NDIS Self-Management vs Plan Management

Carer Mates • March 9, 2023
In terms of managing your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) payments, what are the differences between self-management and plan management? What's more, which choice is ideal for you? Even though both provide you flexibility and control over your NDIS funding, there are some significant distinctions, especially in terms of your duties and what is expected of you. In this blog, we discuss NDIS Self-Management and Plan Management and the difference between both.

What is NDIS self-management

When you self-manage your NDIS finances, you are in charge of everything, including the administration of your NDIS plan.

You are responsible for sending your provider bills to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), making sure they are paid on time and correctly, and keeping track of all of your receipts in case you are the target of an audit. Your weekly time commitment for administrative tasks related to managing your NDIS funds can range from 5 to 25 hours.

What advantages can self-management offer?

Self-management allows you to access both registered and unregistered providers, giving you control over how you utilize your funding. To give you more options, your providers may charge you more than the upper limit specified in the NDIS price guide. Some NDIS participants or plan nominees like the level of involvement and hands-on management that comes with self-managing their NDIS finances, which can resemble operating your own small business.

What is NDIS Plan Management?

Plan management entrusts a qualified funding specialist with managing your NDIS money (like Carer Mates). A plan manager is an independent service provider who handles all the administrative tasks related to your plan and ensures that your providers are paid correctly and on time.

How does NDIS Plan Management benefit you?

You have access to both NDIS-registered and unregistered providers through plan management. The advantage of this is that care providers ensure that their rates adhere to the NDIS price guide, preventing overcharging for services.

Plan Partners doesn't just handle the administrative tasks they also provide you with advice, guidance, and resources so you may confidently manage your finances and secure the help you require.

Additionally, you have access to their services which makes it simple to monitor your spending, accept bills, and submit reimbursement requests.

Plan Partners like Carer Mates can assist you to understand your plan and what it includes so you can navigate the NDIS with confidence and make the most of your finances because we have years of experience working in the disability sector and with the NDIS.

Paying Care Providers Directly Yourself

For interacting with the NDIS, some providers impose additional fees. This is why you might want to make an upfront payment to a provider using your funds and then request a reimbursement from the NDIA using your funding.

Fortunately, plan management and self-management are both effective ways to accomplish this. Even better, Plan Partners allows you to submit through your Dashboard and receive your money back the very next business day; this is much faster than the NDIA!

Plan Management or Self-Management? Which one is better for you

This is dependent on your circumstances, personality, and available time. It truly depends on your degree of confidence and how hands-on you want to be, as both alternatives allow you to access any service providers, NDIS registered or not.

Self-management might be for you if you love taking a very active role in handling your finances and maintaining thorough records. Plan management is the best option if you'd prefer the assistance and direction of a pro.

You can get the best of both worlds

Another thing to consider is that don’t need to have just one administration option for all your support categories. You can plan and manage your Capacity Building money but self-manage your Core funding so you can defer paying your upfront major expenses. Additionally, you can change your mind mid-plan without having to conduct a whole plan review.

Conclusion

If you are currently on the National Disability Insurance Scheme or planning to be on it, you may be considering what NDIS Management you should choose. While you can have a balance of both Self-management and Plan Management, finding and choosing the best plan management provider is also critically important. We at Carer Mates provide superior, high-quality NDIS services and supports in Darwin and the surrounding region. We reach out to everyone, especially First Nations communities, and provide unique care.

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By Carer Mates • March 13, 2023

Get The Most Out of Your NDIS Plan

By Carer Mates • January 21, 2023
Getting the most out of your NDIS plan requires planning and making sure that you have entered all of your needs so that you can access supports over the period of your plan. Consider the things that will make a difference to achieve your goals, such as reaching out to relevant community supports, managing expenses or activating services throughout the year. Also try to think about what providers could work best for you in providing services and cost-effectively meeting your needs. Be aware of when costs and funding limits apply in order for them to be factored into any planning decision - and make sure to review every aspect so there are no hidden surprises when claiming! We at Carer Mates value each person's distinctive route toward realising their NDIS plan. Because of this, we go above and beyond to make sure that people's programmes are effective for them.

Basics of NDIS

By Carer Mates • October 18, 2022
The NDIS or the National Disability Insurance Scheme is fabricated and conceptualised to provide the Australians living with various limitations and disablities, with a wide range of customised support. These supports will help them overcome their respective limitations and lead a decent, productive and meaningful life. The main objective of NDIS is to: Help you to lead your life with more autonomy & independence Support you to play a more active and constructive role in your community Assist you in getting/keeping a job and a career of your choice Explore newer ways to improve your overall mental and physical health an general wellbeing NDIS funds some supports and services: The aim of this supports and services to help participant to live a normal life like healthy individuals. The support is mainly divided into three categories such as Core Support/Capacity Building Support/Capital Support. Core Support: This type of support is mainly help them with daily activities such as household needs, take them to grocery shopping or doctor’s appointment and to social participation. Capacity Building Support: Goal oriented support mean it is delivered in a way to achieve specific goal. This goal includes community participation skill enhancing, help them to develop skills to remain in job or find job and help them to find and maintain living arrangements. Capital Support: High cost items such as home modification or purchasing assistive technology are delivered under this support group. Learn more about support from NDIS How these supports are delivered: These supports are funded by NDIS mean they provide the budget amount for each support based on participants needs and all of this is mentioned in the participant NDIS Plan. Sometimes it is very hard for the participants to manage their NDIS funds, so to help them they have four options to manage this funding. Here they are: Self-Manage Plan: In this plan participant is capable of making their financial decision own their self or with the help of their advocate. So they are allowed to manage it their own. Plan Manage: With this plan they can get professional help to manage their funding means NDIS registered accounting firms or individuals can help them to use their NDIS funding and keep its accurate records while pay their providers. Agency Manage: National Disability Insurance Agency will manage funding allocated by NDIS. In this case your provider has to be registered with NDIS to provide you with services and they will be directly paid by NDIA. NDIA will help you to keep records of your financial and administration for you. A combination of NDIA and Self Manage plan/Plan Manage: In this plan participant and control some services and remaining can only be manage by NDIA only. This type of management is generally used by parents for their children where they can get help and guidance from NDIA while they have control over the services delivery. While participants have option to choose which types of fund management they want to and also, they can change it when they want. Learn more from NDIS here Source: https://www.ndis.gov.au/
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