Knowing what's in your NDIS plan is the first step towards making the most of your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding. By familiarising yourself with your plan, you can make informed decisions about your disability support needs. Take the time to review your plan regularly, as it may change as your circumstances evolve. The knowledge will empower you to take control of your disability journey and get the most out of your funding. This blog outlines the key components of your NDIS plan, including your goals, supports, and services.
What is the NDIS plan?
Your NDIS plan is how you join the NDIS. It lists the reasonable and necessary supports to help you meet your current needs and reach your short and long-term goals. You can control and choose how to use the money from your first plan, so getting ready for your planning talk is important.
Who can help you to start your NDIS plan?
Depending on your situation and support needs, you will receive help to start your NDIS plan with one of the coordinators below. You may have already been in contact with these Partners in the Community at your original planning meeting.
- Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) Coordinator
- For families and carers of children aged 0-6 years.
- Local Area Coordinator (LAC)
- For NDIS participants aged seven and over.
- ECEI Coordinators and LACs come from organisations in your local community and work with the NDIA to deliver the NDIS.
- If ECEI Coordinators or LACs are unavailable in your area, the NDIA will help you connect to the NDIS and services or support the community.
Support Coordinator
If you need more help coordinating your support, the National Disability Insurance Agency may fund a Support Coordinator. A Support Coordinator can help implement your plan and build your ability to connect with support and services. Your NDIA Planner may also consider a Support Coordinator if your situation is more complex or you have specific goals you need help coordinating your supports and services to achieve. "The NDIS has helped me to be more independent by supporting me with modifications to my new house and helping me get back to driving a car. Driving a car has been huge for me. Also, they've helped get me back to the gym, which will lead to the ultimate goal of being able to walk a lot more and not have to rely on the chair as much as I do." (Roy, NDIS participant)
How can your ECEI Coordinator, LAC, or Support Coordinator help you use your plan?
Your ECEI Coordinator, LAC or Support Coordinator can help you:
- Understand your plan and what supports and services you can pay for with your NDIS funding
- Learn what the responsibility of other services, such as the health or education systems, or your state or territory government is
- Connect with community and other government services
The steps needed to make an NDIS plan
When planning your NDIS plan, here are steps to follow to make your first plan.
1. Plan setup
When your eligibility for the NDIS is confirmed, the NDIS will call you and set up a planning meeting between you (or someone you choose) and a National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) representative. That will be a LAC (3rd level coordinator) for most people.
2. Preparing your plan meeting and what to expect
Planning meetings usually last between one and two hours and the agent will try to get enough information from you to make your first plan.
3. Talking about your plans and setting goals
Your first plan is based on your goals, and the money for your support needs to be linked to the results you list in your plan. Now is the time to think about what you want out of life and see if any gaps or problems stop you from getting there.
4. Meeting to talk about plans
Before the meeting to discuss plans, make sure you have thought about your present needs, future wants and goals. Photos are a good way to show the agent your way of life.Have your paperwork ready, like medical reports, school records, work documents, quotes for support and services, and so on. Also, have someone with you during the talk to help you. Someone like a family member, friend, or a trusted NDIS provider can help you remember things you might have forgotten.
5. Making your first plan
After the planning meeting, your NDIA representative or LAC will write up a plan that needs to be accepted. Once everyone agrees, you will work with someone to carry out the plan and make it happen. They can help you meet with the community and mainstream or fund support. A Local Area Coordinator, a Plan Support Coordinator, or someone else could do this.
What's in your plan?
Your NDIS plan will be based on your discussion in your planning meeting. Your plan will include the following information:
1. Information about you
This section includes basic information about your disability, day-to-day activities, where you live, who you live with or care for you, and any aids and equipment (assistive technology) you may have.
- Family and friends
This section includes information about the support you get from family and friends that is not funded but will help you work toward your goals.
- Services and community groups
This section includes information about services and supports funded and delivered by community or other government services, like support groups, health centres, libraries and public transport.
2. Your goals
This section includes the current goals you want to achieve as part of your plan and the long-term goals you have identified for your life. Goal-setting is an important part of the NDIS. Each of your supports and services should be helping you achieve the goals you have in your NDIS plan.
3. Funded supports
This section tells you what funding you have been allocated across our three support budgets. Within each support budget, there are several support categories. You may not have all the support categories funded in your plan. Some people might have funded one or two support categories, and others may have more. This will depend on your individual needs and may change from plan to plan based on the support and services you need. Your funding is based on what is reasonable and necessary, in addition to the support provided by family, friends and other community and government services you need to live your life and achieve your goals. You must only use your NDIS funding on supports and services that are directly related to your disability and will help you achieve your NDIS plan's goals.
Find providers who meet your needs and help you achieve your goals.
Learn about making service bookings or service agreements with your providers. If you have questions, concerns or something in your life
Viewing your plan
Your plan will be available on the NDIS Myplace portal about 24 hours after approval. You will also receive a printed copy of your plan in person or by mail in your preferred format or language.
What is myplace?
The myplace portal is a secure website on the Australian Government's myGov website where you, or a person you trust (a nominee or third-party decision maker), can access your NDIS information. If you already have a myGov account for other government services, such as Medicare, the Australian Taxation Office or Centrelink, you can use the same myGov account for the NDIS. You will be given an activation code to use the first time you access the Myplace portal. You must access myplace as soon as possible after you receive your activation code, as the code will expire after ten days. If you need an activation code or your activation code has expired, you can get another one by calling the NDIA at 1800 800 110 or contacting your ECEI Coordinator, LAC, or Support Coordinator.
