Am I eligible for the NDIS?

You may be eligible if you meet the age, residency, and disability or early intervention requirements. You must be younger than 65 when you apply, live in Australia, and be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Special Category visa holder.

Can children access the NDIS?

Yes. Children younger than 9 and their families may be supported through the NDIS early childhood approach. Children younger than 6 with developmental delay may also be eligible under the early intervention requirements.

What is plan management?

Plan management means a registered plan manager helps manage the financial side of your NDIS plan, including paying providers, keeping records, and reporting on how your funding is used. Plan management is funded separately by the NDIA through your Improved Life Choices (Capacity Building) budget. It does not reduce your other support funding and costs you nothing out of pocket.

How can my NDIS plan be managed?

Your plan can be plan managed, self managed, NDIA managed, or managed using a mix of these options.

Does plan management mean I lose control?

No. With plan management, you still choose your providers, supports, and goals. Your plan manager helps manage the financial side of your plan.

Can I change to plan management later?

Yes. You can ask to change how your plan is managed, and you do not have to wait until a new plan is created. If your plan is on the PACE system, you may need to record your new plan manager with the NDIA before they can start.

What does reasonable and necessary mean?

It means the support must meet NDIS rules for your individual situation. The NDIA considers whether the support relates to your disability, helps with your goals, is effective, represents value for money, and is not better funded by another system.

How does invoice processing work with plan management?

Your provider sends an invoice to your plan manager. Your plan manager checks the details, confirms the claim can be processed under your plan, submits the claim through the NDIS system, and pays the provider once funds are released. You do not need to manage the claiming process yourself.

Can I use unregistered providers with plan management?

Yes, plan managed participants can generally use registered and unregistered providers, as long as the support meets NDIS rules and does not require a registered provider.

How long do I have to request an internal review?

You usually have 3 months from the day you receive the decision to ask for an internal review, and it is best to request one as soon as possible.

Can I apply for the NDIS if I am already over 65?

If you are 65 or older and not already a participant, you generally cannot apply. You may be able to access support through My Aged Care or other community services.

Updated Aug 2026 • 7 min read

NDIS Plan Management FAQs: 100+ Questions Answered

Flat vector illustration of an NDIS participant reviewing plan management FAQs with a First2Care specialist.

There is a lot to understand when you are getting started with the NDIS. The terms, forms, and planning conversations can feel like a lot at first, especially if this is your first time applying or using an NDIS plan.

These NDIS plan management FAQs provide simple answers to common questions, so you can feel more prepared, ask the right questions, and take the next step with confidence. At First2Care, we believe good support starts with clear information, whether you are applying for the NDIS, preparing for a planning meeting, or looking for help with plan management.

How to use these FAQs

Select a question to show its answer. You can open them in any order, and open what you like. If you use a keyboard, press Tab to move between questions and Enter or Space to open or close an answer. If you use a screen reader, use the heading list to move between topic sections.

In this guide

01

NDIS eligibility and access

02

NDIS partners and applying

03

Preparing for the NDIS

04

Understanding your NDIS plan

05

NDIS supports

07

About First2Care

08

Invoices and payments

09

Providers and choice

10

Reviews, complaints and getting help

11

Talk to First2Care about plan management

06

NDIS plan management options

NDIS Eligibility and Access

Preparing for the NDIS

NDIS Partners and Applying

Understanding your NDIS plan

A plan variation is a smaller change to your current plan without creating a completely new one. This may include changes such as the way you manage your funding, for example adding plan management or adding short-term, crisis, or emergency funding when your support needs change suddenly. Another example is adding equipment, including specific assistive technology or once-off repairs recommended by a professional.

From 27 August 2026, a request for an unscheduled plan reassessment can only be made by the participant, their plan nominee, or a child representative. A request can be made when there is a significant and ongoing change to your functional capacity and support needs, or to your living, education, work, or informal support arrangements. The NDIA then has 90 days to decide whether to reassess your plan. You can read more on the NDIA’s Securing the NDIS for future generations page.

NDIS Supports

NDIS Plan Management Options

About First2Care

Invoices and Payments

Providers and Choice

Reviews, Complaints and Getting Help

Talk to First2Care about plan management

At First2Care, we are here to make the financial side of your NDIS plan feel easier to understand and manage. You stay in control of your providers, supports, and goals, and we help with the invoices, budgets, records, and reporting behind the scenes. If you are ready to get started, we would love to support you.

