How long before my first invoice is paid?

Once your plan manager recording is confirmed, we process invoices promptly after you have approved them. Most participants see their first invoices processed within the first two weeks.

Do I have to approve every invoice?

You stay in control, but it is designed to be easy. We email you when an invoice arrives. If you are happy with it, you do not need to reply. If something is not right, reply to our accounts team within 24 hours and we will hold it.

Do I need to do much during my first 30 days?

Very little. You give us your NDIS number, your plan details and your providers' contact information. Your specialist doed the rest, including the recording, setting up your providers, setting up your account and processing invoices.

What if my providers have never worked with a plan manager before?

That is not a problem at all. We contact your providers directly and guide them through submitting invoices correctly. We do this regularly and we are glad to help providers who are new to it.

Can I check my budget before my first invoices have been processed?

Yes. Your Plan Magic portal is activated as soon as your plan manager recording is confirmed, usually within the first week. You will see your total funding straight away, and invoices appear as they are processed.

What if I have already paid for something myself?

You may be able to claim it back. Fill in the reimbursement form at first2care.com.au/submit-reimbursement, or simply email us the receipt and we will take it from there.

What if I am not sure my previous plan manager knows about the switch?

Your specialist manages the plan manager recording process, which formally transfers the arrangement, and your previous plan manager is notified through the NDIA system. If you would like us to help communicate the change directly as well, we are happy to do that.

What if my questions are not about invoices?

Your specialist is there for all your NDIS questions. If you are unsure what your funding covers, what a section of your plan means, or what to do about an upcoming plan reassessment, just ask. We will either answer directly or point you to the right place.

Is there anything I should do to make the most of my plan?

Three things. Log into your Plan Magic portal and look at your funding balances. Tell your specialist if anything looks different from what you expected. And ask the question you have been putting off. The more we understand about your situation and your goals, the better we can support you.

NDIS Guide

• 7 min read

Your First 30 Days with First2Care

Timeline of your first month with First2Care, showing week one submitting invoices, week two tracking budgets, week three provider payments, week four support coordinator.

Starting with a new plan manager raises the same questions every time, whether you are brand new to plan management or coming across from somewhere else. Will my supports keep running? Will my providers be paid on time? Am I going to spend the next month waiting for answers?

We set up your account with one purpose in mind, making sure that by the end of your first 30 days, none of those questions are left open. You know who to call, your providers are being paid, your budget is there on screen whenever you want to look at it, and plan management feels like the straightforward, helpful thing it is meant to be.

Here is exactly what those 30 days look like.

In this guide

Days 1 to 3: Your welcome and set up

Days 3 to 7: Your account is set up

Days 7 to 14: The rhythm begins

Days 14 to 30: Settled and confident

What you will have in place after 30 days

Frequently asked questions

This is one of the clearest signals that something is not right. You can switch plan managers at any time, without NDIA approval and without affecting your funding. A reasonable notice period in your service agreement (often two to four weeks) is completely normal, it simply allows a clean handover of any outstanding invoices. What is not normal is a plan manager who becomes evasive when you ask about leaving, discourages you from exploring other options, or makes the process sound far more complicated than it is. A confident, trustworthy plan manager will always respect your right to choose. For a step by step, read: How to Switch NDIS Plan Managers.

Days 1 to 3: Your welcome and setup

Your welcome from First2Care

The moment you join, we will contact you. Someone from of our team will introduce themselves, confirm your details, and make sure you know exactly who to contact should you have any questions at all. This is not an automated email. It is a real person making sure your start with us is a good one.

If you have not already signed your service agreement during sign up, that happens now. Your First2Care specialist explains each part to you, answers any queries or concerns you may have, ensuring you are comfortable before you sign. It is written in plain language, and signing it electronically takes only a few minutes.

Your plan manager recording is submitted.

Your specialist submits the my provider recording request through the NDIA system, so that First2Care can be formally connected to your plan. My providers are simply the providers you have told the NDIA you work with regularly, and plan managers need to be recorded this way in order to be paid.

You do not need to contact the NDIA yourself. We do this for you. The NDIA usually processes this, contacting you within a few business days. While that is happening, your specialist is already setting up your account, so everything is ready the moment it is confirmed.

