Plan Managed vs Self Managed vs Agency Managed
Every NDIS participant chooses who pays their providers and keeps their financial records: a plan manager, themselves, or the NDIA. The NDIS says you have choice and control with all three. This guide compares them using the NDIS's own guidance and the NDIA's latest data, and shows what each option means in practice, what changed in 2026, and how to change your mind.
Facts checked: 20 September 2026
Plan management vs self managed vs agency managed — all three options compared
You choose how your funding is managed at your plan meeting, and you can ask to change it later. Your funding can only be spent on NDIS supports that are in line with your plan, whichever option you choose.
Quick answer: With plan management, a registered plan manager pays your providers and keeps your financial records. With self management, you or your nominee do this yourself. With NDIA management (also called agency managed), the NDIA pays your providers and keeps the records, and you must use NDIS-registered providers. Plan and self management let you use registered and unregistered providers. At 30 June 2026, 69% of participants were plan managed, 25% fully or partly self managed and 6% NDIA managed.
| Criteria | Plan Managed | Self Managed | Agency Managed (NDIA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who pays your providers | A registered plan manager, on your behalf | You, your nominee or your child representative | The NDIA, on your behalf |
| Provider choice | ✓Registered and unregistered providers | ✓Registered and unregistered providers, and you can employ your own staff | ✗NDIS-registered providers only |
| What you do | Approve claims and check your budget | Pay providers, make claims and keep records | Check your budget; providers claim from the NDIA |
| Records | Your plan manager keeps them and sends a monthly statement | You keep them for 5 years | The NDIA keeps them |
| Checking your funding | Under every option you can check claims and funding in the participant portal or the my NDIS app, and you stay responsible for making sure spending is in line with your plan. | ||
| Funding for the manager | Separate funding in your plan: $104.45 a month in 2026-27 | None needed | None needed |
| Share of participants (30 June 2026) | 69% | 25% (21% fully, 4% partly) | 6% |
What does plan managed mean in the NDIS?
Plan management is when a registered plan manager manages your funds. The NDIS says plan managers must be registered providers. They help you understand your plan, manage and monitor your budget, check and submit claims, pay your providers, keep your records and send you regular statements. Your plan manager gets your approval before submitting claims, and you must have a service agreement with them. The funding for a plan manager is separate from your other supports and can only be used to pay for plan management. See our full NDIS plan management fees guide.
- ✓Registered and unregistered providers can be used
- ✓Your plan manager pays providers and keeps the records
- ✓A monthly financial statement shows what you have spent and what is left
- ✓Funded separately at $104.45 a month, so it does not reduce your supports budgets
- ✗Plan managers cannot pay an invoice above the NDIS price limit, whether the provider is registered or not (NDIS update, 23 July 2025)
- ✗You still need to check your balance and stay within your plan; the NDIS says you remain responsible for that
What does self managed mean in the NDIS?
Self-managed funding is when you, your nominee or your representative pay your providers and manage your financial records yourself. The NDIS says this option gives you the most flexibility and choice. You choose registered or unregistered providers, can negotiate how much support costs, and can employ your own support staff. The NDIS lists five steps: set up your bank account, choose who to work with, pay for your supports, keep records and track your funding. Read the NDIS guide to self-managing your funding.
- ✓Registered and unregistered providers, plus your own staff
- ✓You can negotiate what supports cost
- ✓Two ways to pay: claim first and pay the provider, or pay yourself and claim back (usually paid within 2 business days)
- ✗You are responsible for paying providers, making accurate claims and keeping records
- ✗Keep receipts, invoices and notes for 5 years; the NDIS reviews claims before and after paying them
- ✗Funds used for things that are not NDIS supports, or not in line with your plan, may need to be paid back
What does agency managed (NDIA managed) mean?
NDIA-managed funding is when the NDIA takes care of payments to providers and keeps records of your NDIS supports. The NDIS sometimes calls it agency-managed. You can choose your providers, but they must be registered providers. The NDIS says you can ask for your plan to be NDIA-managed at any time, and that you might like to start with an NDIA-managed plan if you are not sure which option suits you. It may also decide your plan will be NDIA-managed if, for example, you do not want to or cannot self-manage, or if you do not choose a funds management type. See the NDIS page on NDIA-managed funding.
- ✓Providers claim in the provider portal, so you do not handle invoices
- ✓The NDIA usually pays a correct claim from one of your "my providers" within 2 to 3 business days
- ✓The NDIA checks with you by SMS before paying a provider who is not recorded on your plan
- ✗Registered NDIS providers only, so no unregistered providers
- ✓You can ask to change to another management type at any time
What do most NDIS participants choose?
The NDIA's Quarterly Report for the June 2026 quarter shows plan management is the most common option, and that the share choosing each option varies by state.
Participants by management type (30 June 2026)
69% plan managed, 21% fully self managed, 4% partly self managed and 6% NDIA managed. Across states, plan management ranges from 56% in the ACT to 86% in the Northern Territory. Source: NDIA Quarterly Report Q4 2025-26, Appendix D, Table D.16.
Share of plan budgets
Plan-managed participants hold 57% of plan budgets, NDIA-managed participants 31% and self-managed participants 11%. NDIA-managed participants are 6% of participants but hold 31% of budgets. Source: Table D.17.
Providers serving each type
Of 280,258 active providers in the June 2026 quarter, 210,956 supported plan-managed participants, 133,703 supported self-managed participants and 10,842 supported NDIA-managed participants. A provider can appear in more than one group. Source: NDIA National Dashboard, 30 June 2026.
The NDIA's autism data shows the same pattern for provider choice. In the year to 30 June 2026, 89% of the providers paid for plan-managed autistic participants were unregistered. Our guide to NDIS registered providers explains the difference, and the NDIA notes that an unregistered provider can only support participants who use a plan manager or who self manage.
