You've just heard the term "Supported Independent Living" or "SIL" from your support coordinator. What does it actually mean, and how does it differ from all the other NDIS acronyms you've been trying to keep straight?

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is NDIS funding that pays for support workers to help with daily living tasks like cooking, cleaning, personal care, and developing independent living skills. SIL funding covers the people who support you in your home, not the housing itself, which is covered by separate SDA funding if you're eligible.

This can feel overwhelming. You've probably heard support coordinator, SDA, SIL, and a dozen other acronyms. We get it - the NDIS can feel like alphabet soup. This guide breaks down everything families need to know about Supported Independent Living, from what it is and who qualifies, to how funding works and how to apply.

We're sharing this information because understanding your support options helps you make better housing decisions. While Paramount provides SDA housing (not SIL services), we've worked with hundreds of families navigating both, and we want you to understand how these supports work together.

What is Supported Independent Living (SIL)?

Supported Independent Living is NDIS funding for support services and staff who help you manage daily living tasks. Think of SIL as funding the people who support you, not the building you live in.

SIL support covers a wide range of assistance depending on your needs. This might include help with meal preparation, cooking, and grocery shopping. It covers personal care tasks like hygiene, dressing, and medication management. Support workers assist with household tasks such as cleaning, laundry, and maintaining your home. They help you develop independent living skills like budgeting, using public transport, and communication. SIL also supports community participation, helping you access social activities and build connections.

The key distinction that confuses many families is this: SIL pays for support services (the staff), while Specialist Disability Accommodation pays for accessible housing (the building). These are two separate funding lines in your NDIS plan.

You can receive SIL support in any living arrangement. Your family member might receive SIL support in a family home, a private rental property, their own home, or in purpose-built SDA housing. The location is flexible because SIL is about the support services, not where you live.

SIL support is personalised to your specific needs and goals. Some people need a support worker to visit a few hours each week for help with specific tasks. Others require daytime support while they're home. Some participants need 24/7 support with staff available at all times. The level and type of support depends entirely on what your NDIS plan approves based on your assessed needs.

According to the NDIS official guidance on SIL, the focus is on helping you live as independently as possible while receiving the support necessary to manage your daily routine and pursue your goals.

The support workers who deliver SIL services are employed by registered SIL providers. You choose your SIL provider based on who you feel most comfortable with and who can best meet your needs. This is your choice and your control, a core principle of the NDIS.

Who is Supported Independent Living For?

Supported Independent Living is designed for NDIS participants with higher support needs who require assistance throughout the day or week to live independently.

SIL eligibility focuses on your need for regular, ongoing support with daily tasks. The NDIS assesses whether you need help to manage activities that most people do independently, and whether that support will help you live more independently and participate in your community.

Support Needs Assessment

The NDIS looks at your functional capacity, which means what you can and can't do independently. They consider your current living situation, the support you're receiving now, your goals for independent living, and whether SIL support would help you achieve those goals.

Your support needs might relate to physical disability requiring assistance with mobility, transfers, and personal care. They might stem from intellectual or cognitive disability needing support with decision-making, daily routines, and skill development. Psychosocial disability often requires support with daily structure, managing mental health, and community engagement. Many people have complex support needs across multiple areas.

The NDIS will ask questions like: Can you prepare meals safely on your own? Do you need help with personal hygiene and care? Can you manage medications independently? Do you need support to maintain your home? Would you benefit from help developing independent living skills?

Examples of SIL Participants

To help you understand who benefits from SIL, here are some real-world scenarios we've seen (details changed for privacy):

A young adult with intellectual disability lives in a shared SDA home with two housemates. They receive SIL support from 7am to 10pm daily. Support workers help with morning routines, meal preparation, household tasks, and community activities. Overnight assistance is available if needed, but this person is generally independent overnight.

A person with acquired brain injury lives in a private rental property close to family. They receive SIL support three days per week for four-hour blocks. Support workers help with meal planning and preparation, managing household tasks, and developing skills like budgeting and using public transport independently.

