# Understanding Your NDIS Plan Free PDF Guide # Understanding Your NDIS Plan If you've just received your first NDIS plan, or you're helping a family member make sense of theirs, this guide covers the parts that actually matter: what your funding is for, who can manage it, and how to start using it. Get the full 3-page PDF sent straight to your inbox, free, no obligation. Get the free PDF guide emailed to you No obligation, no phone number needed. We may follow up once to see if it was helpful. No spam, and you can ask us to stop anytime. Send me the free PDF ## What is an NDIS plan? Your NDIS plan is the document that sets out your approved funding and the goals that funding is meant to help you work towards, things like living more independently, being more active in your community, or building daily living skills. The NDIA reviews your plan periodically, but day-to-day, it's yours to use within the rules below. ## The three funding categories **Core Supports** cover everyday help, personal care, assistance with household tasks, and community participation. This is usually the most flexible category; funding can often move between different Core support types as your needs change. **Capacity Building** funds supports that build your independence over time, things like life-skills development, support coordination, or therapy. Unlike Core, this funding is generally locked to its specific purpose. **Capital Supports** cover one-off items and modifications, assistive equipment, home modifications, or Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) where applicable. ## Plan-managed, self-managed, or NDIA-managed? This affects who pays your providers, not what you're entitled to. - **NDIA-managed**: the NDIA pays providers directly. You can only use providers registered with the NDIS. - **Plan-managed**: a registered plan manager pays your providers on your behalf and handles the paperwork. You can use both registered and unregistered providers. - **Self-managed**: you pay providers directly and claim the cost back from your plan yourself, giving you the most flexibility over who you engage. ## Choosing a provider Whatever category of support you're looking for, it's worth asking a potential provider a few direct questions before you commit: are they registered with the NDIS, how quickly do they respond to new referrals, and will you meet your actual support worker before support begins. A provider that answers these clearly, without vague or evasive responses, is usually a good sign. ## Getting started Once you've chosen a provider, the process is usually: an initial conversation about your goals and funding, an agreed service agreement setting out what support looks like and how it's charged, and then support begins on a schedule that works for you. None of this should feel rushed, and a provider worth working with will explain each step in plain language. Want to talk through your specific plan? We're happy to have a no-obligation conversation about what your plan covers, even if you're not ready to start services yet. [Start Your Intake](/contact)[Call ⁦0401 682 815⁩](tel:+61401682815)