Unhappy with your NDIS Plan Manager? Follow these steps to move!

Are you unhappy with your current NDIS Plan Manager but feel it’s too hard to move or don’t know how to move to another one? You have come to the right blog post! It is a common misconception that moving to a new plan manager is hard. Continue reading to understand better the process and how easy it can be!

You may want to move to another plan management provider for many reasons. We lead such busy lives that managing an NDIS plan can add to the stress. When your funds are plan managed, you should have some of that stress alleviated. After all, you have a plan manager helping you! Things can be challenging when your plan manager isn’t supporting you in a way that best suits your needs.

Plan Managers who are not reachable when you need to speak with them, leave you on hold for long periods, or don’t respond to you for days are not worth staying with. You might be dealing with slow payments to your providers, which can be incredibly stressful when you are worried about your supports being cut because of this. In addition to this, the extra time spent going back and forth with your providers and plan manager trying to establish why there has been a delay and when things will be resolved can take a toll.

Your plan manager is like any other provider; if you are unhappy at any time, you can move to a new provider. There are a couple of steps that you will need to follow so your transition is as smooth and as quick as possible. Keep in mind that it looks like there is a lot to do, but the plan manager does many of the steps!

Follow the below for a stress-free move to a new NDIS plan management provider.

YOU

1.Notify your current plan manager that you would like to cease services. This can be in the form of a phone call, an email, or a text message. If someone else is sending an email on your behalf, ideally, you would be copied into this email. Your current plan management provider will likely contact you to confirm you want to leave, if the request comes from someone else and you are not in the email.

PROVIDER

2.Your current provider will have a stated period it takes to off-board participants. This could be between one week to 4 weeks, depending on the provider. This period should be in the service agreement you signed with them. Often, the reason for this time period is that it allows the plan manager to ensure all outstanding invoices are paid, including ones from providers that might be only sent through every fortnight or monthly. Once they have finalised everything, they will cancel their service bookings, releasing your funding for the new provider.

YOU

3.Reach out to the new provider you have chosen to set up services. This can be done as soon as you have notified your current provider you are moving on.

PROVIDER

4.Your new provider will be able to set you up as much as possible while waiting for your older provider to end their service bookings. Once they have set up service bookings, they can pay invoices on your behalf.

If you are a PACE participant, the process is slightly different.

YOU

1.You need to end the relationship with your current provider so you can engage with a new one. This can be done in a couple of ways: you can contact your provider (via email or phone), call the NDIA and let them know you are ending the relationship, or log into your NDIS portal and end the relationship there. Be sure to request confirmation from your current provider when they have ended the relationship.

PROVIDER

2.Your plan manager has up to 30 days to finalise invoices and end the relationship. Note that all plan managers are different; for example, we only require 14 days to finalise things, while other plan managers require 30 days.

YOU

3.Contact your newly chosen provider to set up services. You can do this as soon as you have requested that the relationship with your old plan manager be ended.

YOU/PROVIDER

4.You will need to notify the NDIA of your new plan manager to have them listed as my provider and plan manager on your file. Your new plan manager may offer to set up a three-way call with you and the NDIA if you need help.

PROVIDER

5.Your new plan manager has access to your funds as soon as they are linked as my provider and a plan manager on your plan; from here, they can start paying your bills.

If you are unhappy with your current plan manager, don’t let the idea of it being too hard to move stop you from moving. Finding providers that are right for you applies to all your providers, including your plan manager. Having a great plan manager can see you use your NDIS plan to its full potential and give you back precious time. Read here how we make your life easier by being your plan manager!