Supported independent living is one of the NDIS supports people ask about most, and also one of the most misunderstood. In short, supported independent living, often shortened to SIL, is help with everyday tasks so you can live in your own home with more confidence and independence. It is about the support you get, not the house you live in.
That last point trips a lot of people up. SIL and housing are two different things. This guide keeps it simple. We will explain what supported independent living is, who it suits, what it covers, how it differs from Specialist Disability Accommodation, and how a support coordinator helps you explore and set it up.
What is supported independent living?
Supported independent living is funded support to help you with daily tasks in your home. That might be a shared home with other participants, or your own individual place. The support can run during the day, in the evening, overnight, or around the clock, depending on your needs.
Think of it as the help that makes living at home possible. A support worker might assist with cooking, cleaning, personal care, taking medication, or building daily living skills. The aim is to help you do as much as you can for yourself, and to step in where you need a hand.
SIL usually suits people who need a higher level of support to live safely. It is often part of a plan for someone with significant daily support needs. It is not the only home support option, so it is worth checking whether it truly fits your situation.
Who does SIL suit?
Supported independent living is generally for people who need regular support to manage everyday life at home. This often includes people who need help across many parts of the day, or who need support available overnight.
Here are some signs SIL might be worth exploring.
- You need help with daily tasks like cooking, cleaning or personal care most days.
- You need support available at night or across the whole day.
- You are moving out of the family home and need ongoing support to do so safely.
- You live with others and share support across the household.
- You want to build independence but still need a solid support base.
SIL is not for everyone. Some people do better with a set number of support hours in their own home, without the full SIL model. A good support coordinator helps you work out which path fits.
What does supported independent living cover?
SIL focuses on the day-to-day help you need to live at home. It usually covers assistance and supervision with daily tasks. It does not cover the cost of the home itself, your rent, or your everyday bills.
Here is a simple breakdown.
SIL usually covers | SIL does not cover |
|---|---|
Help with cooking and preparing meals | Rent or mortgage payments |
Assistance with cleaning and household tasks | The cost of the building or property |
Personal care, like showering and dressing | Everyday bills such as electricity and groceries |
Support taking medication | Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) |
Building daily living and independence skills | Therapy, equipment or transport (funded elsewhere) |
Overnight or 24-hour support where needed | Furniture and general living costs |
So SIL is the support inside the home. The home and living costs are handled separately.
SIL versus SDA: the key difference
This is the part worth reading twice. Supported independent living is about support. Specialist Disability Accommodation, or SDA, is about the housing itself.
SDA is specially designed or modified housing for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. It might have features like reinforced walls, wider doorways, or assistive technology built in. SDA pays for the bricks and mortar. It does not pay for the support workers.
SIL, on the other hand, pays for the people who help you. You can have SIL without SDA, and you can have SDA without SIL. Some people have both. They are funded separately and assessed separately.
Feature | SIL (support) | SDA (housing) |
|---|---|---|
What it funds | Help with daily tasks | Specialist housing |
Focus | People and support hours | The building itself |
Who it suits | People needing regular daily support | People needing specially designed homes |
Funded in your plan as | Core or supports for daily activities | Capital support |
Can you have it alone | Yes | Yes |
If you remember one thing, remember this. SIL is the support, SDA is the house.
How is SIL funded?
SIL is funded through your NDIS plan when it is assessed as reasonable and necessary. The NDIS looks at how much support you need, how often, and whether SIL is the right way to deliver it.
The process usually involves gathering evidence about your support needs. This can include reports from therapists and other professionals, plus a clear picture of your daily routine. A provider often prepares a roster of care that sets out the support hours across a typical week. The NDIS reviews all of this before funding SIL.
Because the process has a few moving parts, it helps to have someone guiding you. We cannot promise any particular funding outcome, but strong, well-organised evidence helps your case reflect your real needs.
Shared versus individual living
One more choice comes up a lot with supported independent living: do you live with others or on your own? Both can work, and the right answer depends on you.
In a shared home, support is often spread across the household. A few participants live together, and support workers help everyone, sometimes with overnight or 24-hour cover. Sharing can lower the cost per person and bring built-in company, but it also means living alongside others and sharing space.
In an individual arrangement, the support is just for you in your own place. This suits people who prefer their own space or whose needs do not fit well with sharing. It can offer more privacy and control, though the support may be costed differently.
There is no single right answer. Think about your routine, who you get along with, and how much privacy you want. A support coordinator can walk you through both options so the choice feels clear rather than rushed.
How a support coordinator helps you set up SIL
Exploring supported independent living can feel overwhelming. There are assessments, providers, and a lot of paperwork. This is exactly where a support coordinator earns their keep.
A coordinator helps you work out whether SIL genuinely fits, or whether another option suits you better. If SIL is the right path, they help gather the evidence, connect you with the right providers, and keep the process moving. They also help you compare shared and individual living, and think through who you might live with.
At 360 Support Coordination, your coordinator is a named person you can actually reach, not a case number in a queue. We are comfortable with complex situations, and we prepare audit-ready documentation to NDIS Practice Standards. For higher-need and complex setups, our Level 3 support coordination page explains how specialist support works. You can also read more about our approach on the how we work page.
Setting up SIL well takes time and care. Having someone in your corner makes the whole thing calmer.
Bringing it all together
Supported independent living is help with daily tasks so you can live at home with more independence. Remember the golden rule: SIL is about support, SDA is about the housing itself. If you need regular daily help and want to explore whether supported independent living fits, the right guidance makes a real difference.
We would love to help you work it out. Refer a participant at https://intranet.ansaconsultandtech.com.au/referral?b=360sc, get in touch through our contact us page, or book a 15-minute call. You can also call our team on +61 3 7047 6747 and we will talk it through with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is supported independent living in the NDIS?
Supported independent living, or SIL, is NDIS-funded help with everyday tasks so you can live in your own home. It can include support with cooking, cleaning, personal care and building daily living skills. It focuses on the support you receive, not the house itself.
What is the difference between SIL and SDA?
SIL funds the support workers who help you with daily tasks. Specialist Disability Accommodation, or SDA, funds specially designed or modified housing. In short, SIL is the support and SDA is the building. You can have one, the other, or both, and they are funded separately.
Who is eligible for SIL funding?
SIL is generally for people who need a higher level of regular support to live safely at home, often across much of the day or overnight. The NDIS assesses whether SIL is reasonable and necessary based on your support needs. A support coordinator can help you work out if it fits.
What does SIL funding cover?
SIL funding covers assistance and supervision with daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, personal care and taking medication, plus building independence skills. It does not cover rent, everyday bills, or the cost of the home. Therapy, equipment and transport are funded through other parts of your plan.
How do I apply for SIL?
SIL is usually explored through your NDIS plan, with evidence about your daily support needs from therapists and other professionals. A provider often prepares a roster of care showing your weekly support hours. A support coordinator can help gather the evidence and guide you through the process.