We ask for a copy of your plan.

If you have a copy of your complete NDIS plan and any support letters, sharing them with us early makes a real difference. It means we have everything we need to help you make the most of your funding from the very beginning.

If you do not have a copy, that is completely fine. We can see your plan once we are linked as your plan manager.

Days 4 to 6: Your account is set up

Your plan manager recording is confirmed.

Once the NDIA processed the recording and we are linked as your plan manager, we can see your plan details in the NDIS portal. This includes your support categories, your funding amounts, and your plan end date. Your specialist reviews all of it carefully and confirms everything is set up correctly.

If anything looks different from what you were expecting, whether that is a funding amount, a support category or a date, your specialist will raise it with you straight away and help you understand what it means.

Your Plan Magic portal is activated.

You receive your login details for the Plan Magic portal, which is your own budget dashboard. You can open it any time from your phone, tablet, or computer.

Inside your portal, you can see:

your current funding balance in each support category
which invoices have been received and processed
copies of paid invoices, for this plan and past plans
how your spending is tracking across your plan overall

Take a few minutes to have a look at it. Your specialist will happily explain how to read your budget view and answer any questions about what you are seeing.

Your providers are contacted.

Your specialist contacts your current providers to introduce First2Care and explain how to submit invoices. We send each of them everything they need, including where to send invoices, and what to include so that payment goes through without delay. Invoices come to us at accounts@first2care.com.au, in PDF format. If any of your providers have never worked with a plan manager before, we speak with them directly. You do not need to pass messages between us and them. Should you wish to contact them personally though, we can also provide you with the notification information they need to send their invoices to First2Care.

One thing worth knowing: if we have not paid a particular provider before, their first payment may take an extra day. That is because we need to set up their profile and verify their bank details in our system. It only happens once.

Days 7 to 14: The rhythm begins

Your first invoices arrive

As your providers start submitting invoices, your specialist starts processing them. Each one is checked against the NDIS Pricing Schedule, verified against your service agreements and your budget, and then submitted to the NDIA as a claim.

Here is the part that surprises some participants. You stay in control of every payment. When an invoice comes in, we email you to let you know. If you are happy for it to be processed, you do not need to do anything at all. If you spot a problem with it, just reply to our accounts team within 24 hours and we will pause it and fix it with you.

It is a small step that protects your funding, and it means nothing is ever paid from your plan without you knowing about it. As invoices are processed, they appear in your Plan Magic portal, so you always know what has been submitted, what has been paid, and how your budget is tracking.

We check your budget regularly

From the moment your account is active, your specialist checks your budget regularly. If a support category is running low before your plan end date, we will contact you in advance, with enough time to make adjustments rather than finding out when it is too late.

By the end of your second week, you should feel completely comfortable contacting your specialist. You have their details, you know what to expect when you call or email, and you have already had at least one exchange with our team that felt genuinely helpful.

If we have not contacted you as much as you would like in those first two weeks, please call at 1300 322 273. We would much rather answer your question than have you wondering.

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Days 14 to 30: Settled and confident

The setup is finished

By the midpoint of your first month, the early work is done. Your providers are submitting invoices, we are processing them, your budget is in your Plan Magic portal, whenever you want to check it, and your supports are running without disruption.

This is what plan management is supposed to be like. Active enough to keep everything keeps working, and simple enough that it does not create extra work for you.

Your first monthly budget statement arrives

After the start of each month, we will email you a Monthly Budget Statement setting out how your funds have been used. It is a clear summary of your funding.

Your portal gives you the live picture at any moment, and your statement gives you the monthly summary. Between the two, you never have to wonder where your funding is up to. It is worth reviewing your statement when it arrives, and if you have any questions, we are always happy to answer them.

You have a clear picture of your funding

After two or three weeks of invoices being processed, you can see how your funding is actually being used. Your specialist can help you read that picture, including whether your spending is on track, whether any categories are being used faster than expected, and whether there is anything worth discussing.

This is also a good time to ask the questions you have not asked yet. There are no silly questions, and we mean that. If you want to know whether a new provider is covered, whether you can change how you are using a support, or what a line on your statement means, just ask.