An adult with cerebral palsy lives in High Physical Support SDA housing with ceiling hoists and specialised equipment. They receive 24/7 SIL support for personal care, meal preparation, household management, and community participation. Support workers are always available because of their high physical support needs.

A person with psychosocial disability lives independently in their own unit with SIL support five days per week. Support workers help maintain daily routines, manage appointments, engage with the community, and develop coping strategies. The support provides structure while respecting their independence and privacy.

Not everyone with disability needs SIL. Many NDIS participants live independently without regular support services, or they receive other types of support that don't meet the criteria for SIL funding. Your support coordinator can help you determine if SIL is appropriate for your situation.

What Services Does SIL Include?

Understanding exactly what Supported Independent Living services cover helps you know what to expect and how to plan your support.

Daily living support is a core component of SIL. This includes assistance with meal preparation, cooking, and grocery shopping. Support workers help plan nutritious meals, teach cooking skills, accompany you to the supermarket, and support you to prepare meals independently over time. The goal is building your skills and confidence, not just doing tasks for you.

Personal care assistance covers help with hygiene, showering, dressing, and grooming. For people with physical disability, this might include support with transfers, using the bathroom, and managing continence needs. Support workers also assist with medication management, ensuring you take prescribed medications at the right times and in the correct dosages.

Household tasks are included in SIL support. This covers cleaning, laundry, maintaining your living space, and general home management. Support workers help you keep your home safe and comfortable, teaching you skills like operating appliances, organising your space, and maintaining routines.

Skill development is a critical part of SIL that differentiates it from simply providing care. Support workers help you develop independent living skills such as budgeting and managing money, using public transport, communication skills, problem-solving and decision-making, and understanding your rights and responsibilities as a tenant or resident.

Community participation support helps you engage with your community and build social connections. Support workers might accompany you to community activities, help you access recreational programs, support you to maintain friendships and relationships, and connect you with local services and supports.

Overnight support is available when needed. Some people require overnight assistance due to their support needs. This might be active overnight support where staff are awake and available throughout the night, or sleepover support where staff sleep on-site but are available if needed during the night.

SIL is different from other NDIS supports you might receive. Support coordination helps you implement your NDIS plan and connect with services, but support coordinators don't provide hands-on daily living assistance. Core supports funding covers individual support sessions or therapy appointments, which are typically time-limited and goal-focused. SIL, on the other hand, is comprehensive, ongoing support for your daily living needs.

The specific services in your SIL support plan depend on your individual needs, goals, and what the NDIS has approved in your plan. Your SIL provider works with you to create a support schedule that meets your needs while promoting your independence.

How SIL Funding Works

SIL funding operates differently from other NDIS supports, and understanding how it works helps you plan and manage your budget.

SIL is funded through the Core Supports budget in your NDIS plan. When the NDIS approves SIL funding, they allocate a specific amount based on your assessed support needs and the hours of support you require.

The funding calculation is based on a roster of care approach. The NDIS determines how many hours of support you need each week, what level of support intensity you require (standard, non-standard, or high intensity), and whether you need overnight assistance. They then calculate the funding amount using official SIL funding rates.

Your SIL funding amount appears as a separate line item in your NDIS plan. This funding is specifically allocated for supported independent living services and can't typically be used for other supports. The amount is calculated based on support worker hours, not accommodation costs. Housing is funded separately through SDA if you're eligible, or you pay rent yourself like any other tenancy.

Here's what many families don't realise: if you receive SIL funding, you automatically receive support coordination funding as well. The NDIS recognises that coordinating SIL services requires professional support, so support coordination is included to help you implement your plan and manage your SIL arrangement.

SIL funding is separate from SDA funding. You might have SIL funding without SDA (receiving support in standard housing), SDA funding without SIL (living independently in accessible housing), or both SIL and SDA funding (receiving support in accessible housing). These are distinct decisions based on different needs.

One of the most important aspects of SIL funding is participant choice and control. You choose your SIL provider from registered NDIS providers offering SIL services. You're not assigned to a provider - you interview options, compare services, and select the provider you feel most comfortable with. You can change providers if the arrangement isn't working for you.

