What Is Supported Independent Living (SIL)?
Supported independent living (SIL) is NDIS funding for support workers who help or supervise a person with daily tasks in their home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's for people with higher support needs, and it's usually shared with housemates who also have NDIS funding. SIL pays for the support, not the house. Residents pay their own rent, food and bills.
What Does SIL Pay For?
Paid support from support workers in the home, to help the person live as independently as possible and build their skills.
The NDIA's guideline describes SIL as a package of paid personal supports. Depending on the person, that can include support:
- With personal care, like showering and getting dressed
- To build skills in cooking, cleaning and keeping a routine
- To carry out a behaviour support plan
- To develop social skills
- With supervision, personal safety and security
- To take medication and get to medical appointments
- For community access that isn't routine or regular, and getting to and from activities like visiting family
What Doesn't SIL Pay For?
Housing and day-to-day living costs. SIL also isn't for people who only need a few hours of help a day or week.
- Rent, board or lodging
- Groceries
- Gas, electricity, water, phone and internet
- Vehicle costs, and holiday travel
- Personal support while someone is in hospital or in custody, which the health and justice systems cover
- Nursing, medical and palliative care
Regular community activities, like a day program, work or study support, are usually funded separately in the plan. Only one support can be claimed for any period of time, so time out in the community isn't also charged as SIL.
Looking for SIL Support?
We'll connect you with a registered SIL provider who may have support or a vacancy that suits.
Who Is SIL For?
Adults who need someone with them all the time, including overnight, with active help for a large part of the day.
The NDIA's guideline says SIL may suit someone who needs active disability support for more than 8 hours a day and some level of support for the rest, including overnight. It's generally only funded for people aged 18 or older. Our page on SIL eligibility goes through what the NDIA looks at.
Do You Have to Share a SIL Home?
Not always, but most people do. SIL is usually funded when people live with other participants and share their support workers.
In a shared home, one support worker might support 2 residents, or 2 workers might support 4. The NDIA can fund individual SIL, one to one, around the clock, in some situations, such as life-threatening health needs that need constant monitoring. You choose who you live with and how many people you share your home with.
Who Provides SIL?
A SIL provider registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. From 1 October 2026 only registered providers, or providers who applied to register before that date, can deliver SIL.
The SIL provider employs and rosters the support workers and manages the support in the home. They have to meet the NDIS Practice Standards, including a set of standards just for SIL that apply from 1 July 2026. If you organise and roster your own support workers yourself, that isn't SIL under the NDIS definition.
You choose your SIL provider. In many homes the SIL provider also arranges the tenancy, but the housing and the support are separate agreements, and your housing can't depend on keeping the same support provider.
How Is SIL Different From SDA?
SDA is the specially designed home. SIL is the support workers. Some people have both in their plan.
Specialist disability accommodation (SDA) is the only NDIS funding that pays for housing, and only for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. Most people with SIL live in ordinary rental homes, not SDA. Our page comparing SIL, SDA and ILO sets out the differences.
Questions People Ask
What does SIL stand for?
Supported independent living. It's NDIS funding for support workers who help or supervise someone with daily tasks at home, around the clock.
Is SIL the same as a group home?
No. SIL is the support, not the building. It's often delivered in a shared house with other participants, but it can also be in a unit or a home you rent or own.
Does SIL cover rent?
No. SIL can't be used for rent, board, groceries or bills. Residents pay those from their own income, often the Disability Support Pension.
Is SIL 24/7?
Yes. SIL is for people who need some level of support at all times, including overnight. Overnight support can be a sleepover or an active night shift, depending on need.
Can you get SIL if you live alone?
Sometimes. The NDIA's guideline says you can get SIL living alone, with other participants or with people who aren't participants, but it's usually funded for shared homes and other options may suit people living alone better.
Keep Reading
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- SIL vs SDA vs ILOSIL, SDA and ILO compared from the support side: what each one funds, who it's for, how they combine, and which to ask about when you need help to live at home.
- Rent and costs in SILWhat people living with SIL pay themselves: rent, food, utilities and household items.
- How it worksHow we connect you with a SIL provider, and what happens to your details.
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