How plan management works
Your provider delivers a support and sends the invoice to your plan manager. The plan manager checks it against your plan and the price limits, claims it through the NDIA's provider portal, then pays the provider. They keep the invoices and give you regular statements of what you have spent.
Your plan manager must be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and recorded as a my provider for your plan. You decide what they can see about you and your plan.
Which providers you can use
Being plan managed gives you wide choice. You can use registered providers, unregistered providers, independent support workers and sole trader therapists for most supports. There are some important exceptions:
- Supported Independent Living: since 1 July 2026 SIL providers must be registered. Plan managers have been told to only pay SIL invoices from providers who are registered or applied for registration by 1 October 2026
- Intensive behaviour supports and regulated restrictive practices need a provider registered for that work
- From 1 July 2027, mandatory registration starts expanding to higher risk supports such as personal care and daily living supports, with all providers in scope registered by December 2030
Price limits still apply
A common myth is that plan managed participants can pay unregistered providers whatever they agree. That is not right. The price limits apply when funding is managed by the NDIA or by a registered plan manager, and plan managers must make sure prices do not exceed them whether the provider is registered or not.
Only self managed participants can agree to pay above a price limit. If you want an unregistered provider who charges above the limit, they would need to lower their price, or you would need to self manage that part of your plan.
What it costs
Plan management does not come out of your support budgets. If you ask for it, the NDIA adds separate funding to your plan that can only be used for a plan manager. In 2026/27 the price limit is $104.45 a month.
Your responsibilities
Even with a plan manager, you are still responsible for:
- Knowing how much you have spent, including in each funding period
- Only buying NDIS supports that are in line with your plan
- Choosing your providers, including your plan manager
- Authorising claims and checking statements
- Making a service agreement with your plan manager
What is changing
Several reforms affect plan managed participants:
- Since 27 August 2026: plan managers must keep records of NDIS payments for 3 years
- From 1 December 2026: claims must be made within 90 days of the support, so get invoices to your plan manager quickly
- From 1 October 2027: you will choose from a panel of approved plan managers, with 6 months to switch if yours is not on it