Utilising plan
Once a participant receives their NDIS plan, they can choose what supports they will access and who will provide them.
For new participants this can be a challenging process and there are two types of assistance to organise supports:
A LAC is available to all participants and is a third-party organisation assigned by location. This information is provided in the participant’s plan.
A support coordinator is a specialist service provider who can assist in identifying appropriate providers and setting up service agreements. This is only available if the participant has funding for support coordination in their NDIS plan. The LAC contact can provide information about support coordination services available if the participant needs assistance identifying a suitable service.
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A participant must use their funding to access the supports identified in their plan. Some of these will be quite specific, such as specialist equipment, and others broad categories such as assistance with daily life.
Funding must be budgeted to last for the duration of the plan. If there is a change of circumstances for the participant, a request can be made to vary or review the plan.
Funding can only be used in relation to any impairments which the NDIA have accepted, and in the event the NDIA deems funding to have been used inappropriately, a debt can be raised.
Utilising plan
Chapter: 8.2 Understanding the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Contributor: Naomi Anderson, Legal Practice Manager, Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service, and Marcus Boere, Lawyer, Victoria Legal Aid; Elise Almond, Senior Lawyer, Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service; John Morrissey, Professional Support Lawyer, Victoria Legal Aid
Current as of: 3 October 2024
Law Handbook Page: 716
Next Section: Rights
