Supported independent living for young adults is NDIS funding for daily support at home for people with higher support needs. Supported Independent Living (SIL) is generally only considered for people aged 18 and over. At 17, the NDIS may fund support to explore home and living options. There is no separate NDIS youth SIL program. Young adults request SIL through their NDIS plan, with funding based on their individual disability-related needs. SIL pays for support workers, while rent and ordinary living expenses remain separate.
+ Key Takeaways
- SIL is generally only considered for people aged 18 and over.
- If a young person is 17 and wants to move out, the NDIS may fund support to explore their options.
- SIL suits people who need significant support throughout the day, 7 days a week, including overnight.
- Individualised Living Options can be a good starting point if you’re unsure what suits.
- SIL pays for support. Rent and housing costs are separate.
- Families can stay involved, and the NDIA considers what they tell them.
Finishing school, turning 18 or hearing a young person say they want their own place can bring new possibilities. For many families, it also raises a practical question: what NDIS support could help?
This article explains when young adults can get Supported Independent Living, when to start planning and what other options might suit. It also covers how families can stay involved.
SIL approved? Request your free Options Report.
Eligibility for Supported Independent Living for Young Adults
Supported Independent Living is generally considered for people aged 18 and over who need significant daily support, including overnight assistance. Supported Independent Living sits within NDIS Core Supports under Home and Living.
There isn’t a separate NDIS SIL funding category for young adults. They request home and living supports through their NDIS plan, with funding assessed against their individual needs.
Before 18, parents are usually expected to support a child in the family home. If a child needs much more support because of disability than other children their age, the NDIS may fund personal care or other supports.
Turning 18 doesn’t automatically make someone eligible for SIL. The NDIA considers their disability-related support needs, goals and whether SIL meets the NDIS reasonable and necessary funding criteria.
Our guide on how to apply for SIL explains eligibility and the process.
Planning for Life Beyond the Family Home
Planning can begin before a young person is ready to move. Early conversations give them space to explore what they want from home life and the support they might need.
At 17, if the goal is to move out, the NDIS may fund support to explore home and living options. The NDIA may also fund an assessment if it needs more information about the person’s support needs.
A good first step is to raise home and living goals with your NDIS contact or support coordinator. Let the young person lead the conversation, with support to communicate what matters to them.
Think about where they’d like to live, who they might want to live with and what help they need each day. The NDIA uses information about current and future needs to consider suitable supports.
Is There a Youth SIL Program?
No, there isn’t a separate NDIS SIL funding category for young adults. They request home and living supports through their NDIS plan, just as other participants do.
SIL is a package of support for people with higher support needs, rather than an age-specific housing program.
Youth housing and residential services outside the NDIS have their own eligibility and funding rules. These shouldn’t be confused with NDIS-funded SIL.
Finding the Right Home and Living Support
Moving out of home doesn’t necessarily mean needing SIL. The right support depends on the young person’s goals, preferences and how much help they need each day.
Here are some options to discuss with your NDIS contact or support coordinator:
- SIL: may suit someone who needs significant support throughout the day, 7 days a week, including overnight. It’s commonly delivered in a shared home.
- Personal care and Assistance with Daily Life: may be a better fit if the person needs help at particular times rather than support throughout the day and night.
- Individualised Living Options (ILO): may suit some adults exploring a tailored arrangement, such as living with a host or housemate. The NDIA generally considers ILO for people who need at least 6 hours of paid or informal support at home each day. At 17, it may fund exploration and design for future living arrangements.
- Short-term accommodation or respite: may provide an overnight break from usual informal care arrangements, where the funding criteria are met.
- Medium-term accommodation: may help with eligible temporary accommodation needs while longer-term housing or disability supports are being arranged. Separate eligibility rules apply.
If you’re unsure where to begin, ask whether ILO exploration and design or another home and living support suits the young person’s needs.
Daily Life and Support with SIL
SIL support is built around everyday life, from personal care and preparing meals to cleaning and developing routines. Support workers can also help the young person build skills and do more for themselves over time.
A roster of care describes support across a typical week. It helps show what assistance is needed, when it’s needed and whether support is shared.
SIL pays for support, not the home itself. Rent, groceries, utilities and other ordinary living expenses are separate. If specialist housing is also needed, our SIL vs SDA guide explains the distinction.
Housing and support arrangements should also be clear and distinct. The agreement for SIL support is different from a tenancy or housing agreement, even when the same organisation provides both.
Our guide to SIL funding explains more about what the funding covers.
Staying Connected as a Family
Moving out can change how a family provides support without ending that connection. Families can stay involved in ways the young person wants, whether that means regular visits, help communicating preferences or sharing relevant information.
The young person’s choices about where they live and who they live with stay at the centre. Family support can carry on alongside SIL.
It helps to talk a few things through together early. Think about who they’d like to live with, what they’d like to do for themselves and how often family will visit.
Choosing a SIL Provider
Finding a suitable SIL provider means looking beyond an available place. Consider how the provider’s approach, support team and any shared living arrangement fit the young person’s needs and preferences.
When comparing providers, ask about:
- How housemates are matched, including shared interests and compatible routines.
- How support workers help the young person build skills and make everyday choices.
- What support is available overnight.
- How family involvement and visits are supported.
- What happens if the support or living arrangement isn’t working.
Ask for clear explanations of the support and housing agreements, including how changes are managed.
Want help comparing SIL providers? Request your free Options Report.
How Our Free Service Works
You don’t have to work through a directory and ring providers one by one. Care Decisions looks at your needs, location and preferences, then sends you an Options Report with up to 5 providers that suit your needs.
The report goes to you and the providers at the same time, and they then contact you or your carer to talk through what they offer. It’s your call which one, if any, feels right.
The service is free for participants and families. Providers pay a referral fee, so you never pay to receive your Options Report.
What to Do Next
- Talk with the young person about where and how they’d like to live.
- Raise home and living goals with your NDIS contact or support coordinator, ideally from age 17.
- Ask whether the plan can fund exploring home and living options, such as an ILO or an assessment of home and living needs.
- Read our guides on how to apply for SIL and how SIL funding works.
- Check the NDIA’s current guidance on Individualised Living Options.
- Once SIL is approved, request your free Options Report to compare matched providers.
Ready to compare providers? Request your free Options Report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a 17-year-old get SIL?
SIL is generally only considered for people aged 18 and over. At 17, if the goal is to move out, the NDIS may fund support to explore home and living options.
Is there a youth SIL program?
No. The NDIS has no separate youth SIL program. Young adults request SIL the same way as anyone else. Youth housing programs outside the NDIS have their own rules.
Can a young adult live alone with SIL?
SIL is usually delivered in a shared home. In some circumstances, the NDIA may fund it for someone living alone. Talk it through with your support coordinator.
Do parents still have a say after their child moves out?
Family can stay involved in several ways, including sharing information with the NDIA and supporting the young person alongside SIL. The young person’s choices stay at the centre. Your role depends on your family’s circumstances and any guardianship arrangements.
What if the living arrangement doesn't work out?
Start by talking with the provider, then your support coordinator. You can ask about a different home or provider, or about changing the plan.