The National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (NDIS) sets out the rules relating to participants, children, supports for participants, service providers and plan managers.
These rules are important to protect both participants and NDIS service providers with thousands of providers offering support services to over 400,000 participants throughout Australia.
The NDIS Act governs the NDIS and NDIA and more importantly the options for managing the finances of a service plan management.
These rules are important to ensure participants and providers are using the same terminology and have the same understanding to make informed decisions.
The NDIS rules dictate the decisions the NDIA makes regarding funded supports in a participant’s management plan. There are four key areas in the NDIS plan management rules:
- Identifying unreasonable risks to a participant (self-managed funds)
- Payment of NDIA amounts
- Temporary absence from Australia
- Description of supports in a participant’s plan
Participants have the freedom of choice to have their plans managed in one of the following ways:
- NDIA managed
- Self-managed
- Plan managed
Plan Manager
A Plan Manager is responsible for helping participants to organise the financial aspects of an NDIS plan, ensuring funds are properly used in accordance to a set budget approved by a participant.
Plan Managers are qualified professional accountants or similar with sound experience in health and disability sectors. This service is funded by the NDIS.
The Plan Manager submits claims to the NDIS for supports and services provided and settle accounts to providers of those supports. This is achieved through the NDIA portal.
Our Plan Manager will provide regular reports and statements so that you can follow your budget. The prices for services and supports are outlined in the NDIS price guide.
Our plan managers are responsible for:
- Finding providers who will best meet your needs.
- Developing service agreements and taking care of service bookings.
- Paying providers so you do not have to deal with finances.
- Dealing with complaints.
- Providing you a monthly report
Support Coordinator
Plan Manager and Support Coordinator perform similar roles except Support Coordinator does not handle any financial matters. A Support Coordinator assesses a participant’s situation, goals, interpret plans and choose the best providers for their needs.
In addition, a Support Coordinator organises connections with providers, community and support networks to help a participant live a fulfilled life.
