We’ll talk to you about how we can support you to manage any risks with self-managing your NDIS funding. We’ll think about if there are supports and strategies available that reduce the risk to you before we make a plan management decision. In many cases this means you, your plan nominee, or your child representative, will still be able to self-manage part or all of your funding. We just need to make sure the risk to you is not an unreasonable risk.
We’ll consider the specific risk to you and look at suitable ways to help you manage the risk.
We can give general advice and information about self-managing your funding which might be enough to manage any risks to you. This includes information on things like employing your own staff and working with providers. If you’re new to self-management, we can work with you to try and solve any problems you have. We might be able to fund a support coordinator or a registered plan manager to help you get started. Or include funding for training in self-management.
Other strategies we can consider to reduce risks to you include:
- giving you a plan with a shorter length of time or shorter funding periods
- having regular check-ins with you
- stating how a support in your plan needs to be purchased. For example, there might be only a few providers who can safely provide a specialised support.
When we think about risks, we also think about the types of supports you want to manage. If there is an unreasonable risk for you to self-manage some supports, you might be able to manage others. You might also be able to manage some of your funding now and manage more in the future if you’re ready.
For example, you may want to self-manage your funding but haven’t done it before. You may be unsure how to set up your budget and pay your providers. It might be a good idea to start small. We could support you to link to a peer support network to get information from other self-managers about how they manage their payments. For example, you might be able to start with self-managing the funding component amount for core supports such as social and community participation.
At regular check-ins you can let us know if you need any help to self-manage your funding, or if you want to manage more of your funding. Once you’re familiar with the process of paying providers and keeping records, you might be ready to self-manage other parts of your funding.
What if you have a plan nominee or child representative?
If it’s part of their nominee arrangement, a plan nominee or child representative, may be able to manage your plan funding. We can’t let your plan nominee or child representative manage your plan funding if they’re insolvent under administration, or it presents an unreasonable risk to you. We consider risk in the same way as if you want to self-manage your plan funding.
If your plan nominee or child representative wants to manage your funding, we’ll think about:
- their capacity to manage your finances
- if any business or other interests might affect how they manage your money
- if we believe they will use your funding on NDIS supports and in line with your plan
- if any safeguards or strategies in your plan could help reduce any risks to you.
We'll think about what strategies could reduce any risks of your plan nominee managing your plan funding. We’ll talk to you and let you know our decision and explain our reasons.
Your plan nominee may also be able to request who manages your plan funding. They can do this if their nominee arrangement allows them to make decisions about parts of the preparation, management or changes to your plan.
Your plan nominee has to work out what you want. They need to make decisions that help your personal and social wellbeing.
Learn more about nominees or child representatives.
What if you’ve been convicted of an offence punishable by 2 or more years or involving fraud or dishonesty?
We need to think about if you, your plan nominee, or a child representative have had any criminal convictions. You can’t self-manage if you or your nominee have been convicted of an offence that:
- led to a prison sentence of 2 years or more
- involves fraud or dishonesty.