Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Being plan managed means that the plan manager, who must be NDIS registered, takes care of the administration of your NDIS funding. Invoices are paid to your providers, and copies are kept for you. Being plan managed means you have a choice of either registered or unregistered service providers, for certain services.

You can call us on (08) 8448 1106, or click on the Sign Up Button and follow the prompts.

No. Being plan managed means no out of pocket expense to you.

When you request to be plan managed at your planning meeting, the NDIA will include an Improved Choices Budget in your plan, in addition to your other budget categories. This includes the once off set-up fee and monthly flat rate fees.

The NDIS provides funding for ‘reasonable and necessary’ supports. Goods and services directly relevant to achieving your specific goals and objectives as detailed in your NDIS plan.

Day to day living costs, entertainment, good, support items already delivered under other government funding schemes (such as Medicare and education), items that do not represent value for money, and items that may pose a risk of harm to the participant or others, will unlikely be approved for payment by the NDIS.

Yes, you can change plan managers at any time during your plan. Whether it is to move across to Soothing Minds Plan Management or moving to another Plan Manager. Call us and we can assist you through the process.

We are able to work with almost any provider, as long as they have an ABN and meet GST requirements.

We can assist you with getting started with providers and can provide you with a ‘Provider Letter’ with all the information that they will need to forward us their invoices.

If you’re not happy with any current services, you can find a new provider and give them the ‘Provider Letter’.

If you wish to be plan managed, you will need to contact your NDIA Planner or your Local Area Coordinator (details written in your NDIS plan) and they should be able to do a light touch review to change your plan over to plan managed.

LACs and planners work for “Partner organisations” – the organisations that are given contracts by the NDIA to handle all planning meetings in a designated geographical area. Their role includes linking you to the NDIS and to mainstream and community supports in your area. They are paid by the NDIA, not out of your plan money or out of your pocket.

LACs are responsible for

• Helping you understand and access the NDIS
• Creating your plans
• Implementing your plan
• Reviewing your plan
• Linking you to information and support in your community
• Informing you about your support available in your community
• Explaining how the NIDS works with other government services

Support Coordinators are like a coach and they usually start working with you when a person starts their approved plan. You can engage whichever SC you want to work with. They are a private, separate business from the LAC organisations and are funded out of your plan. You can ask for different levels of support coordination while you are having your planning meeting (with your planner or LAC).

SC’s are responsible for

• Helping you build the skills you need to understand and use your plan
• Telling you how your funding can best be used to reach your goals
• Working with you to ensure you have a mix of supports to increase your capacity to maintain relationships, live more independently and be included in your community
• Explaining what things in your plan mean, making you feel empowered, connected and supported so you can confidently spend your funds in appropriate ways. 
• Connecting you to providers that you want to work with. 
• Helping you to negotiate with providers about what they will offer you and how much it will cost out of your plan.  
• Ensuring service agreements and service bookings are completed. 
• Making sure the services you engage are relevant to your goals.
• Helping you to prepare for your plan reviews when they are coming up.

PM’s are responsible for and must be NDIS registered providers

• Processing invoices for payment by the NDIS
• Claiming directly from the budgets in your plan to pay your providers on your behalf.
• Paying your providers for the supports you purchase.
• Helping you keep track of your funds (this can be through offering emailed reports or optional online portals or mobile phone apps).
• Taking care of financial reporting for you.
• Holding onto all of the invoices and information for you for five years minimum, in case of an audit.

If your budgets are plan managed, you simply need to find service providers which you would like to use and ask them to invoice Soothing Minds Plan Management for the services you receive. Your SC will talk with you about your plan and discuss with you what you might like to purchase to be able to achieve your goals.

Check the NDIS Plan Categories fact sheet.

We aim to pay within 3 business days from the time that we receive the invoices for payment. However, there may be reasons why this may not occur. Check What are some of the reasons why payment of an invoice is delayed question.

SMPM will provide you with either summary or detailed monthly statements. These can be posted or emailed to you. The statement will provide you with a list of all invoices approved and paid, category budget spending and balances for each and for the overall budget. You can also download the Careview Advantage App onto your mobile for 24/7 real time access.

Instructions on how to download a copy of your NDIS plan from My Place Portal can be accessed at this link.