What is Supported Independent Living (SIL)?

The NDIS provides support through the Supported Independent Living (SIL) program. This program provides funding for individuals with disabilities to receive assistance or guidance with day-to-day tasks to enable them to live as independently as possible. 

People living in a shared home who need 24/7 support are typically eligible for SIL funding. The purpose of the funding is to cover the cost of the support staff.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) states that SIL is the best option for participants who are older than 18 years and have substantial daily support requirements.

Because the SIL funding process is a bit different from the way other parts of the NDIS function, there is often a lot of confusion about how it works. The best way to discover how it will impact you is to talk to a provider who offers ‘Assistance with Daily Life. If you'd like more information, please don't hesitate to contact us.

What services are provided through Supported Independent Living funding?

There are three levels of supported independent living, depending on how many people are included and the type of support required: 

• Lower Need level: People in lower care levels do not receive 24/7 supervision and support with their living arrangements.
• Standard needs level: An individual with standard needs requires 24/7 support and assistance or supervision of most daily tasks and overnight sleepovers.
• Higher needs level: More intense help with managing difficult behaviour and assisting with all daily activities is needed, in addition to continuous service with complex medical needs such as ventilating and active support 24/7, including overnight assistance.

People living in SIL housing depend on the government and their families for support in order to remain healthy and in their homes as long as possible. The following services are covered by Supported Independent Living funding:

• Care with monitoring, protection, and security.
• Assistance with financial management and household budgeting.
• Personal care assistance (such as showering and dressing ).
• Assistance with meal preparation and cooking, cleaning and laundry assistance
• Routine development assistance
• Supporting medication administration and medical appointments.
• Community access (for example, assistance with completing personal tasks)  for planning and travelling to social activities, as well as for catching public transportation to visit family and friends.

What are the distinctions between Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)?

It can be hard to understand, especially since they both seem to refer to the same thing. Essentially, Supported Independent Living refers to the money for support services, while Specialist Disability Accommodation refers to the housing in which those services are provided. Generally, anyone with SDA funding will also have SIL funding, but someone with SIL funding will not necessarily have SDA funding.

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA): 

The NDIS supports people with significant disabilities by providing them with a house that has been modified to suit their specific requirements. SDA funding is approved when someone has an extreme functional impairment and/or very high support needs. It is essential to recognise that only a small percentage of NDIS participants (roughly 6 per cent) will qualify for SDA funding in their plan. It ensures that these people are able to live in an environment that allows them to live with as much independence, choice and control as their disability allows. Living in an SDA home also allows for SIL care to be provided in a cost-effective and more efficient manner.

Supported Independent Living (SIL):

In-home support to assist with daily living tasks. SIL focuses on providing essential day-to-day care as well as developing participants' skills so that they can live as independently as possible. 

How to get Supported Independent Living (SIL) funding?

Your NDIS planner must deem SIL funding to be both reasonable and necessary in order for you to receive it. You must present your case to your planner during your planning meeting.

The more prepared you are, the better your chances of receiving SIL funding. When going into your meeting, remember that the NDIS Planner does not know you. They will only know what you tell them. You will need to express how urgent or pressing your need is and how it will improve your life and allow you to meet your goals.