Getting your NDIS plan approved can feel like a big relief.

Then you open the plan and see funding amounts, support categories, budgets, funding periods and different types of supports.

And suddenly you may have another question:

What am I actually supposed to do with all of this?

If you live in Western Sydney and have recently received an NDIS plan, you are not expected to know every term straight away. What matters is understanding enough of your plan to use your funding correctly and make decisions about the supports you need.

Start With What Your Plan Is Actually Giving You

Your NDIS plan is based on your individual circumstances, disability support needs and the evidence provided to the NDIS. It includes information about your goals, supports, funding and how your funding is managed.

Your plan can have up to four support budgets:

• Core supports
• Capacity building supports
• Capital supports
• Recurring supports

You may not have funding in every budget.

The important part is not memorising all four names. It is understanding which budgets you have and what you can use them for.

For example, Core supports can help with everyday activities, while Capacity Building supports can help you develop skills and independence. Capital supports can cover certain higher-cost items such as assistive technology or home modifications.

Don’t Assume Every Dollar Can Be Used for Anything

This is where some participants can become confused.

Having money in your NDIS plan does not mean you can spend it on anything you want.

NDIS funding can only be used for supports that are NDIS supports, relate to your disability and are in line with your plan. Some funding is flexible, while some stated funding can only be used for particular supports.

So before paying for something, ask:

• Is this an NDIS support?
• Does it relate to my disability?
• Is it in line with my plan and the relevant budget?

If you are unsure, get clarification before spending the money.

That simple step can prevent problems later.

Do You Know Who Is Managing Your Funding?

Your plan can be self-managed, plan-managed, NDIA-managed, or use a combination of management options.

This matters because the way your funding is managed affects how providers are paid and how you keep track of your spending.

For example, if you are plan-managed, a plan manager can pay providers and help you keep track of your funding. But you still have responsibilities. The NDIS says participants remain responsible for knowing how much funding they have spent and making sure they only purchase supports in line with their plan.

So don’t assume:

“My plan manager handles everything, so I don’t need to check anything.”

You should still understand what is being claimed from your plan.

Do You Know What Your Funding Is Being Used For?

This is one of the most useful things you can do after receiving your plan.

Look at your budgets regularly.

Ask yourself:

• What support am I receiving?
• How much is it costing?
• How much funding have I used?
• How much do I have left?
• Am I using the funding too quickly or too slowly?

Current NDIS guidance says participants can check their funding and claims through the my NDIS app or participant portals.

If you have a plan manager, you should also receive information about how your funding is being used.

What If You Don’t Understand the Language in Your Plan?

This is where you should ask questions rather than simply accepting that you are supposed to understand everything.

Terms such as Core, Capacity Building, stated supports, flexible funding, plan management and funding periods can be confusing when you first encounter them.

And there is nothing wrong with asking someone to explain them.

The NDIS currently offers a plan implementation meeting after a new plan is approved. The purpose is to help participants understand how to use their plan and get started with their supports.

You can also ask your my NDIS contact, plan manager or another appropriate person involved in your support to explain something you don’t understand.

You Still Choose Your Providers

Understanding your plan also means understanding that you have choices.

The provider who delivers your support is not automatically decided for you.

The NDIS says participants choose the providers they want to work with, and can change providers if they are unhappy with their current arrangement.

That means you can ask questions before agreeing to a service.

For example:

• What exactly will you provide?
• How often will I receive support?
• How much will it cost?
• What will I be expected to pay?
• What happens if my needs change?
• What happens if I want to change providers?

You should understand the arrangement before you commit to it.

Your Plan Is About More Than the Funding Amount

It is easy to look at the total dollar figure first.

But the amount alone doesn’t tell you how your plan is supposed to support your life.

Your goals, support needs, funding categories, management arrangements and the supports you choose all matter.

For someone in Western Sydney, this could mean arranging help at home, finding support to participate in the community, working towards employment, developing daily living skills or getting the equipment and therapies relevant to their needs.

The right question isn’t simply:

“How much funding did I get?”

It is:

“What does my plan allow me to do, and how can I use it properly?”

If You Have SIL in Your Plan

SIL is one area where understanding your plan becomes particularly important.

If SIL has been included in your plan, don’t assume that the funding automatically explains what your day-to-day support will look like.

You still need to understand what support you need, how it will be delivered and what you are agreeing to with the provider.

If you are specifically considering SIL in Parramatta or elsewhere in Western Sydney, you can read our guide Thinking About SIL? to understand the things worth considering before moving forward.

Then, once SIL is actually included in your plan, our article SIL in Your NDIS Plan — What Now? looks at the practical questions to ask next.

Before You Start Using Your Plan, Ask Yourself These Questions

You don’t need to become an NDIS expert.

But you should be able to answer some basic questions about your own plan:

• What supports have I been funded for?
• Which budgets do I have?
• Which funding is flexible and which is more specific?
• Who manages my funding?
• How do I check what has been spent?
• Who are my providers?
• What should I do if I don’t understand a claim or support?
• Who can I ask when I need help understanding my plan?

If you cannot answer these questions yet, that does not mean your plan is too complicated for you.

It simply means you may need someone to explain it in a way that makes sense to you.

Understanding Your Plan Can Make a Big Difference

Your NDIS plan is not just a number sitting in an account.

It is a framework for the supports you have been funded to access.

The more clearly you understand your budgets, supports, providers and responsibilities, the easier it becomes to make informed decisions about how you use your funding.

So if you have recently received an NDIS plan in Western Sydney, don’t rush straight into spending it.