Supported independent living funding pays for the disability support workers you need to live as independently as possible at home, including help with daily tasks, supervision and overnight support. It does not pay for rent, groceries, utilities or the home itself. SIL is generally funded through NDIS Core Supports under Home and Living and is based on your individual support needs, goals and circumstances. The amount available depends on the type and intensity of support you need, whether support is shared, and the applicable NDIS pricing schedule.
A new NDIS plan can include a significant amount of funding with very little explanation of how each support works. If you are trying to understand Supported Independent Living (SIL), this guide explains what SIL funding covers, how funding is worked out, how NDIS pricing applies and what to check before choosing a provider.
+ Key Takeaways
- Supported independent living funding pays for support workers, not your rent or everyday living costs.
- SIL sits within NDIS Core Supports under Home and Living and is generally a stated support.
- The NDIA considers your disability-related support needs, goals and circumstances when deciding whether SIL is appropriate.
- SIL may include shared or individual support, including active overnight or sleepover support where funded.
- Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is separate funding for specialist housing, not support workers.
- The current NDIS pricing schedule provides guidance on appropriate maximum prices for SIL support items.
What Is Supported Independent Living Funding?
Supported independent living funding covers rostered support workers who help with daily tasks and supervision at home. Supported Independent Living (SIL) is part of NDIS Core Supports under Home and Living and is intended for people with higher support needs who require significant help at home.
The funding pays for support rather than accommodation. This means you may receive SIL in a shared home or another suitable living arrangement, depending on what is funded in your plan. The organisation delivering your SIL supports does not necessarily have to own or manage the property.
SIL is closely connected with Assistance with Daily Life, because both involve practical support with everyday activities. However, SIL is specifically designed around ongoing home and living support needs.
How Does the NDIA Assess Supported Independent Living Funding?
The NDIA considers your disability-related support needs, goals, functional capacity and living circumstances when deciding whether SIL is appropriate. Funding is individual: two people with the same diagnosis can receive different levels of support because their day-to-day needs may be very different.
Evidence may include information about the support you need across a typical week, whether you require shared or one-to-one assistance, and whether overnight support needs to be active or sleepover support. Functional assessments and other supporting evidence may also help explain your needs.
A roster of care can be used to document how supports will be delivered across the week. Under current NDIS provider guidance, a roster of care is a useful planning tool but is not mandatory in every case and does not always need to be submitted to the NDIA.
NDIS Price Guide: Supported Independent Living Funding and Rates
The NDIS pricing schedule (effective from 1 July 2026) sets out guidance on appropriate maximum prices for NDIS supports. For SIL, the price that can be claimed depends on the support item, the level of support, the time it is delivered and whether standard or high-intensity support applies.
This is why there is no single flat SIL amount for every participant. Your total supported independent living funding is based on the funded supports in your plan and how those supports are delivered across the week.
When comparing a provider quote or service agreement, check that the support hours, ratios, overnight arrangements and rates are clearly explained. You can also compare the quoted rates with the current NDIS pricing schedule before agreeing to changes.
What Does a SIL Budget Cover?
Depending on your assessed and funded needs, SIL may pay for support workers to assist with:
- Personal care such as showering, dressing and toileting
- Cooking and meal preparation
- Household tasks and cleaning
- Medication prompts or disability-related assistance within a worker’s role
- Implementing approved behaviour support strategies
- Building daily living skills and routines
- Supervision and safety support
- Active overnight or sleepover support where funded
The aim is to provide the level of assistance you need while supporting independence wherever possible, rather than automatically having a worker complete every task for you.
How Do Shared and Individual SIL Supports Differ?
SIL is commonly delivered in shared living arrangements. When support is shared, a worker may assist more than one participant at the same time and each person’s funding reflects the support arrangement that has been approved.
If you need one-to-one assistance for particular tasks or periods of the day, that support can be funded where it is included in your plan. Ask prospective providers to explain what support is shared, what is individual and how those arrangements are reflected in your service agreement.
Does Supported Independent Living Funding Include Overnight Support?
It can. Depending on your assessed needs, SIL may include a sleepover shift, where a worker sleeps onsite and is available when required, or active overnight support, where a worker remains awake throughout the night.
For example, a participant who needs reliable assistance at set times during the night may require active overnight support rather than a sleepover arrangement. The type of overnight support funded should match the participant’s actual disability-related needs.
