When your NDIS plan is approved, one of the first practical decisions is how the funding will be managed. The NDIS offers three ways — self-managed, plan-managed and NDIA-managed (also called agency-managed) — and you can combine them across different parts of your plan. Each option changes who pays your providers, whose records you keep, and which providers you are able to use.
Key takeaways
- The NDIS has three ways to manage funding: self-managed, plan-managed, and NDIA-managed (agency-managed).
- You can mix them — for example, self-manage one budget and have another NDIA-managed.
- Plan management funding is added to your plan separately and can only be used to pay a plan manager, so it does not reduce your other supports.
- Self-management gives the most flexibility, including the ability to use unregistered providers; NDIA-management requires NDIS-registered providers.
- Your planner, Local Area Coordinator or early childhood partner asks how you want to manage funding during planning — you can also change how your plan is managed at a review.
The three ways to manage NDIS funding
Self-managed
Self-management is when you (or a nominee or child representative) manage your NDIS funding directly. You pay your providers, keep your financial records, and claim payments from the NDIS. The NDIS describes this as giving you the most flexibility and choice over the supports you buy to pursue your goals ().
Self-management also lets you use providers who are not NDIS-registered, which widens your choice — provided the supports are within your plan and meet the NDIS rules. The trade-off is responsibility: you handle invoices, records and claims, and must be able to show the money was spent on approved supports.
Plan-managed
Plan management is when a registered plan manager manages the funds for you. The plan manager pays your providers, processes invoices and keeps your financial records (). Importantly, the NDIA includes funding for a plan manager separately in your plan — it is quarantined for that purpose and does not come out of your other supports.
Plan management sits between the other two options: you get much of the choice of self-management (including the ability to use many unregistered providers) without doing the bookkeeping yourself. For many participants it is a practical middle path.
NDIA-managed (agency-managed)
NDIA-management — sometimes called agency-management — is where the NDIA is responsible for paying and managing your providers and keeping your financial records. Providers claim payment directly from the NDIA. The main condition is that you must use NDIS-registered providers for these supports. There is nothing extra to set up and no invoices for you to handle, but your provider choice is limited to registered providers and you have the least day-to-day visibility of the three.
Can you combine management types?
Yes. Your plan can be managed all one way, or you can combine the options. The NDIS gives the example that your Core supports could be self-managed while your Capital supports are NDIA-managed (). This lets you match the management type to the kind of support — for instance, self-managing everyday supports for flexibility while leaving high-cost, one-off items with the agency.
How the options compare
The "best" option depends on how much flexibility you want, how much administration you are willing to take on, and whether the providers you want to work with are registered. Many participants change how their plan is managed over time as their confidence and circumstances change.
How do you set up or change plan management?
Your NDIA planner, Local Area Coordinator or early childhood partner will ask how you want to manage your funding during your planning conversation, and will help you choose (). If your circumstances change, you can usually request a change to how your plan is managed at a plan review. If you choose plan management, the funding for a plan manager is added to your plan and used only for that purpose.
Evidence at a glance
This article is general information about how NDIS plan management works and is not financial or planning advice for your individual circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three ways to manage an NDIS plan?
The NDIS offers self-managed (you manage the funding and pay providers), plan-managed (a registered plan manager pays providers and keeps records for you), and NDIA-managed or agency-managed (the NDIA pays and manages your providers). You can also combine these across your plan.
Does plan management reduce my other NDIS funding?
No. The NDIA includes funding for a plan manager separately in your plan. That funding can only be used to pay for the plan manager, so it does not come out of the budgets for your other supports.
Can I use unregistered providers?
It depends on your management type. Self-managed and plan-managed participants can use many providers who are not NDIS-registered, as long as the supports are within the plan and meet the rules. NDIA-managed supports must be delivered by NDIS-registered providers.
Is "agency-managed" the same as "NDIA-managed"?
Yes. "Agency-managed" and "NDIA-managed" refer to the same option, where the National Disability Insurance Agency pays and manages your providers directly and keeps your financial records.
Can I change how my plan is managed?
Generally yes. You can discuss changing your management type at a plan review, and your planner, Local Area Coordinator or early childhood partner can help. Many participants change management types over time as their needs and confidence change.
Working with Align Network
Align Network provides and works with self-managed, plan-managed and NDIA-managed participants across our . If you are weighing up how to manage your funding, or want a plan manager who pays providers promptly and keeps clear records, .
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