Understanding and Self-Directing My NDIS Plan: Plan Implementation

Contents

Choiceand ControlwiththeNDIS...... 3

UnderstandingthesupportsinmyNDISPlan...... 3

Fundedsupport budgets...... 3

Purchasinggeneral fundedsupports...... 4

Purchasing‘stated’ fundedsupports...... 4

Payingfor mysupports...... 4

Choosingmyproviders...... 5

Makingagreementswithmychosen providers...... 6

TheParticipantPortal...... 7

Monitoringplansupportsandexpenditure...... 9

Changeofcircumstancesandplanreviews...... 9

Contactus...... 9

SoyounowhaveyourNDISplan,whatnext…?

Choiceand ControlwiththeNDIS

TheNDISallowsyoutohaveasmuchchoiceandcontrolaspossibleoverthesupportsfundedorprovidedinyourNDISPlan.

Whatisself-direction?

Self-directionmeansyouhaveasmuchcontrolaspossibleover yoursupportsandhowtheyareprovided.EveryparticipantwhohasanNDISplancannowhavecontroloverwhat,when,whereandbywhom,mostoftheirsupportisprovided.Thisincludesworkingwithproviderstodeterminewhatisprovidedandpotentiallybeinginvolvedintheselectionof yoursupportworkers.

UnderstandingthesupportsinmyNDISPlan

Part3ofyourNDISplanlistssupportsthataimtohelpyouworktowardyourplangoals.Yoursupportsmaycomefrom:

Familyandfriendsor servicesandcommunitygroups

Youandyourplannermayhaveidentifiednewsupportsinyourplanwhicharetobeprovidedbyfamily,friendsormainstream servicesandcommunitygroups.IfyouhavebeenallocatedaSupportCoordinator youmaywishtoaskthemtohelpyoutoconnectwiththesenewsupports.

NDISreasonableandnecessaryfundedsupports

ThesearethesupportsthattheNDIShasfoundtobereasonableandnecessarytofundbasedontheinformationyouhaveprovided.

Fundedsupport budgets

Thereasonableandnecessarysupportsinyourplanaredividedintoseparatesupportbudgetswhichlinktoanareaof yourlifeinwhichyouhavegoal(s).

Eachsupportbudgetwillhaveanallocatedamounttospendonachievinganoutcomeagainstyour goal(s).Thefundsallocatedtoonebudgetcannotbeswappedtoanyotherbudgetinyourplan.

Youcannotspendoverthetotalamountallocatedtoeachbudgetandtheamountallocatedwillnotchangeduringyourcurrentplan.

Purchasinggeneral fundedsupports

“Yourlife,yourplan… yoursupports”

TheNDISpriceguidehasbeenincludedinyourplanhandoverpack.ItisalsoavailableontheNDIS websiteorbyaskingforacopyfrom yourlocalNDIAoffice.

Youwillnoticethatthepriceguidehasbeenbrokenupinto14supportcategories,someof whichwilllinkdirectlytothesupportbudgetslistedinyourplan.Undereachsupportcategoryinthepriceguideisalistofsupportsthatcanbepurchased.

It’simportanttorememberthisisaboutyourlife,yourplanandyoursupports.

Inmostinstancesyoucanchangethesupportitemsyoupurchasetoothersupportitemswithinthesamesupportcategory. Remembereachsupportcategorylinkstoabudget.

Forexample,if youhaveabudgetallocatedforAssistancewithDailylivingathome,inthecommunity,educationandatworkyoucanchoosewhatsupportitemsyourpurchasefromthelistunderthissupportcategoryinthepriceguidebutyoucannotchangethemforsupportitemslistedunderanyothersupportcategory.

Theonlyexceptiontothisexampleis whenyouseea‘stated’supportinyourplan.

Purchasing‘stated’ fundedsupports

Supportsthathavetheterm‘STATEDSUPPORTS:’listedbeforethedescriptionmustbepurchasedastheyaredescribedintheplan.

Thedecisiontomakesomesupportsinyourplan‘stated’supportshasbeenmadeinaccordancewiththeNDISPlanManagementRules,2013PART6.

Ifyouwouldlikemoreinformationaboutwhysomesupportsinyourplanhavebeendescribedas‘stated’pleasediscussthis withyoursupportcoordinator,if youhaveone,oryoucancontactuson1800800110.

Payingfor mysupports

Managingandpaying formysupports

Howabudgetismanageddetermineshowthesupportswithinthatbudgetwill bepaid for.Thereare 4options:

1.Self-managedbudgets

Forbudget(s) whichareself-managedtheNDISwillpayyouor your nomineedirectlyforthesupportsinthosebudget(s).Ifyouareself-managingallorsomeofthebudgetsinyourplanyouwillneedtoreadthedocument:Self-managingbudgetsmyNDISplan.

2.Agencymanagedbudgets

Forbudget(s) whichareagencymanagedtheNDIS willpayyoursupportproviderdirectly.

