What Is Supported Independent Living (SIL)?
SIL is one of the most misunderstood parts of the NDIS. This plain-English guide explains what Supported Independent Living actually is, what the funding does and doesn't cover, who it suits, and how to get it in your plan.
Reviewed: 2 August 2026 · Responsible organisation: Reliable Care Solutions Pty Ltd · General information only — always check your own NDIS plan or speak with your NDIS contact or support coordinator.
What is Supported Independent Living?
Supported Independent Living (SIL) is NDIS funding for the help you need with everyday tasks in a shared home — things like cooking, cleaning, personal care, medication prompting, and building daily routines. Support workers are rostered to the household, and depending on assessed needs and funding that can range from a few hours a day to 24/7, including active overnight support, where funded.
The key thing to understand: SIL pays for the support (the people), not the house itself. It's designed for people who need a significant amount of daily assistance to live independently.
What SIL funding covers — and what it doesn't
SIL typically covers:
- Assistance with daily personal activities — showering, dressing, grooming
- Meal preparation, cooking and household tasks
- Medication prompting and management
- Overnight and active-night support where needed
- Building daily living and life skills
- Support to stay safe and connected at home
SIL does not cover: your rent, board, groceries, utilities or other day-to-day living costs — those are everyday expenses you'd pay whether or not you had a disability. It also doesn't pay for the physical home itself.
SIL vs SDA — what's the difference?
People often mix these up. SIL is the support; SDA is the housing.
- SIL (Supported Independent Living) — funds the support workers who help you day to day.
- SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) — funds specially designed, accessible housing for people with an extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.
Some people have both. Many others receive SIL in an ordinary rental or shared home — you don't need SDA to have SIL.
Who is SIL for?
SIL is generally for adults who need help with daily tasks throughout the day and/or night, and who live (or want to live) in a shared arrangement with other participants. It's based on your level of support need — not on a particular diagnosis. If you can manage with lower levels of help, other supports like in-home support and personal care may suit you better.
How SIL appears in your NDIS plan
SIL is funded under Core Supports (Assistance with Daily Life). A provider prepares a "roster of care" — a breakdown of the support hours the household needs — which the NDIS uses to set your SIL funding. Because it's based on "reasonable and necessary" support, your planner or support coordinator usually helps work out the detail. To understand how Core funding works alongside your other budgets, see our guide to Core vs Capacity Building supports.
How to access SIL — the steps
- Talk to your planner, LAC or support coordinator about your goals and daily support needs.
- Have your support needs assessed (often with input from allied health).
- Explore homes and potential housemates that suit you.
- A registered provider prepares a roster of care / quote for the household.
- SIL is added to your plan — at a plan reassessment or through a change of circumstances.
SIL can take time to set up, so it helps to start the conversation early.
How Reliable Care Solutions delivers SIL
We're a registered NDIS provider accepting SIL enquiries across Sydney and Greater Sydney and Perth and Greater Perth. Worker suitability and household support are planned around each participant's goals, routines and funded needs. On-site SIL support may be rostered up to 24/7 where funded. Learn about our SIL service, ask about current SIL availability, or contact us.
Related guides
Official source
This guide was reviewed against the NDIS participant information on Supported Independent Living. NDIS rules and guidance can change; use the official source and your plan for current information.
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