SIL vs SDA vs ILO: Which Home and Living Support Fits?
SIL (supported independent living) funds support workers in your home around the clock, usually shared with housemates. SDA (specialist disability accommodation) funds the specially designed home itself, for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. ILO (individualised living options) funds a support package you design, like living with a host or a housemate. They can work together.
How Do SIL, SDA and ILO Compare?
They pay for different things, and they suit different levels of need.
| SIL | SDA | ILO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it funds | Support workers in the home, 24/7 | The home itself | A package of supports you design, around a host or housemate |
| Typical need | Active support for more than 8 hours a day plus overnight | Extreme functional impairment or very high support needs | Support at home for at least 6 hours a day, formal or informal |
| Living arrangement | Usually shared with other participants | Shared or on your own, in an enrolled SDA home | With a host, a housemate, or your own place |
| Covers rent? | No | Funds the home; residents pay a capped rent contribution | No |
| Provider registration | Must be registered | Must be registered | Work with an ILO provider |
Can You Have SIL and SDA at the Same Time?
Yes. Some people have both: SDA pays for the home and SIL pays for the support workers in it.
Most people with SIL don't live in SDA, though. SDA is only for a small group with very high needs. If you need SDA as well as support, those are separate decisions, separate providers if you like, and separate agreements.
Looking for SIL Support?
We'll connect you with a registered SIL provider who may have support or a vacancy that suits.
When Is ILO a Better Fit Than SIL?
Often when you want a more individual arrangement, live with people who aren't participants, or aren't sure yet what you need.
The NDIA's SIL guideline suggests ILO can be a good place to start if you aren't sure which home and living support suits you. ILO starts with an exploration and design stage, usually 30 to 100 hours, then a service proposal, then the supports are set up. ILO doesn't fund rent, everyday costs or activities outside the home.
What About Onsite Shared Support?
That's for people living alone in an SDA apartment who need unplanned help, not round-the-clock support. You can't have it alongside SIL.
Onsite shared support is usually shared by about 10 residents in one building, for unplanned tasks, averaging around 2.5 hours a day. The NDIA won't fund it if SIL is in your plan, because it would duplicate your SIL support.
What If You Only Need a Few Hours of Help?
Then SIL probably isn't the right support. Assistance with daily life, such as personal care at set times, usually fits better.
Help with daily activities is often in a plan when someone needs targeted support but not support all the time. If you want to direct and roster your own workers, that's a self-directed arrangement in your daily life budget, not SIL.
Questions People Ask
What is the difference between SIL and SDA?
SDA is the home, built for people with very high support needs. SIL is the support workers who help in a home. SDA is never used to pay support workers, and SIL is never used to pay for housing.
Is ILO cheaper than SIL?
It can be, but the NDIA decides based on your needs and the funding criteria, including value for money. It compares the options for each person.
Can I switch from SIL to ILO?
You can ask for a plan change if your goals or needs change. The NDIA looks at all the information to decide which home and living support suits.
Keep Reading
- What is SIL?Supported independent living (SIL) under the NDIS explained: who it's for, what support workers help with, what it doesn't pay for, and how shared SIL works.
- SIL eligibilityWho is eligible for supported independent living (SIL) under the NDIS: the support needs the NDIA looks for, the age rule, the evidence used and if it's a no.
- SIL accommodationSIL accommodation explained: the homes people live in with supported independent living, who owns them, who pays rent, and how tenancy and support stay apart.
- Shared or individual SILShared SIL versus individual SIL: how support ratios work, when the NDIA funds one-to-one support, and the options if you'd rather live alone or with family.
- How SIL funding worksHow SIL funding works: hours of support, ratios, standard or high intensity, overnight support, irregular support days and how the pricing schedule sets limits.
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