3.PlanManagement Provider managedbudgets

Forbudget(s) whicharemanagedbyaPlanManagementProvidertheNDISwillpayyourPlanManagerdirectlyforthesesupports.

4.Automatedtransport payments

ForatransportbudgetwhichissetupasanAutomatedPaymenttheNDIS willpayyoudirectlyintoyournominatedbankaccount.Youwillbepaidweekly,fortnightlyormonthlydependingonwhatyouhaveagreedduringyourplanningconversation.

Notallplanswillhaveatransportbudget.TheNDISisonlyresponsible for thereasonable and necessarycontribution towardthecostsoftaxis orotherprivatetransportoptions for those notable to travelindependentlyorusepublictransportbecauseoftheir disability.

Formoreinformationonmanagingandpayingforyoursupportsyoucancontactuson1800800110orgototheNDISwebsite.

Choosingmyproviders

Howtofindprovidersinmyarea

Foragencymanagedbudget(s) youwillneedtochooseproviders whoarecurrentlyregisteredwiththeNDIStoprovidethesesupports.

Tofindalistof registeredproviders inyourareagototheProviderFinderontheNDISwebsite.Thislistofproviderswillbeaddedtoasnewprovidersareregistered.

Forbudget(s) whicharemanagedbyaPlanManagementProvider orareself-managedyoumaychooseaprovider whoisnotregisteredwiththeNDIStoprovidethissupportif youwish.

Finding therightproviderforme

It’simportanttorememberthatit’syour choicewhichprovidersyouchoosetodeliverthesupportsinyourplan.

“it’syourchoice!”

Youmight wishtomeetwithsomeproviderseitherface-to-faceoroverthephonetofindoutif theyarerightforyou.IfyouhaveaSupportCoordinatoryoushouldaskthemtohelpyou.

Firstly,youmightliketocheckwiththeproviderthattheycanprovidethesupportyouarelookingfor,andthenyoucantalktothemaboutyourgoalsandhowtheycanhelpyouworktowardthosegoals.

Youmayliketogetasensefromtheprovider howmuchchoiceandcontrolyouwillhavewhenreceivingyoursupports.Youmaywishtoaskquestionslike:

• WillIbeabletochangethewaymysupportsaredelivered?
• CanIchoosewhichstaff will work withme?
• CanIbeinvolvedinrecruitingthestaff thatwill work withme?
• WhatprocessesareinplacetodealwithanycomplaintsthatyouImighthave?

Justrememberthatyouhavetherighttofeelrespectedbyyourchosenprovidersandyoushouldfeelfreetoraisequestionsandconcernswiththem.Youcantellyourprovidershowyouwouldliketobecommunicatedwithandotherthingsthatareimportanttoyouwhenyouarereceivingsupports.

“youhavetherighttofeelrespected”

Youcanalwayschangeprovidersif youareunhappywiththeserviceyouaregetting.Inthiscaseyouwillneedtoagreeontheperiodof noticebeforesupportsareended.

Makingagreementswithmychosen providers

Youwillnormallyneedtomakeawrittenagreementwithyourprovider(s).ThisiscalledaServiceAgreement.ServiceAgreementsshouldbesimpleandsetouthowandwhenyoursupports willbedelivered.ServiceAgreementscanbemadebetweenyouandyourprovider,orbetweenanotherperson(likeafamilymemberorfriend)andyourprovider.IfyouhaveaSupportCoordinatoryoushouldaskthemtohelpyounegotiateyourServiceAgreements.

WhenmakingaServiceAgreement,youshouldtakeacopyofyourNDISplan.Ifyoulike,youcanattachthecopyofyourNDISplantoyourServiceAgreement(s).Thiswillhelpyourproviderdelivertherightsupportsinawaythathelpsyouworktowardyourgoals.

YouwillfindanexampleServiceAgreementinyourplanhandoverpack.Youcanmakecopiesof thisagreementandusethisversionif youlike.

Ifyouwouldlikemoreinformationaboutmakingserviceagreementsoryouwantextracopiesof anexampleserviceagreementgototheNDISwebsiteandviewthefactsheetMakingaServiceAgreementwithYourChosenProvider.

I’vemadeanagreementwithmyprovider,whatnext?

If theNDIAismanagingyourplanyouwillneedtogiveyour chosenprovider yourNDISnumberanddateofbirth.Thiswillallowthemtoseesupportsinyourplanthattheyareregisteredforonaproviderportal.TheywillnotbeabletoseeyourfullPlanthroughtheproviderportalunless youprovideconsentforthemtodoso.

Sharing your NDISPlanin full onthe Provider Portalwillenable allofyour registeredproviders tohavea better understanding ofwhatyouwanttoachieveandenablethemto supportyou to achieveyour goalsandobjectives.Ifyoudecidethatyou do

want togiveyour consent totheNDIAtoshareyour NDISPlan and/or your contactdetailsonthe Provider Portal,please ask yourlocaloffice foraconsentform.

