NDIS plan manager
A plan manager pays a participant's providers from their NDIS funding and keeps track of the budget. Plan-managed participants can use registered and unregistered providers, but prices must stay within the NDIS price limits. The plan manager's fee is paid from a separate part of the plan, not from the participant's support budget.
Three ways to manage NDIS funding
| NDIA-managed | Plan-managed | Self-managed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who pays providers | The NDIA | The plan manager | The participant |
| Providers allowed | Registered only | Registered and unregistered | Registered and unregistered |
| Price limits apply | Yes | Yes | No (used as a guide) |
| Paperwork for the participant | Least | Little | Most: paying invoices, claiming, keeping records |
A plan can mix these, for example core supports plan-managed and some capacity building self-managed.
What a plan manager does
- Receives your invoices, checks them against the participant's plan and the price limits, and claims from the NDIA.
- Pays you, usually within days.
- Sends the participant regular statements of what has been spent.
The NDIS funds plan management through its own support items, such as a monthly fee with a 2026-27 limit of $104.45. It doesn't come out of the money for support work.
For support workers: invoices plan managers pay
- Your business name and ABN, and whether you charge GST.
- The participant's name and NDIS number.
- For each line: date, support item number, hours and rate within the price limit.
- Your bank details and an invoice number.
- One participant per invoice.
The common reasons for rejection are a wrong or expired item number, a rate above the limit, the wrong time band (a Saturday shift billed on the weekday item) and missing NDIS numbers. Full walkthrough: how to invoice a plan manager.
Catch the rejections before you send. ShiftInvoice checks each line against the price limit and the day of the week. Pro saves your participants and their plan managers, so the next invoice is two taps.
Create an NDIS invoiceQuestions
Does the participant pay for a plan manager?
No. If plan management is in their plan, the NDIS funds it separately from their supports.
Can a plan-managed participant use an unregistered support worker?
Yes, as long as the price is within the NDIS price limit and the support fits the plan.
How do I find a participant's plan manager?
Ask the participant or their support coordinator, and write the plan manager's details in your service agreement.
Sources: ndis.gov.au, "Plan management" and "Self-managing your plan"; NDIS Support Catalogue 2026-27 (item 14_034_0127_8_3). Checked 31 October 2026. General information.