Hello everyone. I’m fairly new here and I’m trying to understand more about the NDIS. Theres so much to learn that it gives me a headache sometimes haha.
Bascially, I’d like to know more about the different plan management options available to participants. Can someone explain the differences between agency-managed, plan-managed, and self-managed plans? Any insights on what might be the best option based on different needs?
I have done some reading online about this, but just wanted to run it by some real people with real experiences. Hope its not too basic of a question.
Hey Ava. I’ve been self-managing my plan for about two years now because I love to punish myself … its actually fine now that I’m used to it.
It was a bit of a learning curve, but really empowering now I’ve got the knack of it. The biggest advantage I’ve found is the flexibility it offers. You can choose any provider, not just NDIS-registered ones, which is great for services like gardening or cleaning. However, it does require you to manage your own budget and keep track of all your invoices and payments, which can be a bit of a hassle if you’re not into paperwork.
I chose plan management because it seemed like a middle ground. You get a plan manager who takes care of the financial admin tasks, and you can still use unregistered providers. It’s less stress than self-managing, but you still have quite a bit of control. Plus, the plan manager can help negotiate rates with providers, which is a big plus.
Others will have the same question in the future and they can read threads like this to help them out.
I know you’ve done some reading on this Ava so not sure of your level of knowledge. Will just spell it out for anyone reading.
With Agency-managed, the NDIA handles your funds, and you can only choose from NDIS-registered providers—it’s the easiest option if you prefer less paperwork. Self-managed plans offer the most freedom; you manage the budget and choose any provider, even if they’re not NDIS-registered, but it means more paperwork for you. Plan-managed is a middle ground where a plan manager takes care of the money and paperwork, and you still get to choose from a wider range of providers.
I’ve had experience with both agency-managed and plan-managed options. Initially, my plan was agency-managed, which was hassle-free but quite limiting in terms of provider choices. Later, I switched to a plan-managed setup because I wanted more flexibility but wasn’t ready to dive into managing everything on my own. For me, the choice came down to needing a broader selection of services that weren’t available through registered providers. Each option has its pros and cons, depending on your personal situation and how involved you want to be in the day-to-day management of your plan.
… its actually fine now that I’m used to it.