Supported Independent Living (SIL) is NDIS funding that pays for a support worker to help or supervise you with daily tasks in your own home, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is designed for people with high support needs who require assistance or supervision throughout both the day and night.
SIL is one of the most significant supports the NDIS offers, and for many participants and families, one of the hardest to get clear answers on. This guide explains what SIL is, what it covers, who qualifies, and how to add it to your plan.
SIL vs SDA: What Is the Difference?
These two terms come up together constantly, and confusing them is easy. The clearest way to tell them apart: SIL funds who supports you. SDA funds where you live.
SIL (Supported Independent Living) is the funding that pays for your support workers, the people who assist you with daily tasks inside your home.
SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) is a separate funding category that contributes to the physical home itself. Specialist disability accommodation is purpose-built or significantly modified housing designed for participants with high support needs or extreme functional impairment.
You can receive SIL funding without living in an SDA property. SIL may be delivered in an ordinary rental property, a privately owned home or an SDA dwelling, depending on your circumstances and approved supports. And receiving SDA funding does not automatically mean you will also receive SIL. The two are assessed and approved separately, based on different criteria.
For a closer look at how both funding types work together, our SIL vs SDA explained guide covers the key differences in detail.
What SIL Does and Doesn’t Fund
SIL pays for the staffing costs of your support. It does not cover rent, the physical building, or your day-to-day living expenses.
What SIL covers:
- Support worker wages and rostering costs
- Assistance with personal care, including showering, dressing, and grooming
- Meal preparation and prompting
- Medication prompting or assistance with medication management, where included in your approved supports
- Household tasks such as cleaning and laundry
- Overnight and sleepover support
- Active 24/7 support, where this has been assessed as necessary
- Support to develop social skills and attend appointments
What SIL does not cover:
- Rent or mortgage payments
- Utility bills (electricity, gas, internet)
- Groceries and food
- Personal items, clothing, and entertainment
- Building modifications or the cost of the physical home
Many people are surprised to learn that SIL does not pay for rent. It is one of the most common points of confusion, and an important one to understand before your plan review. SIL is a support budget, not a housing budget. The two are separate and complementary parts of your overall plan.
If you require a specially designed or modified dwelling due to severe functional impairment or very high support needs, SDA funding may be relevant. SDA contributes to the cost of providing the specialised accommodation, but it does not cover your rent or ordinary living expenses.
For most SIL participants, rent and living costs are covered through their own income, Centrelink payments, or a combination of both, just as they would be in any other rental arrangement.
Who Is Eligible for SIL?
SIL is for participants who need a high level of support from a support worker in their home at all times, according to the NDIS. That means one of two things: either you need a support worker present with you continuously, or you need active support for more than eight hours per day, plus some level of supervision or support for the remaining hours, totalling 24 hours a day.
To be considered for SIL, you will generally need to:
- Be an active NDIS participant
- Have disability-related support needs that significantly affect your ability to complete daily activities independently
- Require support that goes beyond what family, informal carers, or community services can reasonably provide
- Need support or supervision across the full 24-hour day, not just for a few hours
A key part of the assessment process is demonstrating the level of daily support you need. This is where recent evidence from a relevant treating health or allied health professional, such as an occupational therapist, becomes important. It gives the NDIS a detailed, evidence-based picture of what you can do independently and where regular support is clearly necessary.
SIL is not suited to every participant. The NDIS is clear that if you only need a few hours of support per day or per week, SIL is not the right funding type. Those needs are typically covered through other NDIS funding categories within your broader disability support services plan.
Age is not a barrier. SIL can be appropriate for younger participants as well as adults, provided the support needs meet the criteria above.
How to Get SIL Into Your NDIS Plan
SIL does not appear in your plan automatically. You need to request it and provide evidence. Here is how the process works.
Step 1: Get a functional assessment
Gather recent evidence from a relevant treating health or allied health professional, such as an occupational therapist. This should document your functional capacity, daily support needs and home and living goals.
Step 2: Speak With Your NDIS Contact
Discuss your home and living goals with your NDIS contact. They can explain what evidence the NDIA requires, how your request will be assessed and whether your current plan may need to be changed or reassessed.
You may also speak with potential SIL providers about how your support could be delivered. You and a provider can develop a roster of care outlining your proposed weekly support arrangements, but this document is optional and does not need to be submitted to the NDIS.
Step 3: Ask the NDIS to Consider SIL
Provide the requested evidence to your NDIS contact and formally request that the NDIS consider SIL. If your circumstances have changed and your current plan no longer meets your needs, you can ask for your plan to be changed or reassessed.
Step 4: Choose your provider
Once SIL is approved, you can choose a registered SIL provider that suits your needs. You are not locked into one provider and can transition to another if the arrangement is not working for you.
Mandatory registration requirements for SIL providers commenced on 1 July 2026. Existing unregistered providers can continue delivering SIL during the transition if they submit a valid registration application by 1 October 2026. When choosing a provider, ask whether they are registered or have applied to register.
Working with an NDIS support coordinator throughout this process is well worth considering. A support coordinator can help you prepare your evidence, communicate with the NDIA, identify suitable providers, and manage any transitions if your circumstances change down the track.
Ready to Explore SIL?
If you are looking into SIL for yourself or someone you care for, speaking with a registered provider early in the process can help you understand what is possible before your next plan review.
Holistic Home Care offers supported independent living in Brisbane and across South East Queensland, supporting participants from daily assistance through to 24/7 complex care. We are a registered NDIS provider and can deliver approved supports to NDIA-managed participants, subject to your plan funding, support needs and our service availability. We take the time to understand your situation, match you with consistent support workers, and help you get the most from your NDIS plan.
Call us on 1300 942 008 or contact us online to speak with our team.
FAQs About SIL
Do I have to share a home with others to access SIL?
No. SIL can be delivered in shared or individual living arrangements. In a shared home, some support may be shared between residents, while other assistance may be provided individually. The arrangement will be funded based on your assessed disability-related support needs. Individual arrangements can also be funded if that is assessed as the right fit for your needs. If you live with people who are not NDIS participants and also need support, speak with your support coordinator about other home and living options.
Who decides who I live with in a shared SIL arrangement?
Your provider works with you, your family, and your support network to find compatible housemates. A good provider takes things like communication styles, shared interests, and compatible support needs seriously. You should always have a meaningful say in this decision. If you feel you are not being heard, raise it with your support coordinator or the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
Does SIL cover my rent?
No. SIL pays for your support workers, not your housing costs. Rent is paid separately using your own income or eligible income-support payments. If you receive SDA funding, the NDIS pays the SDA provider for the specialised dwelling, but you must still pay a reasonable rent contribution and other day-to-day living costs. Our SDA funding and eligibility guide explains the criteria in plain terms.
Can I change SIL providers if things are not working out?
Yes. You have the right to change providers. The process generally involves checking the notice and exit terms in your service agreement, selecting a new registered SIL provider and arranging a transition so your support does not lapse. Your support coordinator can help manage that process if you are unsure where to start.
