The difference between self management and plan management for NDIS plans

When it comes to managing your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan, you have three choices:

• Self managed NDIS plans
• Plan managed NDIS plans
• National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) managed NDIS plans

Should you choose to be self managed, plan managed, or Agency managed? That’s a common question – and we’re here to help you find the answer.

We’ve prepared this guide with everything you need to know about the three funds management options. We detail exactly how they work, how they can benefit you, and the things to keep in mind so you’re not caught unaware.

Ready to find the option that works best for you? Read on.

Self managed NDIS plans

By choosing to self manage your NDIS funding, you do everything yourself. You’re in full control over your supports and finances.

You can choose any provider (NDIS registered or non-registered), and you’re not bound by the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. This gives you a lot of flexibility, but it also comes with a few extra responsibilities too.

By self managing you’ll need to:

• Open a separate bank account in your name as the NDIS participant
• Keep records of all invoices and receipts for up to five years
• Pay your providers (usually you’ll pay out of pocket before submitting a claim)
• Claim the funds back from the NDIA’s participant portal
• Manage your budget

You might be able to use some of your NDIS budget for services like bookkeeping or support coordination to help you to self manage, but you’ll need to make sure you request extra funds to cover this when you have your planning meeting.

Benefits of a self managed NDIS plan include:

• Lots of control and flexibility over how you use your NDIS funding
• Ability to use both registered and non-registered providers
• The ability to negotiate pricing
• Developing budgeting and organisational skills

Things to keep in mind with a self managed NDIS plan include:

• You’ll spend more time paying invoices and doing admin
• You must keep receipts for five years
• You need to stay on top of NDIA rules and any changes – you’re responsible for making sure you spend in line with the rules.

Self management is right for you if:

You like to be in full control of your NDIS funding and don’t mind handling tasks like paying your providers, keeping your records, and claiming from the NDIA’s participant portal.

If that sounds like you, self management could be a great option.

Plan managed NDIS funding

Plan managed NDIS funding gives you flexibility without the extra admin. A plan manager (like us!) takes care of things like paying invoices, keeping records, and claiming from the NDIA, so you can focus on the more important things in life.

The NDIA includes funding in your plan for a plan manager, which means it’s free to all NDIS participants and doesn’t take budget away from your other supports. A good plan manager provides tools and technology to help you keep track of your spending and stay in control of your funding.

If you choose plan management, you get similar benefits to self management, but you don’t have to do any of the admin for your plan. You can use both registered and non-registered providers, but you must follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.

What’s a plan manager?

Plan managers are NDIS-registered providers who provide financial administration services to NDIS participants. Independent plan managers (like My Plan Manager) specialise in plan management only, so they don’t provide other services, keeping things simple, focused, and ethical.

Benefits of plan managed NDIS funding

There are many benefits to choosing plan management, including:

• The ability to use both registered and non-registered providers
• It costs nothing – the NDIA provides funding for participants who want a plan manager
• No admin for you – as your plan manager will process invoices and claims
• You’ll have compliance support when you need help understanding NDIA rules and policies
• A great balance: more flexibility than NDIA-managed, less admin than self-managed

Things to keep in mind with plan-managed NDIS funding include:

• Plan managers must stick to the NDIA’s Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits
• You’re time bound by your plan manager’s payment process. Our expert team, backed by our expert tech, typically reviews claims and sends requests for payment to the National Disability Insurance Agency in less than 48 hours.

Your plan manager at a minimum will:

• Keep all your records in case of an audit
• Claim from the NDIA on your behalf and pay your providers
• Reimburse any invoices or receipts for services you’ve paid for out of your own pocket
• Give you regular updates on your remaining budget amounts
• Be there to answer questions about your funding or NDIA rules

Plan management is right for you if:

You want choice and flexibility in your providers, but don’t want the hassle of paying invoices or keeping records. If you’d like the freedom of self management without the admin, plan management could be the perfect fit.

Agency managed funding

NDIA managed funding, also known as Agency managed funding, is the most hands off option, and is generally used when the NDIA has the view that it’s the safest option for a participant. With this approach, the Agency takes care of paying your providers and managing your plan for you.

Benefits of Agency managed funding include:

• Minimal admin for you because the NDIA pays providers directly
• Providers handle most of the compliance and billing

Things to keep in mind with Agency managed funding include:

• You can only use NDIS-registered providers (this is the most restrictive option)
• For regional areas, there may not be many registered providers available
• You must stick to the NDIA’s Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits
• You’ll have less control over how your supports are provided

Agency managed is right for you if:

• You want the easiest option and don’t mind having limited choice in providers
• You find understanding the NDIA rules challenging
• You’re not sure if you are capable of handling the admin needed for your plan

What’s the most popular and best way to manage NDIS funding?

If having more choice matters to you, self management and plan management are the options to look at. Both give you access to around four times as many providers compared to Agency managed plans, because you’re not limited to NDIS-registered providers. That extra flexibility can make a big difference in finding supports that really fit your life.

Both of these options are more popular than Agency management, but one of them stands out: plan management.

Plan management gives you the freedom to choose from a wide range of providers, while taking the stress out of the admin. You don’t have to worry about paying invoices or keeping records because your plan manager does that for you – but you still stay in control of your funding.

And the numbers back this up:

• By the end of 2025, 78% of new NDIS participants chose plan management
• Overall, 67% of all participants were plan managed

So, while there’s no one ‘right’ way to manage your plan, most people seem to want flexibility without the paperwork and plan management offers exactly that.

How to choose a plan manager

Choosing the right plan manager is an important step in making your NDIS experience smooth and stress-free. Here are a few things to look for when comparing plan managers:

• Speed of payments – ask how quickly they pay invoices because a good plan manager should process claims promptly.
• Transparency and tools – look for a plan manager who gives you easy access to your budget and spending. Helpful tools like apps or online dashboards can make it simple to track your funding in real time.
• Communication – you want a team that’s responsive and easy to reach, whether it’s answering questions or helping you understand your budget.
• Reliability – check how long they’ve been supporting NDIS participants and whether they specialise in plan management. A dedicated plan manager will focus on your financial admin without offering other services that could create conflicts of interest.
• Compliance and peace of mind – your plan manager should keep accurate records and ensure everything meets NDIA requirements, so you don’t have to worry about audits or rule changes.

Find out more about what a good plan manager does in What exactly does a plan manager do?

Think plan management sounds right for you?

If you want a plan manager to support you, the good news is it’s simple! Just let the NDIA know you’d like a plan manager, and they can add the funding for one into your plan. You can give the Agency a call on 1800 800 110 to get started.

If you’d like to learn more about My Plan Manager, reach out to our friendly team today. We’re here to answer your questions and make the process simple. You can email us at enquiries@myplanmanager.com.au or call us on 1800 861 272 from 8am-5.30pm (SA time), Monday to Friday.