For more informationaboutconsentingfor providers toseeyouNDISplangottotheNDISwebsiteandviewtheFactsheet:Information forParticipants- Consentingto sharingyourNDISPlanand/oryourcontactdetailson theProviderPortal

TheParticipantPortal

Theparticipantportalis asecurewebsiteforyou,yournomineeorothercontactpersontoviewyour NDISplan,monthlyPlanStatementand,whereapplicable,tomakeself-managedclaimsonline.

Accessingtheparticipantportalforthefirsttime

Step1:Ask usforyourpersonnumberand youractivationportal access

Yourpersonnumberis:Youractivationcodeis:

YourpersonnumberisusedtoindentifyyouinourIT system.Youractivationcodeisanumberwegiveyoutoactivateyourparticipantportalaccount.

Youusethesenumberstheveryfirsttimeyouentertheparticipantportal.

Ifyouloseyourpersonnumberoryouractivationcodeyoucancontactuson1800800110andwewillprovideitforyou.

Step2: CreateamyGovaccount ifyou don’t haveone

TologontotheparticipantportalyouneedamyGovaccount.AmyGovaccountisasinglelogonthatallowsyoutoaccessmanygovernmentservicesincludingMedicare,CentrelinkandtheNationalDisabilityInsuranceScheme.

Tocreateanaccountgotothewebsitemy.gov.auandthenselectabuttonnamed‘CreateamyGovaccount’.

Next,followthemyGovinstructionsandanswerthemyGovquestionstogeta

myGovusernameandpassword.

Recordyourusernameandpasswordsothatyoucanusethem again.

IfyouarehavingdifficultyhelpisavailableonthemyGovsiteor youcancallthemyGovhelpdeskon132307selectOption1.

Step3: YoulinkNational DisabilityInsuranceSchemetoyour myGovaccount

AfteryouhaveamyGovaccount youcanlinktheNationalDisabilityInsuranceSchemeserviceto youraccount.

Firstselectthe‘Services’button

Thenselectthelinkicon forNationalDisabilityInsuranceScheme.Next,thelink iconwillchangetoanunlinkiconandthestatuswillchangetohaveatickandsaylinked.

Onthesamepage,selecttheNationalDisabilityInsuranceSchemelinktogototheparticipantportal.

Step4: Youactivateyourparticipant portal logon

Thefirsttimeyouentertheparticipantportalascreencalled‘Logonactivation’willappear.

Onthe‘Logonactivation’screenpleaseenteryourpersonnumberand

activationcodeprovidedtoyoubytheNDIA.

Thenselectthe’Continue‘button.Afterthattheparticipantportalscreenwillbedisplayed.

Congratulations!Youhavenowcompletedactivationofyourparticipantportalaccount.

Important–Whenyoufinishyoushouldalwayssignoutof myGovtoprotectyouraccountandpersonalinformation.Toprotectyouraccountyoushoulddothefollowing:

Inparticipantportal,selectthe‘Exitportal’link atthetoprightcornerofthepagetoreturntothemyGovwebsite.

SelectthemyGov‘Signout’linkatthetoprightcornerof thepage.

Logginginfrom now oniseasy

Youcanselecteithertheparticipant portallinkatthebottomof theNDISwebpageorgototheParticipantspageon the NDISwebsite

ThenenteryourmyGovusernameandpassword.AnsweroneofyourmyGovsecretquestionsandthenentertheportal.

Monitoringplansupportsandexpenditure

Youmaywishtokeeparecordof thesupportsyoureceivebykeepingyourownlogbookorbyaskingyourprovidertogiveyoucopiesoftheirservicerecords.

YoucanmonitorhowyoursupportsandfundingarebeingusedthroughyourPlanStatementontheParticipantPortal.YoushouldcheckthatclaimsagainstyourPlanStatementareconsistentwithyourownrecordsandmakesuretherearen’tanyerrorsthatyoucanidentify.IfyoufindanerrorinyourPlanStatementoryouneedhelpunderstandingittalktoyoursupportcoordinator,if youhaveone,oryoucancontactuson1800800110.

Changeofcircumstancesandplanreviews

IfyourcircumstanceschangesignificantlyandthisaffectsthesupportsyouneedfromtheNDIS,youcanrequestaplanreviewbycompletingthe“Requestaplanreviewform”.

Ifyouareunhappywithadecisionaboutwhatsupportbudget(s)havebeenapprovedinyourplanyouhavetherighttorequestareviewof theplandecision.

Tofindoutmoreaboutrequestingareviewofyouplanyoucancontactuson1800800110orgototheNDIS websiteandviewthefactsheetonFeedback, Complaints and Reviews

Contactus

IfyouhaveanyquestionsabouthowtoimplementyourNDISplantalktoyourSupportCoordinator,if youhaveone,orcontactus:

• Byphone1800800110orif youareaTTYuser,phone1800555677andthenaskfor1800800110.
• Bywritingtousthroughourwebsiteform availableonourwebsite

• Forother waystocontactus,visitour website