A tip that saves people money: if you are thinking about buying something and you are not sure it is covered, ask us before you buy it, not after. We are always happy to check.

Your providers are settled too

By day 30, your providers know exactly how to work with us. They know how to submit invoices, they have experienced our payment turnaround, and they have someone to contact if anything comes up. That consistency is important. It keeps your support relationships steady and your care uninterrupted.

What you will have in place after 30 days

A specialist you know by name. A Client Services Officer who knows your plan and your situation, and who you contact first for anything NDIS related.

A budget you can see whenever you want. Your Plan Magic portal is active, and you can check your funding balances at any time, plus a Monthly Budget Statement in your inbox at the start of each month. No waiting. No following up.

Providers who are being paid on time. Every invoice checked, confirmed with you, and processed promptly, which keeps your support relationships stable.

Confidence in how it all works. You understand your support categories, you know how to raise a question, and you know what to do if something comes up. The NDIS feels a little more manageable than it did 30 days ago.

No surprises. Nothing unexpected has appeared in your budget without warning, because nothing gets paid without you knowing first.

This is the standard we hold ourselves to with every participant. Not just in the first 30 days, but every day after that too.

If you have a problem

Sometimes there are problems. A provider submits an invoice with an error on it. You might need new support. A letter might arrive from the NDIA and you are not sure what it means.

When that happens, contact the team at First2Care first. We aim to respond to all email enquiries within one business day, and anything urgent just call us for prioritisation. You will not be left waiting.

First2Care has been supporting NDIS participants since 2014, and our team brings more than 40 years of experience in financial management. Whatever happens in your first 30 days, there is a good chance we have seen it before.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Read from First2Care

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The future of NDIS plan management has become one of the most talked-about topics in the disability community lately. Significant reforms have been proposed that could change how plan management services are delivered from October 2027 onwards. The Government has announced plans to introduce a panel of approved plan management providers, selected through a competitive tender process. Understanding the changes proposed so far can help you stay informed and prepare for the futu

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Claiming Travel Costs Under the NDIS: A Practical Guide for Providers

Travel is often part of delivering quality supports, particularly when participants receive services in their homes or out in the community. If you provide face-to-face supports, you may be able to claim travel costs under the NDIS. Understanding the difference between provider travel, non-labour travel expenses, and activity-based transport can help you invoice correctly. In this guide, we'll explain what providers can claim and how travel costs should be billed.

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NDIS Claims Will Have a New 90-Day Timeframe

From December 2026, there will be less time to claim the NDIS supports. A claim will need to be submitted within 90 days from the day the support was delivered. The current timeframe is 2 years. For most participants, this will be an administrative change. Your funding stays the same, so do your supports. Your providers and plan manager are the ones working on the new timeframe. This article explains what the change means to you, who submits claims, and how to check whether a

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 only. For advice specific to your plan, please speak with your NDIA planner, Local Area Coordinator, or the First2Care team directly.

Your First 30 Days with First2Care

In this guide

Days 1 to 3: Your welcome and setup

Your welcome from First2Care

Your plan manager recording is submitted.

We ask for a copy of your plan.

Days 4 to 6: Your account is set up

Your plan manager recording is confirmed.

Your Plan Magic portal is activated.

Your providers are contacted.

Days 7 to 14: The rhythm begins

Your first invoices arrive

We check your budget regularly

Days 14 to 30: Settled and confident

The setup is finished

​Your first monthly budget statement arrives

You have a clear picture of your funding

Your providers are settled too

What you will have in place after 30 days

If you have a problem

Frequently Asked Questions

How long before my first invoice is paid?

Do I have to approve every invoice?

Do I need to do much during my first 30 days?

What if my providers have never worked with a plan manager before?

Can I check my budget before my first invoices have been processed?

What if I have already paid for something myself?

What if I am not sure my previous plan manager knows about the switch?

What if my questions are not about invoices?

Is there anything I should do to make the most of my plan?

What’s Changing for NDIS Plan Management?: What We Know So Far

Claiming Travel Costs Under the NDIS: A Practical Guide for Providers

NDIS Claims Will Have a New 90-Day Timeframe

Your first monthly budget statement arrives