NDIS Plan Management and Support Coordination work together to help people implement their NDIS plan but in different ways. For instance, plan Management will assist you in keeping track of the financial aspects of your NDIS plan. While your manager can give data and guidance on finding the right support for you, they cannot coordinate these supports on your behalf. Meanwhile, coordination of support will be handled by you, the participant, your plan nominee, or, if reasonable and necessary, by a Support Coordinator.

In this article, we will compare and contrast these two, answer your questions, and offer advice on how to get the most out of both!

What Exactly Is NDIS Plan Management?

Your NDIS-funded bookkeeping service is Plan Management. Your Plan Manager will pay your suppliers for the services you purchase, assist you in keeping track of your funds, and handle all financial reporting on your behalf.

What Can a Plan Manager Do for You?

Working closely with you and your support team, your Plan Manager will assist you in having choice and control over your plan.

Your Plan Manager is in charge of the following:

  • Making claims through the NDIS portal
  • Booking plan-managed services through the NDIS portal
  • Payment of provider invoices
  • Monitoring your spending against your planned budgets
  • Taking care of your reimbursement claims
  • Keeping and safeguarding your financial records

What Exactly Is Support Coordination?

Support coordination assists you in carrying out your plan by locating and connecting you with a variety of providers who are the best for your requirements. This service will help you develop the skills required to comprehend, implement, and apply your plan. A support coordinator will work with you to ensure that a variety of supports are used to help you maintain relationships, handle your support team, live more freely, and be a part of your community.

What Can a Support Coordinator Do for You?

A support coordinator will assist you in understanding the plan you have been given and what it can be used for, as well as connect you with appropriate providers. They aim to assist you in optimising your plan and making the most of your funded support.

They will also help you negotiate with providers about the types of services they give, the amount of service they will offer, and the price.

What Is the Distinction Between Specialist Support and Support Coordination?

There are three levels of support coordination that can be incorporated into your plan:

  • Support Coordination

This assistance will assist you in developing the capacities required to understand, apply and implement your plan. A support coordinator will work with you to ensure that a variety of supports are used to help you maintain relationships, handle service delivery tasks, live more freely, and be a part of your community.

  • Support Connection

This is designed to enhance your ability to interact with the community, and informal and funded supports, letting you make the most of your objectives and achieve your objectives.

  • Specialist Support Coordination

This is a more advanced level of support coordination. It is intended for people in more difficult situations who require specialised assistance. A Support Coordinator will assist you in managing challenges in your support environment and ensuring consistent service delivery.

How Is Support Coordination and Plan Management Funded by the NDIS?

The NDIS can fully fund both plan management and support coordination. There are no prerequisites for including funding for Plan Management in your plan; simply request it during your planning meeting. Nevertheless, Support Coordination is not available to everyone. The NDIS evaluates each case on an individual basis and will only provide funding if you do not have an informal network of family and friends who can perform some of the tasks that a support coordinator does.

NDIS Plan Management and Support Coordination address two distinct needs and are thus funded in separate categories, allowing you to receive funding for both in the same NDIS plan.

Where to Find NDIS Support Coordination

Finding the right Support Coordinator for you can be a time-consuming process, but it is valuable. Having the best providers on your side is a massive step towards guaranteeing you are getting the most out of your plan and working on your objectives.

One of the best benefits of being an NDIS participant is the ability to use both non-registered and registered providers.  This implies that, in addition to the resources already accessible to NDIS participants, including the NDIS Provider Directory, individuals can find service providers by using search engines like Google.

Take Away

The NDIS may fund both NDIS Plan Management and Support Coordination. These serve very multiple functions and are funded under various budget categories, which implies that if you are eligible, you can receive funding for both NDIS plan management and NDIS support coordination in the same plan.