Your NDIS plan arrives, and it's longer than you expected and full of words you haven't seen before. This article walks through what you'll find in a plan and what each part means for you day to day.

One thing first: **not every plan looks the same.** The NDIS has been changing how plans are set out. Many existing plans group funding into *support budgets*. Newer plans show *funding components* and *funding periods* instead. We cover both below, so you can find the version that matches yours.

## The details at the top

The start of your plan holds the details you'll use most: your NDIS number, who to contact, and the dates your plan starts and is reassessed. Keep them somewhere easy to find.

- **Your NDIS number.** You'll be asked for this often, so keep it handy.
- **Your my NDIS contact.** This is the person to talk to about your plan. It's usually your local area coordinator, early childhood partner or NDIA planner, and their contact details are in your plan.
- **Your plan start date.**
- **Your plan reassessment date.** This is when the NDIA plans to create your next plan. Put it in your calendar. The NDIA will usually contact you about 3 months before it.

## About you and your supports outside the NDIS

This part describes your situation and the people and services who already support you. The NDIS calls these:

- **informal supports**: family, friends and neighbours
- **community supports**: local groups, clubs and services
- **mainstream supports**: other government systems, like health and education.

It's worth reading closely. Your NDIS funding is designed to work alongside these supports, not replace them. If something here is wrong or out of date, tell your my NDIS contact.

## Your goals

Your goals are the things you want to work towards. They can be big or small, short term or long term. For example, "live more independently" or "join a local walking group".

You set your goals, and you can update them at any time, even after your plan is approved. Goals matter because the supports in your plan should help you work towards them.

## Your total funding amount

This is the total amount of funding in your plan for NDIS supports. Under it, your funding is broken down into parts. How that looks depends on which kind of plan you have.

### If your plan shows support budgets

Many existing plans group supports into four budgets:

- **Core supports** help with everyday activities, like personal care or taking part in community activities. Core funding is usually flexible.
- **Capacity building supports** help you build skills and independence, like therapy or training. This funding is stated.
- **Capital supports** cover higher-cost items like assistive technology, home or vehicle modifications, and specialist disability accommodation. This funding is also stated.
- **Recurring supports** are paid regularly into your nominated bank account and aren't included anywhere else in your budget.

You might not have funding in every budget. It depends on your needs.

### If your plan shows funding components

Newer plans show **funding component amounts** instead. A funding component is the total funding for one specific support, or a group of supports, over the whole length of your plan. For example, you might have one component for everyday supports and a separate one for a piece of equipment.

You can move funding between supports *inside* the same component. You can't use funding from one component to pay for supports in another component.

## Funding periods

Newer plans also release your funding in stages, called **funding periods**. A funding period is the amount of time a portion of your funding becomes available for, and how long it needs to last.

For most supports, funding periods run for about 3 months. Some regular supports, like plan management fees and supported independent living, usually have 1-month periods.

Here's how it works in practice. Say your plan has $48,000 for everyday supports over 12 months, released in 3-month periods. You'd have $12,000 available each quarter. If you only spend $10,000 in the first quarter, the $2,000 left over rolls into the next quarter. But anything unspent when your whole plan ends doesn't carry over into your next plan.

## Stated and flexible supports

Every support in your plan is either stated or flexible. Flexible supports give you choice about exactly what you buy, while stated supports can only be used as described.

- **Flexible**: described more generally, so you have more choice about exactly what you buy within that funding.
- **Stated**: you can only use the funding for the specific support described. Sometimes a stated support also names the amount you can spend or the provider you must use.

If you're unsure whether something is stated or flexible, ask your my NDIS contact before you spend. It's much easier than fixing a claim afterwards.

## Who manages your funding

Your plan says who manages each part of your funding: the NDIA, a plan manager, or you. You can use a mix, and you can ask to change at any time.

- **Agency-managed (NDIA-managed)**: the NDIA pays your providers, and you can only use registered providers.
- **Plan-managed**: a registered plan manager pays your providers and keeps your records.
- **Self-managed**: you pay your providers and keep the records yourself.

Our article on plan management explains the options in more detail.

## A quick checklist when your plan arrives

A few checks in the first week can save you problems later. Work through this list when your plan arrives, and ask your my NDIS contact about anything that doesn't look right.

- Read the "about you" section and check it's accurate.
- Note your reassessment date.
- Check which supports are stated and which are flexible.
- If you have funding periods, note how long they are and how much is available in each one.
- Check who manages each part of your funding.
- Ask for an implementation meeting. You'll be offered one within 7 days of approval, and it's worth taking.
- Download the my NDIS app so you can see your budget and claims.

## If you don't agree with your plan

Start by talking to your my NDIS contact. They may be able to explain a decision or fix a problem.

You can ask the NDIA for a budget breakdown and for written reasons for its decision. If you still don't agree, you can ask for an internal review within 3 months of getting your plan. Someone who wasn't involved in creating your plan will then look at the decision again.