Quick take: If you are not sure, ask your planner for plan-managed. It gives you wide provider choice without the admin, and the management fee is funded on top of your plan.
Self-managed
You receive the funds, you choose the providers, you handle the invoices.
Pros
- Maximum choice. You can use any provider, registered or unregistered, including independent support workers.
- Negotiate rates. You are not bound by NDIS price limits, which can stretch your funding further.
- Pay people quickly. No waiting for a plan manager to release payments.
- Hire family members in some cases (with documented justification).
Cons
- Admin sits with you. Receipts, records and audits are your responsibility.
- You may need to pay providers up front and wait for reimbursement.
- You take on the compliance risk if a claim is questioned.
Who it suits: Suits participants and families who want full flexibility and are comfortable handling paperwork, or have a coordinator helping with admin.
Plan-managed
A plan manager pays your invoices for you. You still pick the providers.
Pros
- Almost as flexible as self-managed. You can use registered or unregistered providers.
- No admin. The plan manager handles invoices, claims and audit-friendly records.
- The plan management fee is funded on top of your plan, so it does not reduce your supports.
- A safety net. Plan managers can flag overcharging or unusual invoices.
Cons
- You depend on the plan manager. Slow plan managers mean slow payments to providers.
- Some plan managers refuse certain claims, even when they are within the rules.
Who it suits: Suits most participants. The combination of provider choice and zero admin is the reason this is the most common funding type.
NDIA-managed (Agency-managed)
The NDIA pays providers directly. You can only use NDIS registered providers.
Pros
- Zero admin. Providers claim straight from the NDIA after delivering services.
- Strict price controls. Providers must charge at or below the NDIS Pricing Arrangements.
- No paperwork on your side, no risk of overspending.
Cons
- Limited choice. Only registered providers, which is roughly 17,000 services in a market closer to 250,000.
- You cannot use unregistered providers or independent support workers.
- Less flexibility around rates and arrangements.
Who it suits: Default for new participants. Many participants ask for plan-managed at their first plan or first reassessment to widen their options.
How Supportd works with all three
Supportd lists registered providers, unregistered providers and independent support workers. The directory is open to everyone, regardless of how your plan is managed.
Each provider profile shows their NDIS registration status. If you are NDIA-managed, you will only be able to use providers marked as registered. If you are plan-managed or self-managed, the whole directory is open to you.
Whichever way your plan is managed, the matching service is free. You can search yourself, or let our team reach out to providers and confirm capacity for you.