What is the Difference Between NDIS Plan Administration and Support Coordination?
You can manage your plan more effectively if you understand the difference between NDIS plan management, support coordination, and what you can expect from them. Plan managers and support coordinators are available to help NDIS participants. When used correctly, these services can provide professional advice, guidance and support to enable you to live as independently as possible. Here are the basics of NDIS support coordination and plan management.
NDIS Support Coordinator and NDIS Plan Management
A NDIS Plan Manager is able to assist with financial aspects of your plan. This is the primary difference between a Support Coordinator and a Plan Manager. A support coordinator, on the other hand, can help you manage your support and providers.
Plan Managers
Plan Management is one option for managing your NDIS funding. There are also options for agency, self or a combination. To find the right one, it is important to research all options.
Plan Managers serve as your individual NDIS accountant. A Plan Manager will allow you to manage your plan yourself, without having to worry about managing bills or budgets. All NDIS participants have access to Plan Management at no extra cost. You can request that a Plan Manager is added to your plan.
The following are the responsibilities of a Plan Manager:
Both NDIS-registered as well as non-registered service provider access is allowed.
Get invoices from service providers and pay them.
Assisting you in choosing the right support provider for your needs
Track your support and funding budgets.
To apply for funds, use the NDIS portal
Manage your NDIS plan review.
Support Coordinators
A Plan Manager may be able to provide access to NDIS registered or non-registered service providers to assist you in choosing the right provider. However, the responsibility for managing the support and providers that you use falls on the shoulders of a support coordinator. The NDIS may consider it necessary and reasonable to provide support coordination, regardless of whether your plan is self-managed or NDIA-managed.
Support Coordination offers three levels of assistance. These levels are:
Support Connection
It usually takes only a few hours per monthly and becomes less as you make connections with your group and receive fund support. Support Connection’s goal is to help you understand your plan and develop the skills necessary to implement and manage your NDIS.
Support Coordinator
This is a Capacity Building Support in the NDIS that will assist you with implementing any other supports. NDIS Support Coordination will initially work for a few hours per semaine to help you set up your supports. Once those supports and service agreements are in place, your support coordinator will continue checking in with you to ensure that you are happy with the supports.
The following are the responsibilities of a support coordinator:
Assist with the selection of service providers and services
Plan assessments
Talk to your plan manager about funding allocation.
Get in touch for mainstream and community services.
Manage Service Agreements, including modification and termination.
Assist with plan renewal preparation and review.
Specialist Support Coordinator
It functions in the same way as Support Connection. These communications last only a few hours each month. This reduces overtime and helps you plan for your renewal. This type of NDIS Support Coordinator provides specialised assistance in more complex matters. This is for people who might need the assistance of multiple government services or agencies in order to achieve their goals and plans.
Support Coordinators and Plan Managers
At your planning meeting, you can request a Plan Coordinator or Support Coordinator to assist with your NDIS plan. Your Support Coordinator and Plan Manager can discuss your support and providers if necessary.
When choosing a support coordinator or plan manager, consider the following:
How often does your Plan Manager check in on you to make sure you are following your plan?
Are you sure your plan manager is independent? Do they provide other services that are in your best interest?
Are they able to work in the financial and disability sectors?
What level of understanding do they have about the NDIS and how it affects you?
Their services can help you manage your funds more efficiently
Do they want to help you achieve your future and current goals?
Are they the same person each time? Or do they have a strong connection with you?
Take Away
NDIS support coordination and NDIS plan management are two services that help people with disabilities put their NDIS plans into action. Both services help people with disabilities in different ways. These services may seem interchangeable to many people. Many people with disabilities don’t know the difference between these services, and what they do.