can only go towards NDIS supports that relate to your plan

It's very doable and thousands of participants and nominees self-manage successfully. It just takes a bit of organisation.

If you want the training wheels on first, we can plan-manage your funding while showing you how it all works, so you can move to self-management with confidence. Email hello@providerchoice.com.au to get started.

What does a plan manager do?

A plan manager takes care of the financial side of your NDIS plan, so you can spend your time and energy on your goals instead of the admin.

Here's what we do:

Pay your providers and check every invoice meets NDIS requirements
Track your budgets so you always know where your funding is at
Handle NDIS claims and reporting so you don't have to
Build your confidence by helping you understand your plan, including working towards self-management if that's your goal

Best of all, it costs you nothing. The NDIA adds separate funding to your plan specifically to cover plan management, so it never comes out of your support budget.

Want to see how it works? Email us at hello@providerchoice.com.au or sign up online.

Why should I use a plan manager?

A plan manager gives you the freedom of self-management without the paperwork.

You keep full choice and control over your providers, including non-registered providers, while we handle the invoices, budget tracking and NDIS rules in the background. And because the NDIA funds plan management separately, it doesn't cost you anything from your support budget.

At Provider Choice, we go further than paying invoices. We help you actually understand your funding, so you feel confident and in control of every decision.

Curious whether it's right for you? Email hello@providerchoice.com.au and we'll talk it through, no pressure.

Does paying a plan manager lower my disability funding?

No. Using a plan manager doesn't reduce your NDIS funding at all.

When you ask for plan management at your planning meeting or reassessment, the NDIA adds separate funding to your plan specifically to pay your plan manager. It's completely separate from the funding for your supports, therapies and services, so every dollar of your support budget stays yours to use.

In other words: plan management is free for you and it doesn't shrink anything else in your plan.

If you'd like plan management added to your plan, just tell your planner at your next meeting, or email us at hello@providerchoice.com.au and we'll help you ask for it.

How do I switch plan managers?

Switching plan managers is easier than most people expect. Three steps:

Let your current plan manager know in writing.
‍A short email does it: "Hi [Plan Manager], I'd like to end my plan management services with you. Please confirm my plan release date." They'll reply with your release date - that's when your new plan manager can start.
Sign up with your new plan manager.
‍They'll help you complete a few forms and confirm your start date. If you're joining Provider Choice, we'll walk you through every step and make it smooth and stress-free.
(PACE plans only) Call the NDIA to endorse your new plan manager.
‍This only applies if your plan is in the PACE system. We'll help you check whether it applies to you and give you a simple script for the call.

That's it. No gap in your supports, no drama. Ready to make the move? Sign up here or email hello@providerchoice.com.au.

What is the Provider Choice provider number for endorsement under PACE?

Our provider number is 4050041521. We have a helpful script you can use to endorse us as your plan manager with the NDIS if you have a PACE plan. You can access the script here.

NDIS Plan Management