Can I have both a Plan Manager and a Support Coordinator?

If you are heading into a planning meeting, you have probably heard both terms thrown around: plan manager and support coordinator. It is a common question, and the short answer is yes. You can have both. They are different types of funding that do different jobs, and for many participants, having both in place is what makes an NDIS plan actually work day to day.

Here is what each one does, how they fit together, and what to ask for at your planning meeting.

Different funding, different jobs

Your NDIS plan can include separate funding for:

• Plan management — this covers paying your invoices and managing your NDIS budget.
• Support coordination — this covers help understanding your plan, connecting with the right supports, and coordinating services so they work well together.

Because they sit in different parts of your plan, you do not have to choose one or the other. Many participants have both, especially when they are plan-managed (rather than self-managed) and also want hands-on help setting up and coordinating their supports.

What a plan manager does

A plan manager looks after the money side of your plan. That includes:

• Paying invoices from your providers
• Keeping track of what you have spent and what is left in each budget category
• Making sure claims are coded correctly against the NDIS price guide
• Giving you visibility over your spending, usually through an online portal

A plan manager does not typically help you choose providers, set up services, or sort out a problem if a service is not working. That is where support coordination comes in.

What a support coordinator does

A support coordinator helps you use your plan, not pay for it. That includes:

• Explaining your plan and what your funding can be used for, in plain language
• Helping you explore and choose providers that suit your goals
• Setting up services and service agreements
• Coordinating supports so they work well together, rather than as disconnected services
• Helping solve problems if something is not working or your needs change
• Helping you prepare for your next plan review

How they work together

In practice, a plan manager and a support coordinator work side by side. For example, your support coordinator might help you choose and set up a new provider, and once that service is running, your plan manager pays that provider’s invoices from your budget. Neither role replaces the other. Your support coordinator will usually keep in touch with your plan manager to check budgets and flag anything that needs attention, with your permission.

What to ask for in your planning meeting

If you think you would benefit from both, it is worth saying so clearly at your planning meeting. You can ask for:

• Plan management funding, so invoices are paid and your budget is tracked for you
• Support Coordination funding, so you have someone to help you understand and use your plan

Be specific about why. If you are finding it hard to navigate providers, feel unsure what your funding covers, or want help getting services working together, that is exactly what support coordination funding is for.

How CoAct Support Coordination can help

CoAct Support Coordination works alongside plan managers every day, and we understand how the two roles fit together. We help you understand your plan, choose the supports you want, and keep everything coordinated, while your plan manager looks after the payments. We offer support in person in Brisbane, and by telehealth across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

If you are not sure what to ask for at your next planning meeting, or you already have support coordination funding and want to get started, we are happy to talk it through. Call 1800 226 228 or visit coact.org.au/ndis-support-coordination to find out more.