Can you use more than one management type?
Yes. The NDIS says your plan can be managed all the same way, or the options can be combined.
Combined plans
The NDIS gives this example: your core supports could be self-managed while your capital supports are NDIA-managed. It also says you can choose to have one or more of your support types managed by a plan manager, if the NDIA agrees. Tell your planner at your plan meeting.
Risks and choice
The NDIS says it will talk to you about any risks with the way you want to manage your funding, and that you have choice and control over your plan with any of the options.
How do you change how your NDIS funding is managed?
You do not have to wait for a new plan.
1. Ask
Tell your NDIA planner or your NDIS contact, or call the NDIS on 1800 800 110. The NDIS says it will update your current plan if it agrees with your request.
2. Sort out your plan manager
If you choose plan management, the NDIS can include funding for a plan manager in your plan. Your plan manager needs a service agreement with you and must be recorded as your "my provider" so they can be paid. See our guide to adding plan management to your plan.
3. Tell your providers
Let your providers know who your plan manager is, so they send invoices to the right place. Changing plan manager later is separate: tell your current plan manager before you make the change, and tell the NDIA. See how to switch NDIS plan manager.
What has changed in 2026?
The NDIS is mid-reform, so check the latest guidance before you decide.
Portals
If your plan is in the NDIS's new computer system, you manage claims through the my NDIS participant portal. If it is still in the old system, you use the myplace portal until your plan moves. The my NDIS app works either way.
Reassessments
From 27 August 2026, only a participant, their nominee or their child representative can request a plan reassessment, on the correct form with evidence. The NDIS says it will decide within 90 days. Plan variations remain available for urgent, minor or short-term changes.
Budgets
From 1 October 2026, budgets for two support categories start to be reduced as plans are created or reassessed. This is not about management type, but it is a reason to check your plan. See our guide to NDIS budget categories.
Which NDIS management type is right for you?
There is no single right answer. These are the trade-offs the NDIS describes.
You want the most control and are happy to do the paperwork
Self management gives the most flexibility and choice. You pay providers, make claims and keep records for 5 years, or you can ask someone you trust to help.
You want providers paid for you, with broad choice
Plan management lets you use registered and unregistered providers while a plan manager pays them and keeps the records. Read how to choose an NDIS plan manager and check that a provider is registered with our guide on whether NDIS plan managers are registered.
You want the NDIA to handle payments
NDIA management means the NDIA pays and keeps the records. You must use registered providers, so check that the providers you want are registered. The NDIS says it is a reasonable place to start if you are not sure which option suits you.
You want a mix
A combined plan lets different support types be managed differently. Ask your planner what suits each budget.
You are choosing a plan manager
Compare providers using our independent comparison of NDIS plan managers. Our guides explain what a plan manager can pay for, what an NDIS service agreement should include and what NDIS invoice requirements mean for you. If you are unsure what the role involves, read what an NDIS plan manager does.
Plan management vs self managed: common questions answered.
If your question isn't here, talk to our team or browse the blog.
What does plan managed mean in the NDIS?
Plan managed means a registered plan manager manages your funds. They pay your providers, manage your financial records and give you regular statements. You can use both registered and unregistered providers. The funding for the plan manager is included in your plan and is separate from your other supports.
What is the difference between plan managed and NDIA managed?
With plan management, a registered plan manager pays your providers and you can use registered and unregistered providers. With NDIA management, the NDIA pays your providers and manages your records, and you must use NDIS-registered providers. NDIA managed is also called agency managed.
Does plan management cost me anything?
Plan management is funded in your plan. In the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27, the plan management schedule lists a single item: the monthly fee of $104.45. It does not list a separate setup fee. The NDIS says this funding is separate from your other supports and can only be used to pay for a plan manager. See our full plan management fees guide.
Can I change my management type during my plan?
Yes. The NDIS says you can ask to change how your plan is managed and you do not have to wait for a new plan. It will update your current plan if it agrees with your request. Tell your planner or call 1800 800 110. See our guide to adding plan management to your plan.
Can I have different management types for different support categories?
Yes. The NDIS says your plan can be managed all the same way or the options can be combined. Its example is core supports being self-managed while capital supports are NDIA-managed. You can also choose to have one or more support types managed by a plan manager, if the NDIA agrees.
What percentage of NDIS participants choose plan management?
At 30 June 2026, the NDIA reported that 69% of participants were plan managed, 21% fully self managed, 4% partly self managed and 6% NDIA managed. The share of participants who were plan managed ranged from 56% in the ACT to 86% in the Northern Territory.
What do self-managers have to do?
Self-managers pay their providers, make claims through the participant portal or my NDIS app and keep records, including receipts and invoices, for 5 years. The NDIS says it is a good idea to set up a separate bank account. You can pay a provider first and then claim, or claim first and then pay. The NDIS says payments usually reach your bank account within 2 business days.
Can I start with NDIA managed if I am not sure?
Yes. The NDIS says you can ask for your plan to be NDIA-managed at any time and that you might like to start that way if you are not sure which option suits you. You can ask it to change your management type later. Under NDIA management you must use registered providers.
Can I use unregistered providers?
Yes, if you are plan managed or self managed. If you are NDIA managed you must use NDIS-registered providers. Whichever type you choose, the NDIS says plan managers cannot pay an invoice above the NDIS price limit.
Can I switch plan manager without changing my management type?
Yes. You can change your plan manager at any time during your plan and you do not have to wait for it to end. The NDIS says to tell your plan manager before you make the change. Read how to switch NDIS plan manager.
Ready to find a plan manager?
Our independent comparison covers Australia's top-rated plan managers — payment speed, app quality, support style and more. Free to use.