The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding for Australians living with disabilities to help them achieve their goals and live a more independent life. As an NDIS participant, you have the option to choose how you want to manage your NDIS funding. There are three ways to manage your NDIS funding: self-managed, plan-managed, and agency-managed.
Self-managed is the most flexible option, where you are in control of how your NDIS funding is used. With self-management, you have complete control over the services you receive and who provides them. This means you can choose the service provider of your choice, including those who are not NDIS-registered.
Pros:
- You have complete control over your NDIS funding and services
- You have the freedom to choose the service provider you want
- You have more control over the budget and can allocate the funding as you see fit
Cons:
- You are responsible for managing the administrative tasks, such as invoicing and reporting
- You need to have a good understanding of the NDIS and the service providers available, and ensure that you are not overcharged by your chosen provider
- You will need to manage your own finances and budget while juggling medical appointments and other matters
Plan-managed is a good option for NDIS participants who want to have more control over their funding but may not have the skills or knowledge to manage their own NDIS funding. With plan management, you have a plan manager who is responsible for managing the administrative tasks, such as invoicing and reporting.
Pros:
- Your plan manager handles the administrative tasks
- Your plan manager can help you understand your NDIS funding and what services you can access
- You still have control over who provides your services and may need to approve invoices before your plan manager pays them
Cons:
- You need to pay a fee for the service of your plan manager
- You may not have complete control over your NDIS funding as the plan manager will need to gain approval from the NDIS before paying certain high-cost equipment
Agency-managed is an option for NDIS participants who prefer to have the least amount of control over their NDIS funding. With agency management, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is responsible for managing all aspects of your NDIS funding, thereby affording you more time to concentrate on your appointments and services.
Pros:
- The NDIA handles all aspects of your NDIS funding, including administrative tasks
- The NDIA can help you understand your NDIS funding and what services you can access
- There is no cost to you for being NDIA-managed
Cons:
- Your choice of providers is limited to only NDIS-registered providers
- Limited control as the NDIA does not require your approval to make payments
In summary, the three ways to manage your NDIS funding are self-managed, plan-managed, and agency-managed. With self-management, you have complete control over your NDIS funding and services. With plan management, you have a plan manager who handles the administrative tasks. With agency management, the NDIA is responsible for managing all aspects of your NDIS funding without any cost to you.
It is important to note that service providers that are not NDIS-registered can only provide services to NDIS participants who are self-managed and plan-managed. Health Journey Partner is an NDIS-registered provider that offers community-based allied health services to individuals living with disabilities. The range of services are Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Exercise Physiology, Dietetics, Speech Pathology, Psychology and Counselling. Areas of service include The Hills District, the Greater Parramatta region and up to Macquarie Park. Services in the form of telehealth are offered to NDIS participants outside of area.
As an NDIS registered provider, Health Journey Partner can provide services to all NDIS participants, regardless of how they choose to manage their NDIS funding.
