Nobody searches for "am I ready for Supported Independent Living" unless they're already quietly wondering. You've probably been sitting with this question for a while, maybe even feeling guilty for asking it.

That's the right place to start.

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) funding for support workers who help people with disability manage daily tasks in their own home. SIL is separate from Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), which funds the housing itself. Knowing whether your family member is ready for SIL is one of the most important questions in this journey. And there's no single test or form that gives you the answer.

These 15 signs give you a practical starting point.

What Supported Independent Living Readiness Actually Looks Like

Readiness for Supported Independent Living isn't about reaching a milestone. It's not about your family member becoming more independent overnight, or your family running out of options. In the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the question is whether SIL is reasonable and necessary given your family member's ongoing support needs.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) doesn't use a single "readiness test." An Occupational Therapist (OT) assessment is typically part of the process, looking at functional capacity and what support your family member needs to live safely and participate in their community. A support coordinator helps you prepare the evidence and navigate the application. The NDIS website's SIL page for participants explains the formal criteria if you want to read the source directly.

It's worth knowing the distinction clearly before you go further: SIL funds support workers (the people who help with daily living tasks). SDA funds accessible housing. They are separate decisions, separately funded. Our SDA vs SIL: Complete Comparison Guide explains how both work together.

If you need to revisit what SIL actually covers first, our Supported Independent Living: Your Complete Introduction has the full picture.

The 15 Signs You're Ready for Supported Independent Living

Work through each sign and note which ones apply to your situation. This checklist won't replace an OT assessment, but it will help you understand whether this conversation is worth having with your support coordinator now.

Daily Living and Support Needs

1. Your family member needs regular help with personal care. Showering, dressing, and grooming require consistent support that isn't reliably available at home. If family caregivers are stepping in daily, that's a meaningful pattern.
2. Meal preparation and household tasks require consistent assistance throughout the day. Occasional help with cooking is different from needing structured, regular support to manage a household safely. The key word is "consistent."
3. Medication management needs daily supervision or prompting. If your family member risks missing doses or taking them incorrectly without someone present to assist, this is an ongoing support need the NDIA takes seriously.
4. Overnight support needs exist. This might mean active awake support, or simply a sleepover presence for safety and reassurance. Overnight needs are a clear signal that support has moved beyond what most families can provide indefinitely.
5. The current support arrangement at home is placing unsustainable strain on family caregivers. This is the sign families often feel most conflicted about. Recognising family strain isn't about giving up. It means you're being honest about what's sustainable for everyone long-term, including your family member. Burnout in a primary caregiver is a readiness signal, not a failure.

Goals and Independence

1. Your family member has expressed a clear desire to live more independently. Whether they've said it directly or shown it through their choices, that wish matters and belongs in their NDIS plan.
2. They have goals in their NDIS plan that relate to independent living or community participation. If independent living features in their current plan, it's a signal that the conversation has already started at the planning level.
3. They are motivated to build skills with support rather than relying solely on family. Motivation isn't a requirement, but it does matter for how SIL works in practice. Support workers work best alongside someone who wants to engage.
4. They are able to communicate their preferences about daily routines and support styles, even with communication supports. Communication doesn't need to be verbal. What matters is that your family member can express what they want, in whatever way works for them.

NDIS Plan and Funding Status

1. Your family member has an active NDIS plan with home and living goals documented. Without an active plan that reflects their housing and support goals, a SIL application will be difficult to progress. This is the foundation everything else builds on.
2. Their plan mentions SIL as a possible support, or their support coordinator has recommended exploring SIL funding. If it's already in the plan or on a coordinator's radar, you're likely closer to readiness than you think.
3. A plan review is approaching and this is the right time to request a SIL assessment. Plan reviews are the primary opportunity to request SIL funding. If one is coming up, now is a good time to start gathering evidence.

Practical and Logistical Readiness

1. Your family has started researching SIL providers and SDA housing options. The fact that you're reading this checklist is itself a sign. Doing the groundwork before the formal assessment helps you move faster when the time comes.
2. Your family member's support network understands the transition and is actively involved in planning. A supported transition depends on everyone being on the same page. Families who communicate openly about what's coming tend to have smoother experiences.
3. A support coordinator is already engaged and ready to help. A support coordinator is central to the SIL application process. They prepare the home and living statement, help gather OT evidence, and submit the SIL request to the NDIA. If you don't have one yet, this is the moment to get one.

What Happens After You Identify These Signs

The checklist is a starting point, not a formal assessment. Eligibility and funding decisions are made by the NDIA, not by housing providers. Speak with your support coordinator for advice specific to your family member's situation.

Here's what typically happens next. Your support coordinator will help you prepare a home and living statement that documents your family member's current support needs and their goals. An OT assessment is usually required, and the NDIA uses this evidence to determine whether SIL is reasonable and necessary. This process takes time. NDIS assessments aren't always predictable, and that uncertainty is genuinely frustrating. Your support coordinator should be honest with you about realistic timelines.

One practical note: Paramount provides SDA housing, not SIL services. Our interest in your family's readiness has no conflict attached to it. That said, if SIL funding looks likely, it's often worth exploring SDA housing at the same time. Our SDA eligibility page explains whether accessible housing is also part of the picture for your family member.

Signs That Suggest Now Might Not Be the Right Time

This is the section most SIL guides skip. We're including it because honest guidance matters more than pushing families toward a decision before they're ready.

SIL may not be the right fit right now if:

• Support needs are currently well-met by family without significant strain, and everyone involved is content with the arrangement
• Goals in your family member's NDIS plan don't include independent living yet, and they haven't expressed a desire to live more independently
• Your family member has clearly indicated they are not ready or not willing to consider a move
• A plan review is due soon and it makes more sense to raise home and living goals then, rather than trying to retrofit them into the current plan
• Your family is still in the early stages of NDIS access and hasn't yet had a full functional capacity assessment

Not being ready now doesn't mean never. Plans evolve. Goals develop over time. Circumstances change for families, and they change for participants too. The question of whether to ask for a SIL assessment can be asked again at the next plan review, and the one after that.

Can your family member get SIL while living at home with family? Yes, in some cases. The NDIA assesses whether SIL is reasonable and necessary based on ongoing support needs. Living at home doesn't automatically exclude someone. Your support coordinator can advise on how this applies to your specific situation.

Your Next Steps

The 15 signs in this checklist give you a framework, not a verdict. The real assessment happens through your family member's NDIS plan, their support coordinator, and an OT assessment. What this checklist can do is help you arrive at those conversations with more clarity about where you stand.

If several signs on this list resonate, it's worth talking to your support coordinator now.

When you're ready to evaluate providers, our SIL Provider Selection Checklist: 30 Questions Before You Commit gives you the practical tools to assess who you're talking to.

And if SDA housing is also part of your family member's future, we're happy to talk through what's available in Melbourne. Call us on (03) 9999 7418 or email admin@paramounthomes.com.au. We're housing providers, not support coordinators, but we know this territory and we're genuinely happy to point you in the right direction.