The NDIS pays your SIL provider directly for the support services they deliver. You don't receive the money yourself to pay support workers. The provider invoices the NDIS for the approved supports they've provided to you.

Managing your SIL funding requires understanding your plan, knowing how many hours you're allocated, tracking that support is being delivered as planned, and working with your support coordinator if adjustments are needed. Your support coordinator helps you navigate these practical aspects.

SIL and Housing: Where Can You Receive SIL Support?

One of the biggest points of confusion for families is how SIL relates to housing. Here's what you need to know.

SIL can be delivered in any living arrangement. You don't need to live in a specific type of housing to receive SIL support. Your family member can receive SIL support in a family home, staying with parents or relatives while receiving support services. They can receive it in a private rental property, renting a standard home or unit in the community. SIL works in your own home if you or your family own a property. And yes, SIL can be delivered in SDA housing, purpose-built accessible accommodation.

The relationship between SIL and SDA confuses many families. Understanding the difference between SDA and SIL is important. SDA is housing - the physical, accessible building. SIL is support - the staff who help you daily. You can have one without the other.

You can have SIL without SDA. Many people receive SIL support while living in standard housing that's not SDA. This might be appropriate if you need support services but don't require specialised housing design features.

You can have SDA without SIL. Some people live in SDA housing designed for their physical accessibility needs but don't require regular support services to manage daily tasks independently.

Many people have both SDA and SIL funding. This is common when you need both accessible housing design and regular support services. For example, someone with high physical support needs might need SDA housing with ceiling hoists and wider doorways, plus SIL support for personal care and daily living assistance.

Here's where PDH fits in: Paramount Disability Homes provides SDA housing only, not SIL services. We're transparent about this because we believe in participant choice. When you live in one of our SDA properties, you choose your own SIL provider. You're not required to use a specific support provider, and we don't influence that decision. This separation means you have full control over who supports you and how.

If you're exploring both SIL and SDA, think about what matters for your living situation. Do you need accessible housing design or can you manage in standard housing? Do you need daily support services or can you live independently? Where do you want to live in relation to family and community? SDA eligibility requirements are separate from SIL eligibility, so each is assessed independently.

The key takeaway is that SIL support follows you wherever you choose to live. Your housing decision and your support decision are related but separate choices.

How to Apply for SIL Funding

Applying for SIL funding happens through your NDIS planning process, whether you're a new participant or requesting SIL at a plan review.

Evidence You'll Need

The NDIS requires evidence to assess your SIL eligibility and determine your support needs. You'll need functional capacity assessments from occupational therapists or other qualified professionals. These assessments document what you can do independently and where you need support.

Reports from your current support providers are valuable. If you're already receiving support (even informally from family), document what help you currently need and how SIL would formalize and improve that support.

Medical evidence from GPs, specialists, or allied health professionals helps establish your disability and how it impacts daily living. You'll also benefit from clear documentation of your goals - what you want to achieve with SIL support, whether that's living more independently, developing new skills, or maintaining your current independence with appropriate support.

Working with Your Support Coordinator

Your support coordinator plays a vital role in applying for SIL funding. They help you gather the necessary evidence and reports, prepare for your NDIS planning meeting, articulate your support needs clearly, and explain how SIL will help you achieve your goals.

Many families find this part stressful. The support coordinator knows what evidence the NDIS needs and how to present your situation effectively. Let them guide the process.

The timeline for SIL approval varies. For new NDIS participants, the process typically takes 2-4 months from your initial access request to having an approved plan with SIL funding. For participants requesting SIL at a plan review, it might be quicker if you already have established evidence of your support needs.

We wish we could give you an exact timeline, but every situation is different. The NDIS makes eligibility decisions based on your individual circumstances, and processing times vary. This uncertainty is frustrating, but it's the reality of the system.

If you're adding SIL to your plan at a plan review because your circumstances have changed, you'll go through a similar evidence-gathering process. Perhaps your support needs have increased, your living situation has changed, you're transitioning from family care to independent living, or you're moving to a new accommodation arrangement. Your support coordinator helps you document these changes and make the case for SIL funding.