If you have a question that is not answered here, we are happy to talk it through, with no pressure. Call us on 1300 322 273 or visit first2care.com.au. We will give you a straight answer, every time.

Join First2Care today →

Call 1300 322 273

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Payment Safeguards: How to Approve or Pause an Invoice with First2Care

Many of our clients will have noticed a change in how invoice notification emails from First2Care appear, with the option to quickly approve an invoice or pause it. We want those approvals to feel straightforward, and this is one of the ways we are making it easier to stay across what is being claimed against your plan. This article explains what you need to know about these changes and how they help protect your NDIS plan funds.

Illustration of two people beside a large wall calendar with days ticked, showing how NDIS funding periods work.

NDIS Funding Periods: When Your Funding Becomes Available

Your NDIS plan set out how much funding you have for the whole plan. If your plan uses funding periods, you get that funding a bit at a time rather than all at once. NDIS funding periods do not affect the total funding allocated for your plan. They only change when you access each part of it. This article explains how funding periods work, what happens to funding you do not use, and what to do if you need more support than expected. It also covers how we keep track of what is

Illustration of NDIS funding periods, showing people beside a wallet connected to icons for different supports.

NDIS Funding Periods: What Providers Need to Know

Some NDIS plans make funding available in set periods. Funding periods began being introduced gradually from 19 May 2025 for new and reassessed plans. Most are set at 3 months, although the NDIA may set another length based on the participant's needs and circumstances. Funding periods keep the participant's total plan funding the same. They change when each part becomes available. This article explains how funding periods may affect service planning and invoice processing. Wh

First2Care is a registered NDIS plan management provider (ABN: 24 601 046 155), registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. This article is for general information purposes. For advice specific to your individual plan, please speak with your NDIA planner, Local Area Coordinator, or the First2Care team directly.

NDIS Plan Management FAQs: 100+ Questions Answered

In this guide

01

02

03

04

05

07

08

09

10

11

06

NDIS Eligibility and Access

Am I eligible for the NDIS?

What are the NDIS age requirements?

What are the NDIS residency requirements?

What are the NDIS disability requirements?

What are the early intervention requirements?

Can children access the NDIS?

What does developmental delay mean for NDIS access?

Can I apply if I am turning 65 soon?

Can I apply for the NDIS if I am already over 65?

What if I am not eligible for the NDIS?

Preparing for the NDIS

How do I prepare for the NDIS?

What should I write down before my NDIS planning conversation?

Why is preparation important?

What should I take to my NDIS planning meeting?

Can I bring evidence from my therapists?

Can I bring a family member or friend?

What if I do not understand NDIS terms?

Should I talk about my goals?

Should I talk about informal supports?

Should I ask about plan management during planning?

NDIS Partners and Applying

What is an NDIS partner?

What is an early childhood partner?

What is a Local Area Coordination partner?

Can an NDIS partner help me apply?

How do I start an NDIS application?

What information do I need for an NDIS access request?

What evidence should I provide for my NDIS application?

Can a doctor or therapist help with my NDIS application?

Can I take someone with me to an NDIS meeting?

How long does it take to apply for the NDIS?

Understanding your NDIS plan

What is an NDIS plan?

Who creates my NDIS plan?

Is every NDIS plan different?

What does my NDIS plan include?

What are informal supports?

What are mainstream supports?

What are funded supports?

Can my plan change over time?

What is a plan variation?

What is a plan reassessment?

Who can ask for an unscheduled plan reassessment?

NDIS Supports

What support is covered under the NDIS?

What does reasonable and necessary mean?

Does the NDIS fund everyday living costs?

Does the NDIS fund health services?

Does the NDIS fund education services?

Can the NDIS fund support for community participation?

Can the NDIS fund supports for independence?

Can the NDIS fund equipment?

Can the NDIS fund therapy?

What should I do before buying a support?

NDIS Plan Management Options

How can my NDIS plan be managed?

What is plan management?

What is NDIA management?

What is self-management?

Can I mix plan management options?

Which option gives me more provider choice?

Which option has the least admin for me?

Does plan management mean I lose control?

Can I ask for plan management at my planning meeting?

Can I change to plan management later?