What can you do in myplace?
Below is information you can get on your myplace portal.
- See your current plan and previous plans
- Check your contact details
- See messages from the NDIS
- Create and view payment requests
- Create and manage service bookings
- Upload documents, including assessments
- Share your plan, or parts of your plan, with your service providers
- Find service providers
What are Support budgets?
NDIS plans contain three support budgets: core support, capital support, and capacity-building support.
Core Supports budget
Core Supports help you with everyday activities, your current disability-related needs, and to work towards your goals. Your Core Supports budget is the most flexible, and, in most cases, you can use your funding across any of the following four support categories:
- Daily activities: For example, assistance with showering, dressing, household cleaning and/or yard maintenance.
- Consumables: Everyday items you may need. For example, continence products or low-cost assistive technology such as modified cutlery and handrails to improve your independence and/or mobility. You may also use these funds to repair aids and equipment (assistive technology), for example, wheelchair tyre puncture repair.
- Social, community and civic participation: A support worker can help you participate in social and community activities. You can learn more about the inclusive events NDIS offers its participants.
- Transport: This is the support that helps you travel to work or other places to help you achieve the goals in your plan, where you cannot travel by yourself or use public transport. How you can spend your transport funding, including by arrangement with your provider, and how it is paid to you (whether upfront or in regular payments) will differ for each person. Your ECEI Coordinator, LAC, NDIA Planner or Support Coordinator will explain how you can use this budget.
2. Capital Supports budget:
Capital Supports include higher-cost pieces of assistive technology, home or vehicle modifications and funding for one-off purchases you may need (including Specialist Disability Accommodation). It is important to remember that funds within the Capital Supports budget can only be used for their specific purpose and not to pay for anything else.
The Capital Supports budget has two support categories:
- Assistive Technology: This includes equipment for mobility, personal care, communication and recreational inclusion, such as communication devices, wheelchairs or vehicle modifications.
- Home Modifications: Home modifications include the installation of an accessible shower or Specialist Disability Accommodation.
Tips: Read about Types of Home and Living Support NDIS can fund
3. Capacity Building Supports budget
Capacity Building Supports help build your independence and skills to help you reach your goals. Unlike your Core Supports budget, your Capacity Building Support budget cannot be moved from one support category to another. Funding can only be used to purchase approved individual supports within that specific capacity building (CB) category.
The Capacity Building Support categories are:
- Support coordination: This is a fixed amount for a Support Coordinator to help you use your plan and engage with providers.
- CB home living: Support to help you find and maintain an appropriate place to live.
- CB social community and civic participation: Development and training to increase your skills to participate in community, social and recreational activities.
- CB employment: This may include employment-related support, training and assessments that help you find and keep a job, such as the School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES).
- CB relationships: This support will help you develop positive behaviours and interact with others.
- CB health and wellbeing: This may include exercise or diet advice to manage the impact of your disability.
- CB lifelong learning: Examples include training, advice and help to move from school to further education, such as university or TAFE.
- CB choice and control: Plan management to help you manage your plan, funding and paying for services.
- CB daily activity: Assessment, training or therapy to help increase your skills, independence and community participation. These services can be delivered in groups or individually.
Conclusion
Finally, understanding what is in your plan can help you all through your NDIS journey. It will inform you on why you needed the support in the first plan and what your long term goals have always been. Also, ensure your plan really contains the right information about you, as this will help NDIS in their decision making. It will also help you access necessary services and advocate for your rights.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does the NDIS work?
The NDIS operates on a "self-managed" or "plan-managed" basis. In a self-managed plan, the participant assumes responsibility for managing the funds allocated to their support. With a plan-managed plan, the participant appoints an independent plan manager who assists with budgeting, coordinating services, and resolving funding issues. The NDIS funds support based on an individual's assessed needs, goals, and preferences. The participant works closely with their NDIS planner to develop a comprehensive plan that outlines the support they are entitled to.
What is in my NDIS plan?
Your NDIS plan outlines the specific supports, services, and equipment the NDIS agrees to provide you. The plan may include funding for a range of services, such as:
- Support coordination
- Therapy (e.g., physiotherapy, occupational therapy)
- Assistive technology (e.g., wheelchairs, communication devices)
- Home modifications
- Transport
- Community participation activities
- Respite care
How do I access my NDIS plan?
You can access your NDIS plan by contacting the NDIS directly or logging in to the myplace portal. Your plan should be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect your current needs and aspirations. Reviewing your plan with your NDIS planner or support coordinator to ensure it reflects your needs and any changes in circumstances is important.
Can I make changes to my NDIS plan?
Yes, you can change your NDIS plan at any time. This may include updating your goals, adding or removing supports, or changing your budget. You can request changes through your NDIS planner or by contacting the NDIS directly. It is important to communicate any changes in your circumstances promptly to ensure that your plan remains relevant and effective.
How do I manage my NDIS funds?
If you receive your NDIS funds directly, you can manage your budget by using them to purchase the supports and services outlined in your plan. Alternatively, you can choose a plan-managed plan where your plan manager can assist you in managing your funds and coordinate your support. It is important to record all invoices and receipts related to the support you receive, as you may need to provide them to the NDIS for reimbursement.
