It depends on how your plan is managed:

• Agency-managed (NDIA-managed): the NDIA pays your registered providers directly.
• Plan-managed: your plan manager receives provider invoices and pays them on your behalf, keeping track of your budget as they go.
• Self-managed: you pay providers yourself and the NDIS reimburses you through the portal - or you can claim first and then pay.

Whichever way you manage, most plans now release funding in instalments called Funding Periods (usually every three months) rather than the whole budget upfront. Unspent funds roll over between periods within your plan.

At Provider Choice, we plan-manage your funding. Email hello@providerchoice.com.au to chat about the best setup for you.