What is SIL?

Confused about what SIL actually is? We got you covered.

By Team DSC

Updated 13 Jan 20251 Apr 2023

SIL, or Supported Independent Living, is just one of the types of support that the NDIS may fund under Home and Living. SIL is typically the most appropriate type of support for people that require 24/7 paid support or supervision.  These supports are generally provided in a shared environment but, while less common, can be provided in a 1 on 1 setting.  These supports should be provided in a way that is person centric, goal oriented and builds capacity in independent living.

A person’s SIL supports are separate and unrelated to their home, tenancy and other NDIS funded items.  Participants  have control over who provides their support, and can make changes without any recourse to their tenancy rights. There are no rules about where SIL supports can be provided. They can be in Specialist DIsability Accommodation (SDA), in the person's own home, in community housing, and they can even be shared across multiple homes. In the future we will probably see SIL supports occurring in much more unexpected places.


Regular SIL Support

SIL supports are based around activities of daily living provided by trained support workers on rostered shifts. The SIL provider may use a Roster of Care to assist them to determine the supports that can be provided within the SIL budget. The Roster of Care reflects a schedule of supports and support ratios over the course of a ‘typical week’.  

SIL supports are generally provided within the home, but may also include  naturally aligned activities outside the home such as grocery shopping, emergency medical care or basic exercise. These supports will occur where possible within rostered shifts. Where the person is requesting support with activities outside the home on a more individualised basis, this is generally funded under community participation.  

When SIL is funded in a person’s NDIS plan it will be funded at one of two price levels: Standard or High Intensity.  These funding prices also cover all administrative, training, and supervision requirements in accordance with the NDIS Practice Standards and NDIS guidelines.  However, there may be instances where additional reporting, data gathering or  targeted training is required that can be funded separately. 

Irregular Support

SIL won’t naturally cover all of the ‘extra’ support that someone needs to live their life. Under the NDIS a person can engage different providers to meet their individual support needs. People with SIL also have a capped irregular support budget that enables them to pay for unplanned support outside of what has been agreed to.  A common example of this is when a person regularly attends work or a day program but for whatever reason (such as an illness) is required to stay home and will need support from their regular SIL provider.

What is not included in SIL

SIL is funded specifically to pay for support in a SIL environment and cannot be used to pay for other home and living related expenses such as:

  • Cost of groceries
  • Rent
  • Utilities – gas, electricity, water, telephone, internet
  • Household budgeting/bill paying activities
  • Expenses related to holidays, including travel costs associated
  • Personal care supports while the person is hospitalised
  • Disability health related supports
  • Items covered in other sections of the NDIS price guide (such
    as transport costs, assistive technology, personal care while
    in the workplace, plan management, financial intermediary supports, clinical or allied health services, etc.); and
  • SDA related costs (property maintenance costs, repairs, vacancy costs, etc.)

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