You don't need to do any paperwork. Self-managers do everything themselves. With a plan manager, you'll have the same flexibility in choosing the service provider for your plan's supports as if it were self-managed. The key difference is that the supports managed by the plan cannot be paid at a rate higher than the NDIS price guide.
However, the plan administrator can negotiate on your behalf to pay a lower price for services to maximize your funds. Plan administration involves appointing a professional or organization to manage NDIS funds on your behalf. This can be useful if you prefer not to deal with the administrative tasks associated with your plan or if you don't qualify for self-management. The downside is that you may have less control over your funds and your options.
An agency-managed plan uses a simplified electronic portal system that greatly simplifies purchasing services and paying your service providers. The right amount of knowledge and experience in managing plans is required to manage a fund efficiently. For example, you can choose to self-manage part of your plan from the start and let the NDIA manage the rest. On the other hand, self-management is more suitable for participants who want to have full control not only of the funding of the NDIS, but also of the administrative tasks involved, such as payments, record keeping and reimbursement requests through the NDIS portal.
The NDIA will pay the plan administrator, and then the plan administrator will use the funds to pay providers directly. The main advantage of having a plan administrator is that they will take care of the financial and administrative aspects of the plan, such as paying providers for the supports you purchase, keeping track of your expenses, and taking care of financial reports. This plan management option allows you to hire an external plan administrator to handle the administrative work involved in contracting support services from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). Participants should choose plan administration if they want to have greater control over NDIS funding, if they prefer the flexibility to choose from a wide range of providers, and if they want to avoid the stress of keeping records and paying providers on time.
If you're looking for a plan manager that eliminates the stress of having to claim and pay bills, Living My Way can help. During the planning meeting, your early childhood partner, LAC planner, or NDIA will ask how you would like to manage NDIS funds. By considering your individual needs and preferences, you can make an informed decision and take control of your NDIS plan. The NDIA will provide your plan funds to hire a plan administrator to pay your providers for you, help you keep track of funds, and handle financial reporting for you.
The NDIA website contains a wealth of information on the administration and self-management of plans, including guides and fact sheets. This option is paid separately from the NDIS plan and doesn't affect any of your other support.
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