What plan management is
Plan management is a support where a registered plan manager handles the financial and administrative side of your NDIS plan on your behalf. They:
- Receive and pay invoices from your providers
- Track your budget across all support categories
- Send you regular statements so you can see what's been spent
- Check that invoices comply with NDIS pricing rules before paying
- Keep records for NDIS auditing purposes
Plan management vs self-managed vs agency-managed
| Agency-managed | Plan-managed | Self-managed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who pays providers | NDIA directly | Your plan manager | You (then claim back) |
| Registered providers only | Yes | No | No |
| Admin effort | Very low | Low | High |
| Budget visibility | Limited | Good | Full |
| Flexibility | Least | Middle | Most |
| Best for | People who want simplicity | Most participants | People who want full control |
Benefits of plan management
- Access unregistered providers — many excellent providers aren't NDIS-registered; plan management opens access to them
- Less admin than self-managing — your plan manager handles all the paperwork
- Budget oversight — a good plan manager will alert you before you run low on funding
- Price protection — plan managers check invoices against NDIS price limits before paying
- Support and advice — experienced plan managers can help you understand your plan
How to get plan management
Request it at your NDIS planning meeting or plan review. Tell your LAC or NDIA planner that you'd like plan management added to your plan. If you're currently agency-managed and want to switch, you can request a plan variation — contact your LAC or support coordinator to start the process.
How to choose a plan manager
Look for:
- Payment speed — how quickly do they pay provider invoices? (Should be within 5 business days)
- Portal quality — do they have an app or online portal where you can track spending in real time?
- Communication — do they proactively update you, or only respond when contacted?
- Experience — how long have they been operating? Do they specialise in your disability type?
- Budget alerts — will they warn you before a category runs out?
How much it costs
Plan management costs approximately $104/month plus a one-off setup fee of approximately $233. Both are paid directly by the NDIA to your plan manager — they do not come out of your Core or Capacity Building budgets. In other words, plan management is free to you.
Can I change plan managers?
Yes — you can change plan managers at any time without waiting for a plan review.
- Find a new plan manager and confirm they can take you on
- Check your current service agreement for the notice period (typically 2–4 weeks)
- Give written notice to your current plan manager
- Your new plan manager will set up with the NDIA on your behalf
- Tip: don't cancel your current plan manager until the new one is fully set up, to avoid a gap in payments