Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions answered about plans and plan management which are frequently asked.
NDIS
Am I eligible for the NDIS?
If you are an Australian citizen with a permanent and significant disability that hampers your daily functional capacity, you can access NDIS support and services once you fulfil certain fundamental eligibility criteria. If you are not an Australian citizen, then you should be a permanent resident, or a Protected Special Category Visa holder to qualify for the NDIS. Also, you should be between the age of 7 and 65 living in Australia. If there is a child who is younger than 7, an early childhood partner may be able to support them prior to applying for the NDIS and informthe parentswhether the scheme is a good fit for their child.Even if a person checks all these boxes, they may have to provide evidence to the NDIA regarding the severity and permanency of their condition and how it impacts their daily life.
What is an NDIS Plan?
An NDIS Plan is a document that contains all your NDIS information including your preliminary details, the goals that you want to pursue, your allocated funding in each support category and information about the informal support that you receive from your family and friends. This document will be drafted after you meet with the NDIS planner and it will serve as a roadmap to achieving your goals and being independent.
What is funded under the NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) helps you lead a purposeful and goal-oriented life. The NDIS funding is given depending on what is deemed ‘reasonable and necessary’ for a participant to achieve the goals mentioned in their NDIS plan. All the supports and services funded under the NDIS must be directly related to your disability.
What is an agency-managed NDIS Plan?
An agency-managed NDIS plan is where the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) directly manages the funds of the participants. But when a participant chooses to go with an agency-managed NDIS plan, they can only access support and services from registered NDIS service providers.
Participant
What is NDIS Plan Management?
This is a disability support service where the participants who want help with managing their NDIS funding can avail the services of a plan management service provider. These providers will keep track of your NDIS spending and manages all the payments. They will receive invoices from service providers and submit those to the NDIS to claim funds. This will help the participants to avoid worrying about complicated administrative and financial details and focus only on their goals.
How can I access Plan Management?
This is a support that is hugely beneficial to participants who lack financial literacy and management skills when it comes to the NDIS. It is a capacity-building support available under the category of ‘Improved Life Choices.’ If this particular category is included in your NDIS plan, the cost of hiring a plan manager will be covered by the NDIS. You can access plan management only if it is found to be ‘reasonable and necessary’ for you by the NDIS.
How can a plan manager help me?
A plan manager will significantly reduce the pressure of having to deal with provider invoices and payments. With the assistance of a skilled plan manager, you can develop your own ability to manage your NDIS funds and reflect upon your spending. Having a plan manager by your side will help you identify the areas where you need to hold back on your spending as well as areas where you need to invest more money. You can access support from both registered and unregistered providers when you have plan management in your NDIS plan.
How do I connect with plan managers?
You can find registered NDIS plan managers with the help of the Provider Finder tool on the NDIS website. Your friends and family can also assist you in the search. Other sources that can help you connect with plan managers include your Local Area Coordinator, early childhood partner or support coordinator.
What if I am not happy with my plan manager?
A proper service agreement between you and your plan manager will ensure that everything is running smoothly. But you are allowed to change your plan manager if you are not happy with their service. As long as you comply with the notice period mentioned in your service agreement, there won’t be any issues.
Provider
What must be included in the invoice?
The name of both the participant and the plan manager should be included in the invoice along with the NDIS number of the participant. The number of hours of services delivered by the provider and the hourly rate that does not exceed the limits set by the NDIS price guide must also be mentioned in the invoice. NDIS line item or the item descriptor code that helps the providers to claim payments quickly should be included in the invoice. Providers can either refer to the NDIS website or reach out to plan managers to find this code.
When will an invoice face issues while processing?
Invoices that do not mention the name of the participant will be invalid. The providers who charge more than the amount specified in the NDIS price guide will also face issues.
Am I allowed to provide plan management services to my kin if I possess an ABN?
The NDIA does not encourage such arrangements and there is rarely a positive answer from the side of the agency regarding this. Participants must raise the issue with their planner if there are no other options left for them and it is essential that they accessplan management services from their family members.
