If you’re an NDIS participant, you probably already know that NDIS plan management is one of your options when it comes to managing your NDIS fund.

What is plan management, exactly? Simply put, it’s having a registered professional manage the financial aspects of your NDIS plan instead of you doing it yourself or having the NDIA do it for you.

Plan management is an ideal choice for participants who may not feel confident about exploring the complexities of the NDIS on their own and would rather leave the task in the hands of an expert. To learn more about the differences between plan management, self-management and management by the NDIA, read this.

In this blog entry, we go into more detail about the advantages of plan management. Below, we list five reasons why a plan manager can help you get the most out of your life on the NDIS.

1. A plan manager will take care of paying your service providers for you.

With plan management, you have a dedicated NDIS expert to take care of receiving and processing your service providers’ invoices and submitting them to the NDIS for payment.

At Blitzit, we promptly pay invoices within three to five business days of receiving the invoice, giving you peace of mind that your payments are up to date. Plus, we understand the different types of funded supports and category codes involved, meaning you don’t have to waste precious time or resources trying to sort through NDIS red tape.

2. With a plan manager, you get more choices of service providers.

With plan management comes greater flexibility and control over the providers whose services you get. That’s because, as with self-management, plan management allows you to get both NDIS-registered and unregistered providers. In contrast, NDIA management only allows you to engage the services of NDIS-registered providers.

Many smaller providers, while skilled and capable, may be unregistered because the process of registration takes a while and is a costly complex procedure. If you’ve been working with an unregistered provider and you are thinking of applying for the NDIS under NDIA management, any supports you continue to get from this provider will not be funded by your plan.

3. With a plan manager, you’ll be able to monitor your budget better.

Many plan managers provide their clients with an online tool that allows them to track spending and stay on budget.

For example, the Blitzit Online Portal is a convenient 24/7 one-stop location for checking the status of your invoices, viewing your balance, and tracking your spending against your NDIS budgets. For greater transparency, Blitzit also sends you a monthly statement that outlines your budget, balances and spending with each provider.

4. With a plan manager, you’ll gain more knowledge about the NDIS.

Having a plan manager is like having a go-to NDIS expert: one who not just takes care of your plan’s financial tasks, but also offers suggestions on making the most of your plan that you may not get otherwise.

At Blitzit, we always stay on top of new developments in the NDIS, and we’re committed to sharing our knowledge with our clients. We hope that the guidance we provide arms them with greater confidence as they navigate the often-confusing world of the NDIS.

5. With a plan manager, you may eventually learn to self-manage.

In your NDIS plan, plan management falls under the Improved Life Choices category of Capacity Building supports. This is because plan management is intended to strengthen your ability to manage your supports, and ultimately assist with managing and monitoring your NDIS budget.

With the NDIS knowledge, funding smarts and confidence you’ll gain from working with a plan manager like Blitzit, you’ll get closer to being able to self-manage in the future if this is one of your goals.

Interested in plan management?

If you think plan management is the right choice for you, the next steps are easy.

If you’ve yet to have your planning meeting with your NDIS professional, simply request for plan management during your meeting. The NDIS delegate will decide on your eligibility requirement for plan management. The NDIA will then allocate additional funding for a plan manager in your NDIS plan, which is on top of the budget you will be getting for your other services and supports.

If your plan is already running and you want to switch to plan management, contact the NDIS at 1800 800 110 to request for the change. The NDIS will then bring it up with your Local Area Coordinator for immediate action.

If you need more information about plan management before you proceed, we’d be more than happy to help. Contact us for a chat at 1300 966 119, email hello@blitzit.com.au, or sign up now. To get regular updates on plan management and our services, sign up for our newsletter here.