Effectively budgeting your NDIS fund is one of the most important tasks as a participant. Whether you’re a new or existing participant in the NDIS scheme, this article will help you learn how to manage and maximize your NDIS funds efficiently.
Managing NDIS
Keeping track of your NDIS budget ensures that you have enough funds to pay for the support you need during the entire period of your plan. It also enables you to maximize your plan so you can receive as many supports as possible.
What does an NDIS plan cover?
It varies between individuals and is flexible to the type of support you need. Typically, an NDIS participant will receive funding based on one of these three main supports:
✔️Core Supports: Aid with everyday activities and current disability needs.
✔️Capital Supports: Assistance in building a participant’s independence and skills.
✔️Capacity Building Supports: Funding pieces of assistive technology, equipment and any home or vehicle modifications. This also includes any one-off funding.
Managing your NDIS funding
How you manage your NDIS budget is entirely within your control. There are three simple ways that you can choose to manage your NDIS funds – by yourself, through a plan manager, or through the NDIA.
Self-Manage
Under this method, you can manage your NDIS funding by yourself. A self-managed approach gives you the flexibility to choose your own service provider, and it allows you to allocate your funds based on the support you need.
One of the biggest benefits of managing your funds yourself is the level of control. You will be able to choose who gives you support and use a provider that you feel will best help you with your goals. A self-managed plan is excellent if you have the time and capacity to manage your own funds.
Plan-managed funding
You can also choose to manage your NDIS funds through a plan manager. This means that the NDIA will distribute your NDIS funds to your plan manager, who will then use the funds to pay for your NDIS support.
A plan manager comes with the financial skills to distribute your funds. They are also able to pay support providers when you cannot do so. When distributing your funds, your plan manager must follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.
NDIA-managed funding
Under the NDIA-managed approach, the NDIA will pay support providers for you. Your support provider does not have to be a registered NDIS service provider in a self-managed and plan-managed funding. However, the NDIA-managed method requires you to use support from a registered NDIS service provider.
Having your funds managed by the NDIA can save you time from tedious administrative work. For example, NDIA will allow the service provider to claim payment electronically from your funds, and the NDIA will also manage your bookkeeping and keep track of spending records.
Utilizing your NDIS plan
How you manage your NDIS fund is crucial, as it ensures that you’re using your funds in the best way possible. To maximize your funds, you’ll need to set the right goals, understand your plan and your needs, and effectively communicate those needs to the NDIA.
10 tips to help you maximize your NDIS funding
✔️Put your needs and goals first
✔️Get Plan ready
✔️Mind your language!
✔️Highlight your need for independence, safety and social inclusion
✔️Informal Supports: friends and family
✔️Transport
✔️Don’t accept a Plan if it doesn’t meet your needs
✔️Budgeting and spending
✔️Starting your Plan as soon as it’s approved
✔️Use it or lose it!
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