In 2022, there will be well over 4 million Australians living with a disability. To help to improve their quality of life and aid in day to day living, the Australian Government decided to enact the NDIS.

Unfortunately, given the bureaucratic processes and financial considerations needed to participate, actually using the NDIS can be pretty confusing. So confusing in fact that you could be losing out on getting the most out of your NDIS plan.

So, what are the biggest challenges when managing the NDIS?

Managing your NDIS is a big responsibility for you and staff alike. It can be a little overwhelming to make sure all providers are paid correctly, though, as this involves liaising with them & following up on those payments before they're made.

Keeping track of all your accounts can be a lot of work. Things have to be monitored and recorded properly, which requires a lot of effort on your part. But the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, as this directly influences how easily you can access your NDIS funds.

Finding info and resources about NDIS when you're just getting started can be really difficult. But if you're working with a great NDIS manager, fear not, it won't be very difficult to get the ball rolling.

How does an NDIS Plan Manager help?

They Can Make It Simpler

Scheduling NDIS provider appointments with the help of an NDIS planner is really easy. Using a provider will help you plan and avoid all the tax and legal jargon. They basically let you access NDIS-provided services without the trouble of going through the hoops or keeping track of all the dull accounting. This includes doing all of the things that people most struggle with: managing the finances, paying invoices and bookkeeping.

The Perfect Provider

When you're deciding on a service provider, it's always important to do your research and set your standards properly. But it's likely that it will still be stressful, even if you prepare! When it comes to providers of NDIS services, you should go with a professional so you can avoid these problems. With a plan manager finding the right NDIS provider is a breeze. That's because a good plan manager can help you sort through providers and vet them, allowing you to choose from only the best. Basically, they'll do a lot of the work for you and let you focus on really important areas of life, like living it!

All questions and legalities are taken care of

With the NDIS being complicated to manage and understand, it's natural to have a million and 1 questions. A good plan manager will be able to answer all of these questions for you with ease. They'll also be on hand to prevent you from making any unwanted or costly mistakes when you have to deal with the reporting or accounting and taxes. This is a huge advantage as it saves you both time (and more importantly) stress!

Accountability

Need specific costs or dates or exact times for reporting? Want to find out how much you've spent on a certain provider last year? Too easy, when you have a Plan Manager to take care of all of your needs. They can tell you exactly how much a specific service cost so even if it comes to the future, there is no need to worry.

How do I employ a plan management?

The first step is at your initial planning meeting, just tell the staff at the NDIS that you would be happy to have a plan manager support you. 

Once requested, your plan manager will be part of your future NDIS funding. Don't worry! You won't lose out or anything – This is a completely separate part of your funding from the general provider services and supports you receive monthly from the NDIS.

What if I am already in a plan and I want to update to include a plan manager? If you are already receiving NDIS funding and want to amend your plan, you can contact the NDIS office on 1800 800 110. Their staff will be available to discuss how to change your plan to include an NDIS plan manager. 

What plan managers do you have in the network? And how do I find them?

There are lots of government approved NDIS plan managers, which makes finding an NDIS plan manager is easy. You can find a plan manager through the following channels:

• Your LAC (Local Area Coordinator), support coordinator or early childhood partner.
• Family, colleagues, other parents, family  
• Google or online
• Use the governments ‘Provider Finder tool' (located on the NDIS myplace participant portal
  )

And now you can see how an NDIS planner can be a lifesaver (not to mention timesaver and cash saver) if you're an NDIS participant!