The three ways to manage funding
Every part of your NDIS funding is managed in one of three ways, and you can choose different ways for different parts:
- Self managed: you, your nominee or child representative pay providers and claim from your plan. Any provider, and you are not bound by price limits
- Plan managed: a registered plan manager pays providers and keeps the records. Registered or unregistered providers for most supports, but price limits apply
- NDIA managed: the NDIA pays providers directly. Registered providers only, and price limits apply
How a mixed plan works
Your plan shows how each budget or support is managed. Providers need to know which part of your plan they are being paid from, and who to send the invoice to. A support worker paid from your self managed funds invoices you; a therapist paid from plan managed funds invoices your plan manager; a provider of an NDIA managed support claims through the NDIA's provider portal.
Plan management funding sits in its own category, Improved Life Choices, so having a plan manager for part of your plan does not reduce the rest.
Popular combinations
- Self manage Core supports, plan manage the rest: control over support worker rates and who you hire, with help for therapy and other invoices
- Plan manage everything except a stated support such as SIL or Specialist Disability Accommodation, which is often NDIA managed
- Self manage one budget to learn the ropes, such as transport or consumables, before taking on more
- Plan manage most of the plan, with NDIA management for supports you want paid automatically by registered providers
Rules to watch in a mixed plan
Each part keeps its own rules. The most common mistake is assuming that because one part of your plan has no price limit, the others do not either. Only self managed funding is free of price limits. Plan managers must keep to the limits for every provider, registered or not.
- Some supports need a registered provider however they are managed: since 1 July 2026, SIL providers must be registered, and intensive behaviour supports and regulated restrictive practices need a provider registered for that work
- Self managed funds: you keep records for 3 years and, from 1 December 2026, claim within 90 days
- Plan managed funds: send invoices to your plan manager quickly so they can claim within 90 days
- Keep an eye on funding periods for each budget, whoever manages it
How to set up or change it
Tell your planner or local area coordinator at your planning meeting how you want each part managed. You can also ask the NDIA to change how part of your funding is managed at any time. If that is the only change, it can usually be done as a plan variation without a full reassessment.
The NDIA can decide that some funding must be NDIA managed, for example if self managing would put you at unreasonable risk. If that happens, ask for the reasons in writing.
What is changing
From 1 October 2027 plan managed participants will choose their plan manager from an approved panel, with 6 months to switch if yours is not on it. Under new framework plans, starting from 1 April 2027, plan management can be added separately from the assessment of your support needs if you ask for it and are eligible.