If you want to move to plan management, you probably want to know how soon it will work. If the role is new to you, start with what is a plan manager. This guide explains what has to happen, which steps are slow, and what you can do to avoid a gap in payments.
The short answer
We could not find an official set-up time. The NDIS does not publish one on the pages we checked. Some of the steps depend on you and your plan manager. Others depend on the NDIS.
What we can say is this: payment cannot start until your plan manager is recorded on your plan as a "my provider". Everything else is faster if you get that step done early.
Step 1: Get plan management into your plan
If your plan is already plan-managed, you can skip this. Your plan will say "This funding is plan managed" and include funding for a plan manager.
If it is not, ask. The NDIS says you can ask for a plan manager at any time during your plan. You do not have to wait for a new plan. Tell your my NDIS contact. The NDIS will update your current plan if it agrees. A support coordinator can also help you with this step. See support coordinator vs plan manager.
This is the step you control least. Ask early, and keep a note of when you asked. Our guide on plan managed vs self managed can help you decide first.
Step 2: Choose a plan manager
Pick a registered plan manager. Our guide on how to find a plan manager shows how. To confirm a registration, see how to check if an NDIS provider is registered. Plan management is registration group 0127.
Plan to meet at least two. The NDIS says to ask about fees, reports and conflicts of interest at your first meeting. Rushing this step can cost more time later if you have to switch.
Step 3: Sign a service agreement
The NDIS says you need a service agreement with your plan manager. It covers what they will do, for how long, what it costs, and how to change or end it.
A plan manager will also run a service establishment meeting. This is where they learn about your plan, budget and spending history. They go through your plan with you and agree how invoices will be handled.
Step 4: Get recorded as your "my provider"
This is the step that most often causes delays.
The NDIS says all plan managers must be recorded as a my provider to be paid. You can do it in the my NDIS participant portal, at your plan meeting, or by calling 1800 800 110. Your plan manager can also send you a request in the portal. You accept it under the "relationships" tab.
The NDIS says claims for plan management are rejected if the plan manager is not recorded. So do this step before any invoices come in.
Step 5: Tell your providers
Tell each provider who your plan manager is, and where to send invoices. Do this once you know the plan manager is recorded.
If you are moving from self-management, agree a date with your providers. That way, invoices go to one place and are not paid twice.
How fast are payments after that?
Once your plan manager is set up, payments can be quick. The NDIS says claims from my providers are generally paid within 2 to 3 days. A plan manager should pay your provider within 2 business days of receiving that payment. Each claim is also checked with you before it goes through.
If a provider is not recorded as a my provider, the NDIS says a claim can take about 10 days. Those timeframes come from the NDIS guidance for providers. Your own experience may differ.
A quick example
Hannah asks her NDIS contact on Monday to move her core budget to plan management. She meets two plan managers that week and picks one. She signs the service agreement on Friday.
The following Monday she sees a relationship request in her portal and accepts it. Her physio sends the next invoice to the plan manager. It is paid in the normal timeframe.
If Hannah had sent that invoice before accepting the request, it might have been rejected. Doing the steps in order saved her that wait.
Things that may change
NDIS systems and websites are being updated for new laws. Timeframes and steps may change. Check ndis.gov.au before you start, and ask your plan manager what they currently see.
What can slow things down
Most delays come from a few places. Knowing them helps you plan.
- Plan management is not in your plan yet. The NDIS needs to agree to the change first.
- No relationship is recorded. The plan manager cannot be paid until they are recorded as your "my provider". If you miss the portal request, nothing moves.
- Details do not match. A wrong NDIS number or name can stop a link being made.
- Providers still send invoices to the old place. Invoices can go astray if you have not told them.
- A change of plan type partway through. If you are moving from self-managed or NDIA-managed funding, agree a handover date with your providers.
If you are stuck at any step for more than a few days, call the NDIS on 1800 800 110, or ask your plan manager what they can see on their side.
A simple checklist
Use this list to track where you are:
- Plan management is in my plan, or I have asked for it.
- I have chosen a registered plan manager.
- I have a signed service agreement.
- My plan manager is recorded on my plan as a "my provider".
- My providers know where to send invoices.
- I can see my balance in the portal or app.
Keep it somewhere you can find it. If one step stays open for a while, that is the one to chase.
On Goodo
If you are stuck at one of these steps, you can add your question to the Goodo list and we will email you when your area opens.
About this guide
Goodo is independent. We are not part of, or endorsed by, the NDIA or the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. This is general information, not advice. Rules change, so check ndis.gov.au or call the NDIS on 1800 800 110 about your own situation.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to set up NDIS plan management?
The NDIS does not publish one set-up time that we could find. How long it takes depends on your plan, how fast you choose a plan manager, sign a service agreement and accept them in the portal, and whether the NDIS needs to change your plan first.
Do I need a new plan to start plan management?
No. The NDIS says you can ask for a plan manager at any time during your plan. If your plan is not plan-managed, ask your my NDIS contact to change how it is managed. The NDIS can update your current plan if it agrees.
Why can a plan manager not be paid straight away?
The NDIS says plan managers must be recorded as a my provider for your plan to be paid. Claims for plan management are rejected if they are not recorded. Accept the plan manager's request in your portal, or tell the NDIS.
How fast should my providers be paid once I am set up?
The NDIS says claims from my providers are generally paid within 2 to 3 days. A plan manager should then pay your provider within 2 business days of receiving payment from the NDIS.
Can I start plan management in the middle of a plan?
Yes. You can ask to be plan-managed at any time. Tell your my NDIS contact or call the NDIS on 1800 800 110. Make sure your plan manager is recorded before your providers send invoices to them.
Sources
Goodo is independent
