Plan management is one of three ways to manage the money in your NDIS plan. This guide explains what a plan manager does, how plan management is funded, what to ask about fees, and how to switch if it is not working for you.
The short answer
A plan manager is a registered provider who pays your providers and keeps your records. You still choose your supports and your providers. You still decide what gets paid.
If your plan has plan-managed budgets, the NDIS includes funding for the plan manager. It sits in your capacity building supports budget. You can only use it to pay for plan management.
You can ask for a plan manager at any time during your plan. You do not need to wait for your next plan. Talk to your my NDIS contact.
What a plan manager does
The NDIS lists the tasks. A plan manager will:
- talk to you about how you will work together
- help you understand your plan and what counts as an NDIS support
- check that each claim fits your plan and budget
- pay your providers from your plan funding
- keep your records, like invoices and receipts
- send you a monthly financial statement
They must also get your approval before they submit claims. That way you can confirm the support was really delivered.
Your plan manager must be registered with the NDIS Commission. Plan management is its own registration group. See registration group 0127 and the glossary entry for plan manager.
What a plan manager does not do
A plan manager looks after money. They do not run your life or your plan.
They do not:
- choose your providers for you
- decide what the NDIS will fund
- change your plan or your goals
- find and set up supports, which is the job of a support coordinator
You are still responsible for knowing how much you have spent. You also need to buy only supports that fit your plan. Our guide on support coordinator vs plan manager shows how the two roles differ.
How fees work
We do not list fees here, because they change. This is how the system works.
Plan management funding is a "stated support" in your plan. The plan shows the amount. Ask each plan manager how much they will charge and what is included. The NDIS suggests you raise this at your first meeting. It should also be written in your service agreement.
Prices for NDIS supports also have maximum limits. The NDIS says those limits apply to plan-managed and NDIA-managed participants. Providers cannot charge more than the maximum, and the NDIS will not pay a claim above it. You and your provider can agree on a lower price.
If a fee surprises you, ask for it in writing. Check it against your service agreement. Then talk to your plan manager, or the NDIS on 1800 800 110.
Choosing providers when you are plan-managed
With a registered plan manager you can choose registered or unregistered providers. That is a big reason people pick plan management.
Some supports must still come from registered providers. The NDIS names specialist behaviour support, supported independent living and specialist disability accommodation. See how to check if an NDIS provider is registered.
A short example
Marcus is plan-managed. His physio sends an invoice. His plan manager checks it against his budget. Marcus gets a message asking him to approve it. He says yes. The plan manager claims the money and pays the physio.
At the end of the month, Marcus gets a statement. It shows what he has spent and what is left. If the physio had charged for a session that never happened, Marcus could say no.
How to start, and how to switch
To start, tell your NDIS planner or my NDIS contact that you want a plan manager. Then follow these steps:
- Find registered plan managers near you. Our guide to how to find a plan manager helps.
- Meet one or two and ask about fees, reports and conflicts of interest.
- Agree a service agreement.
- Make sure they are recorded as your "my provider" with the NDIS.
- Tell your providers where to send invoices.
To switch, tell your current plan manager first. Then tell the NDIS and your new plan manager. Your old plan manager cannot claim for you once you move, so ask them to pass on any unpaid invoices. Read our step-by-step guide to switching plan managers.
Things that may change
The NDIS Commission says there are no changes to the requirements for plan managers at this time. It also paused its work on mandatory registration for support coordinators in December 2025. The NDIS rules are being updated in stages. Check ndis.gov.au for the latest.
Questions to ask a plan manager
Plan managers are not all the same. The NDIS suggests you talk about these things at your first meeting:
- what NDIS supports you need
- how much funding you have for them
- how they will pay your providers
- how you will keep track of your funding
- how often they will send a report
- how much they will charge
- what access to your plan you are giving them
- whether they have conflicts of interest, like financial or personal links to providers who deliver NDIS supports
Write the answers down. If an answer is vague, ask again. You can also meet more than one plan manager before you choose.
If you are unhappy with your plan manager
The NDIS says you are responsible for managing the relationship with your plan manager. Start by telling them what is wrong and what you want to change.
If you are not happy with the outcome, you can lodge a complaint with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. You can also switch to a different plan manager. You do not have to wait until your plan ends. Our guide on what to do if something goes wrong with a provider covers the steps.
On Goodo
If you want to hear how other participants found their plan manager, you can put your question on 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
Do I pay for NDIS plan management out of my own money?
Usually no. If your support budgets are plan-managed, the NDIS includes funding in your plan for a plan manager. That funding can only be used for plan management. Check your plan to see it, and ask any plan manager what they charge.
Can a plan manager pay providers who are not registered?
Yes. With a registered plan manager you can choose registered or unregistered providers. Some supports, such as supported independent living and specialist disability accommodation, must still come from registered providers.
Does my plan manager decide how I spend my funding?
No. You choose your providers and you authorise claims. Your plan manager checks that claims fit your plan and budget, pays the invoices, and sends you a monthly financial statement.
Can I change my plan manager in the middle of my plan?
Yes. The NDIS says you can change plan manager at any time during your plan. You need to tell your current plan manager before you make the change, and let the NDIS know so your new plan manager is recorded.
What if I am unhappy with my plan manager?
Talk to them first. If that does not fix it, you can lodge a complaint with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. You can also change to a different plan manager without waiting for a new plan.
Sources
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