How to Make the Most of Your NDIS Support Coordination Hours

Are you finding it a challenge to get the most from your NDIS Support Coordination hours? These top tips can help you maximise the time you have.

Support Coordination – it is one of the most important parts of many participants’ NDIS plan.

But sometimes the time you have with your Support Coordinator goes by all too quickly.

You might be dealing with a complex situation or need help connecting with disability services, navigating paperwork or managing a crisis.

We cannot slow down time, but we can help you to make the most of the hours that you have.

Here are some handy tips for maximising your Support Coordination hours.

Why Hours Can Be Tight

The NDIS considers your needs when deciding how many hours of Support Coordination you receive. But the process does not always account for:

• The time it takes to build relationships with providers and community supports.
• The extra support you might need during a crisis.
• The complexity of navigating the NDIS.

This means some participants do not get enough hours to cover the level of support they actually need – especially when circumstances change.

Start With a Clear Plan

The best way to get the most out of your hours is to be proactive.

When you first start with a Support Coordinator, they should:

• Set realistic expectations about what can be done within your hours.
• Create a plan with you that focuses on your priorities.
• Be clear about how your hours will be used and how you will be charged.
• Support you to think about your future needs – including whether more Support Coordination might be needed in your next plan.

Having a plan in place early helps avoid running out of hours too soon.

Before Working Together

If you are starting with a new Support Coordinator, they should check whether:

• They have the right skills to support you.
• They can add value with the time available.
• You have enough Support Coordination hours in your plan.

If your needs are high but your hours are low, they might recommend submitting a change of situation form to the NDIS.

This could include using your existing hours to gather evidence to support your request for more time.

When a Crisis Happens

Crisis situations often require more support and more time. Your Support Coordinator will need to quickly assess:

• How many hours are left and how long they will last.
• Whether a change of situation form should be submitted straight away.
• Whether it is better to wait and gather more evidence or do both at the same time.

Planning ahead helps to make sure there is still time left to respond properly when things go wrong.

Showing the Impact

When it is time for your next plan review, your Support Coordinator will help show the value of their support. This includes:

• How your disability impacts your ability to manage your NDIS plan.
• What your goals are and how Support Coordination helped you work towards them.
• How your current hours were used.
• What level of support you might need in the future.

Demonstrating evidence can make a big difference to the outcome of your review.

Learn More, Get Prepared

Having limited Support Coordination hours in your NDIS plan can be challenging for you and your family.

But when you understand how Support Coordination works, you can get a better understanding of how to use your hours where they matter most.

If you have questions or want to talk through your options, get in touch with us.

We are here to help.

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