How self management works
You choose your providers, agree prices with them and pay them. You claim from your plan through the my NDIS participant portal or app, either to reimburse yourself or to pay the provider. You keep the invoices and receipts as evidence.
You can self manage your whole plan or just part of it. For example, you might self manage your core supports and have the rest plan managed or NDIA managed.
What you can do
The NDIA describes self management as the option with the most flexibility. As a self manager you can:
- Use registered and unregistered providers, including independent support workers
- Agree prices above or below the NDIS price limits
- Directly employ or contract your own staff
- Choose how and when your supports are delivered
- Shop around for the supports that give you the best value
What you still cannot do
Flexibility is not the same as no rules. Since October 2024, all participants can only spend NDIS funding on supports that are on the NDIS supports lists under section 10 of the NDIS Act, and in line with their plan. Day to day living costs such as rent, groceries and utilities are not NDIS supports. If you deliberately spend funding on things that are not NDIS supports, you may have to pay it back, and the NDIA can change how your plan is managed.
You also need to stay within your funding periods. Since 1 July 2026, SIL providers must be registered with the NDIS Commission. The NDIS also generally does not pay family members to provide supports.
Your responsibilities
When you self manage, you are responsible for:
- Make sure your funding lasts the length of your plan and each funding period
- Make clear agreements with providers and decide what you pay
- Pay and claim on time. From 1 December 2026, claims must be made within 90 days of the support
- Keep invoices and receipts. Since 27 August 2026, participants must keep records of NDIS payments for 3 years
- If you employ workers directly, you take on employer duties such as pay, super and insurance
- Tell the NDIA if your situation changes
Who cannot self manage
You cannot self manage if you are an insolvent under administration, have been convicted of a fraud or dishonesty offence or an offence punishable by 2 or more years in prison, or if the NDIA thinks self managing would pose an unreasonable risk to you or that you are unlikely to spend the funding only on NDIS supports in line with your plan. The same rules apply to a nominee or child representative who wants to manage your funding.
Getting started, and what is coming
You can ask to self manage at your plan meeting or at any time. If that is the only change, the NDIA can usually make it as a plan variation. If you need help with the admin, the NDIA can include supports in your plan to build your skills.
By 30 June 2028 an improved NDIS app is due to let self managed participants use tap and go claiming. Until then, a simple weekly or fortnightly routine of paying and claiming keeps you well inside the 90 day limit.