How NDIS Funding Works
Agency managed, plan managed, self managed and private pay explained in plain English — and what each one means for choosing a provider.
Three ways an NDIS plan can be managed
How your plan is managed decides which providers you can use and who handles the paperwork. It does not change what you are funded for.
If you do not have NDIS funding at all, you can still pay privately — that is covered further down.
Agency managed (NDIA managed)
The NDIA pays your providers directly. You do not handle invoices at all. The trade-off is that you can only use NDIS-registered providers.
Clarity Care is a registered NDIS provider, so you can use us on an agency-managed plan. Many providers cannot take agency-managed participants.
Plan managed
A plan manager handles invoices and payments on your behalf. You can use both registered and unregistered providers. We invoice your plan manager directly, so there is nothing for you to do.
Self managed
You control the budget and pay providers yourself, then claim back from the NDIS. Most flexibility, most admin. We invoice you, with payment due within seven days.
No NDIS funding: private pay
Not everyone has NDIS funding. If you are paying yourself, we invoice you directly with payment due within seven days. We will be upfront about cost before anything starts.
A plan can use more than one
Plans are often split — for example, agency managed for some supports and self managed for others. If you are not sure which parts of your plan apply to the support you want from us, send us the plan and we will read it with you.
What we cannot do
We cannot tell you what the NDIA will or will not fund, and we will not guess. For decisions about your plan, talk to your support coordinator, your LAC, or the NDIA on 1800 800 110. What we can do is tell you honestly whether the support you are asking for is something we are funded and qualified to deliver.
Still confused?
That is extremely normal. Call us and we will go through it in plain English, with no obligation to use us afterwards.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us what is going on and we will talk you through the options — including telling you honestly if we are not the right fit.