NDIA-managed, plan-managed or self-managed? NDIS plan management explained

Every NDIS plan says how the funding is managed. It affects which providers you can use, who pays the invoices, and how much paperwork you do yourself. Here’s a plain-English guide.

NDIA-managed

The NDIA pays your providers directly from your plan. It’s the simplest option for paperwork, but you can only use providers that are registered with the NDIS.

Good for: people who want minimal admin and are happy choosing from registered providers.

Plan-managed

A plan manager, funded in your NDIS plan, pays your invoices for you and keeps track of your budget. You can use registered and unregistered providers.

Good for: people who want more choice without handling invoices themselves.

Self-managed

You (or your nominee) pay providers and claim the money back from the NDIA. You have the most flexibility, but also the most admin, including keeping records and receipts.

Good for: people who are confident with budgets and want full control over who they use.

Can I mix them?

Yes. Some people self-manage part of their plan and have the rest plan-managed or NDIA-managed. Talk to your planner or support coordinator about what would work for you.

Can I change how my plan is managed?

You can ask the NDIA to change how your funding is managed. It usually comes up at a plan review or reassessment, but you can ask at other times too.

How Horizon Care works with each type

We support NDIA-managed, plan-managed and self-managed participants. Whichever you have, we’ll explain our service agreement and invoices clearly before anything starts.

This article is general information, not advice about your individual NDIS plan. NDIS rules change from time to time, so check with the NDIS or your support coordinator.