There are around 4.3 million Australians who have a disability. Within the next five years, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will provide more than $22 billion in funding a year to an estimated 500,000 Australians who have permanent and significant disability. For many people, it will be the first time they receive the disability support they need.

 

The NDIS can provide all people with disability with information and connections to services in their communities such as doctors, sporting clubs, support groups, libraries and schools, as well as information about what support is provided by each state and territory government.

 

NDIS - What does it mean?

• National: The NDIS is being introduced progressively across all states and territories.
• Disability: The NDIS provides support to eligible people with intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive and psychosocial disability. Early intervention supports can also be provided for eligible people with disability or children with developmental delay.
• Insurance: The NDIS gives all Australians peace of mind if they, their child or loved one is born with or acquires a permanent and significant disability, they will get the support they need.
• Scheme: The NDIS is not a welfare system. The NDIS is designed to help people get the support they need so their skills and independence improve over time.
  
  

NDIS key words

• Permanent and significant disability: A permanent disability means your disability is likely to be lifelong. A significant disability has a substantial impact on your ability to complete everyday activities.
• Supports and services: Assistance or products that help a person in their daily life and help them participate in the community and reach their goals.
• Early intervention: Providing support to a person, either a child or an adult, as early as possible to reduce the impacts of disability or developmental delay and to build their skills and independence.

If you are eligible for the NDIS you need to apply to become a participant. When you receive an ‘access decision’ letter, the next step is creating your NDIS plan. Once your plan is approved, you need to understand different budgets, who can help you start using your plan, and how your plan is managed. There are three ways to manage your plan; self-management, plan-managed funding, NDIA-managed funding.

 

SELF-MANAGEMENT

The NDIA provides you with funding so you can access the supports that will best help you achieve your goals. Find out more about self-management. 

Self-management means a participant or their plan nominee, chooses to be responsible for controlling their own support budget.

If you choose to Self-manage you or your plan nominee are responsible for arranging, managing and paying for the supports that best meet your needs.

You have the flexibility to choose the provider of your choice, including providers not registered with the NDIS.

You can also negotiate the price you’re willing to pay for supports.

By choosing Self-management you can pay invoices directly from your nominated NDIS bank account.

 

PLAN-MANAGED FUNDING

The NDIA will provide funding in your plan to pay for a Plan Manager who pays your providers for you, helps you keep track of funds and takes care of financial reporting for you. Find out more about Plan-managed funding.

 

Plan management explained

Plan management allows you to:

• have choice and control over the providers you use;
• use NDIS registered providers;
• use non-registered providers (although your Plan Manager must be a registered provider);
• negotiate pricing to pay less than the NDIS price guide;
• make value for money decisions in line with your plan;
• view your plan on the myplace portal to keep track of your budget.

 

Role of the Plan Manager

If you choose to be plan-managed, a Plan Manager is funded in your plan and must be an NDIS registered provider.

They claim directly from the budgets in your plan to pay your providers on your behalf.

If you choose to use a Plan Manager, they will:

• pay your providers for the supports you purchase;
• help you keep track of your funds;
• take care of financial reporting for you;
• depending on your circumstances, they can also help you choose your providers.

NDIA-MANAGED FUNDING

The NDIA pays your providers on your behalf. Find out more about NDIA-managed funding.

When your plan is managed by the NDIA (sometimes referred to as Agency-managed):

• You are able to choose from a range of NDIS registered providers.
• Your providers claim payment electronically from your funding.
• You cannot use unregistered providers.
• You can look on the myplace portal to see what claims providers are making against your NDIS funding and keep track of your budget.
• The NDIA will manage your book-keeping and records of your spending.

 

NDIS-FUNDED PJAMA

Please note that E3 Health Pty Ltd is not a registered provider. To receive funding for Pjama you need to be on a self-managed plan or have plan-managed funding.  In either case, please contact us on support@e3health.com.au, or give us a call on 0433 996 344 and we will help you sort it out.