Understanding Combination NDIS Plans

Most participants are aware that their NDIS plan can be self-managed, plan managed or NDIA managed. While these are the three main options for managing your NDIS plan, another option that is rarely discussed is combination management. In this blog post, we will explore what combination NDIS plan management is and how it might benefit NDIS participants.

So, what exactly is combination management?

Combination management is when an NDIS participant uses a mix of self-management and plan management, or self-management and NDIA management, to suit their needs. For example, a participant might choose to self-manage most of their plan but use plan management for a particular service or supports. Or they might use NDIA management for some parts of their plan and self-management for others.

There are many reasons why a participant might choose combination management for their NDIS plan. Maybe they feel like they need more support than what self-management can provide, but don’t want the NDIA managing everything. Or maybe they want more control over their plan than what plan management would allow. Combination management gives participants the flexibility to mix and match different types of support to create a plan that works best for them.

What are the benefits?

The main benefit of a combination plan is that you can manage each of your NDIS budgets in a way that works best for you. Other benefits include:

• Flexibility
• More choice and control
• Freedom to choose registered and unregistered providers
• Less administrative work than if you were to self-manage only

A combination plan also has some disadvantages, which include:

• You are still responsible for managing part of your plan
• You need to understand how each type of support works and how they work together
• If you use unregistered providers, you will need to do more quality checking yourself
• Some supports can only be delivered by registered NDIS providers

Despite the disadvantages, a combination plan could be the best way to get the most out of your NDIS funding. It’s important to talk to your planner or Local Area Coordinator about all the options available to you so that you can make an informed decision about what type of plan would work best for you.

Why choose a combination plan?

There are a few reasons you might choose to have a combination plan:

• You want the flexibility of using unregistered providers, but also want some security and peace of mind that comes with using registered NDIS providers
• You feel like you need more support than what is available from one type of provider
• You want to try out different types of support to see what works best for you

The main thing to keep in mind if you’re considering a combination plan is that it’s important to have a clear understanding of how each type of provider works and how they will work together. This way, you can make sure that you’re getting the most out of your NDIS funding.

Direct Care Australia are experts in NDIS supports and services, specialising in a range of NDIS funding supports and services in South Australia. If you need any further assistance, contact Sharon Miller or Cristina Bruno on 0410 620 170 or 1300 122 730 or via email at to discuss how we can support you to access support or assistive technology.