The NDIS may request additional information during the assessment process. Don't be discouraged if they ask for more evidence - it's common and doesn't mean your request will be denied. Work with your support coordinator to provide what's requested.

After Approval: Choosing a Provider

Once SIL funding is approved in your plan, the next step is choosing your SIL provider. This is your choice, and it's an important decision.

Start by identifying registered SIL providers operating in your area. Your support coordinator can provide a list of providers, or you can search the NDIS provider finder. Interview multiple providers to compare their approach, ask about their experience with your type of support needs, understand how they match support workers to participants, discuss their roster and scheduling processes, and clarify their policies on participant choice and control.

Ask practical questions. How do they handle staff changes or callouts? What's their process if you're not happy with a support worker? How do they involve you in planning your support? Can you meet potential support workers before they start?

Choose a provider you feel comfortable with and who respects your goals and preferences. This relationship is important because SIL support is part of your daily life. You need to trust your provider and feel confident they'll deliver the support you need.

Real-Life Examples: How SIL Works in Practice

Understanding how SIL works in real situations helps you picture what it might look like for your family member.

Example 1: Shared Living with Daytime Support

Sarah, a young woman with intellectual disability, lives in a shared SDA home with two housemates. She has SIL funding for support from 7am to 9pm each day. Her morning support worker helps her shower, dress, and prepare breakfast. Throughout the day, support workers rotate to assist with household tasks, meal preparation, and community activities. Sarah attends a day program three days per week, with transport arranged by her SIL provider. Evenings include dinner preparation, leisure activities, and getting ready for bed. Sarah is independent overnight and has an emergency call system if needed.

Example 2: Independent Living with Targeted Support

Michael, who has acquired brain injury, lives alone in a private rental unit. He receives SIL support Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings for three hours each session. His support worker helps with meal planning for the week, cooking meals that Michael can reheat later, household cleaning and laundry, and practicing skills like budgeting and using public transport. Michael manages most tasks independently but needs this regular support to maintain his independence and prevent things from becoming overwhelming.

Example 3: High Physical Support Needs

Jenny lives in High Physical Support SDA housing with specialised equipment. She has 24/7 SIL support because she requires assistance with all personal care, transfers using ceiling hoists, meal preparation and feeding support, and medication management. Two support workers are on duty during waking hours to provide the physical assistance she needs safely. Overnight, one support worker is available for assistance if needed. Jenny directs her support, making choices about her daily routine, activities, and goals despite her high support needs.

Example 4: Family Home with Growing Independence

Tom, a teenager with autism, lives with his parents. He has SIL funding for support four afternoons per week when he returns from school. The support worker helps Tom develop independent living skills like preparing simple meals, managing his belongings, using public transport to access community activities, and social skills development. This arrangement supports Tom's transition toward more independent living in the future while he continues to live with family.

These examples show the flexibility of SIL. The support is tailored to individual needs, can be delivered in various living arrangements, focuses on promoting independence while providing necessary assistance, and respects participant choice and control.

Conclusion

Supported Independent Living is NDIS funding for the support services and staff who help with daily living tasks, personal care, household management, and skill development. SIL covers the people who support you, not the housing itself.

We know SIL is complex, and the NDIS system can feel overwhelming. But understanding your support options is the first step toward making informed decisions about housing and services. SIL can work in any living situation, from your family home to private rental to SDA housing, giving you flexibility in where and how you receive support.

While Paramount provides SDA housing (not SIL services), we understand how SIL and accessible housing work together to support independence. Many families exploring SDA are also navigating SIL funding, and we believe you should understand both to make the best decisions for your family member.

If you're exploring whether SIL is right for your situation, speak with your support coordinator about eligibility and evidence requirements. They can guide you through the application process and help you understand your options.

And if you're considering SDA housing to go with your SIL supports, we're here to help you understand your options. Explore SDA homes in locations across Melbourne, or give us a call to talk through your situation. No pressure, just honest conversation about whether SDA might work for your family.

Got questions? Call us on (03) 9999 7418 or email admin@paramounthomes.com.au. We're happy to talk through your situation and connect you with the information you need.