What Is Not Covered by SIL Funding?
Supported independent living funding does not generally cover ordinary day-to-day living expenses such as:
- Rent, mortgage, board or bond
- Groceries and everyday food costs
- Electricity, gas, water or internet
- Personal expenses and entertainment
- Ordinary household bills
- Holidays and personal travel
- The capital cost of specialist housing
These costs are usually paid from your own income. SIL funding is for disability-related support workers and approved supports, not the ordinary cost of living in a home.
SIL and SDA: How Do They Work Together?
Supported Independent Living and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) are separate NDIS supports. SIL funds the support workers; SDA funds eligible specialist housing for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.
| SIL | SDA | |
|---|---|---|
| What it funds | Support workers and daily living support | Eligible specialist housing |
| NDIS budget area | Core Supports – Home and Living | Capital Supports |
| Can you have one without the other? | Yes | Yes |
| Main assessment focus | Daily support needs and circumstances | Functional impairment and specialist housing need |
Other Home and Living options may also be relevant in some circumstances, including Individualised Living Options (ILO). The best fit depends on your living goals, support needs and what the NDIS funds in your plan.
Questions to Ask Before You Choose a SIL Provider
Before you commit to a provider, ask:
- Do you have capacity now, or is there a waitlist?
- Which supports are shared and which are one-to-one?
- How are support worker ratios and hours shown in the service agreement?
- What happens if a regular worker is sick or on leave?
- How are overnight supports delivered?
- What rates will you charge, and how do they align with the current NDIS pricing schedule?
- How much notice do I need to give if I want to change providers?
Get the answers in writing before you sign a service agreement.
How Care Decisions Helps You Compare SIL Providers
Care Decisions is free for participants and families. We help you compare NDIS providers based on your support needs, location and preferences, including SIL providers with relevant availability.
After a short conversation about your situation, our team can prepare a personalised Options Report with matched providers. You remain in control of which providers you speak with and whether you choose any of the options.
Care Decisions does not replace the NDIA, your my NDIS contact or your support coordinator. It can be used alongside the people already helping you understand and implement your plan.
What to Do Next
- Check your NDIS plan for Home and Living or SIL funding and any stated support conditions.
- Confirm that your goals and supporting evidence reflect how you want to live and the help you need.
- Ask your support coordinator or my NDIS contact if you are unsure how your funding can be used.
- Compare provider service agreements, support ratios, overnight arrangements and rates.
- Check current NDIS pricing guidance before agreeing to provider rates.
- Request a Care Decisions Options Report if you want help comparing SIL providers with capacity in your area.
Care decisions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my SIL provider?
Yes. You are not locked into a SIL provider for the life of your NDIS plan. Check your service agreement for the notice period and any agreed exit conditions before giving notice.
Do I need a diagnosis to qualify for SIL?
SIL decisions are based on your disability-related support needs, goals and circumstances rather than a diagnosis alone. People with the same diagnosis can have very different support needs.
How long does supported independent living funding take to be approved?
Timeframes vary depending on the complexity of your circumstances and whether the NDIA needs more information. Your support coordinator or my NDIS contact can help you understand what evidence is needed and what stage your request has reached.
What happens to my SIL funding if I move house?
Moving house does not automatically mean you lose SIL funding, but a change in living arrangements can affect how supports need to be delivered. Tell the NDIA about relevant changes so your support arrangements can be reviewed if necessary.
Does supported independent living funding cover rent or living costs?
No. SIL funding pays for disability-related support workers and approved supports. Rent, groceries, utilities and ordinary living costs are generally paid from your own income.
How does the NDIS price guide affect supported independent living?
The current NDIS pricing schedule provides guidance on appropriate maximum prices for support items. SIL rates can vary according to the support item, time of delivery, support intensity and other pricing conditions, so compare provider rates with the current schedule and your available plan funding.
Recommended External Reference
NDIS pricing arrangements and current pricing schedule: ndis.gov.au/providers/pricing-and-payments/pricing/pricing-arrangements
Content accuracy note: The pricing section has been aligned to the NDIS pricing schedule effective 1 July 2026. The roster-of-care wording has also been updated to reflect current NDIS provider guidance that a roster of care can be used as a planning tool but is not mandatory in every case.