What Is Supported Independent Living (SIL)? A Guide for NDIS Participants
What is supported independent living? Supported independent living (SIL) is NDIS funding for support workers who help with, or supervise, daily tasks in your home while you build skills and live as independently as possible. This guide explains what SIL is, what it covers and what it does not, SIL eligibility, and how to ask for SIL in your NDIS plan.
What Is Supported Independent Living (SIL)?
The NDIS describes SIL as funding for a support worker who is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Depending on your needs, you might share support workers with the people you live with, or have one of your own. SIL is about the support you receive, not the house itself.
Most people with SIL live in a shared home with other NDIS participants, but you can also receive SIL if you live on your own. Whether SIL suits you depends on your support needs, and the NDIA may look at other home and living options too. You can read the NDIS overview on its What is supported independent living (SIL) page.
What SIL Can Help With
- Personal care, such as showering and dressing
- Eating, cooking and preparing meals
- Household tasks such as cleaning
- Building social and everyday living skills
- Getting to appointments
- Support or supervision through the day and night, based on your needs
What SIL Does Not Cover
SIL pays for support, not housing or living costs. Under NDIS rules, SIL funding cannot be used for:
SIL, SDA and ILO: What Is the Difference?
Supported Independent Living (SIL)
Funding for support workers who help with daily tasks at home, often in a shared home.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
The housing itself, built for people with very high support needs. It does not cover support workers.
Individualised Living Options (ILO)
A flexible package of support designed around how and where you want to live.
Some people have both SDA and SIL in their plan. Learn more on our SDA and individualised living options pages.
Who Is Eligible for SIL?
SIL is not included in every NDIS plan. The NDIA funds it when it decides SIL is a reasonable and necessary support for you, looking at your goals, your daily support needs and your living situation.
- You are an NDIS participant
- You need a high level of support at home at all times
- You need active disability support for more than 8 hours a day, plus some support or supervision for the remaining hours
- You want to build skills and independence at home
SIL may not be the right fit if you only need a few hours of support a day or week, or if you prefer to choose, roster and manage your own support workers. In that case the NDIA may look at other supports, such as assistance with daily life.
How to Ask for SIL in Your NDIS Plan
Talk to Your NDIS Contact
Speak with your my NDIS contact, NDIA planner or treating health professional about whether SIL is right for you.
Share Supporting Evidence
Give information about your daily support needs, living situation and goals. A home and living supporting evidence form can help.
Roster of Care
A SIL provider prepares a roster of care showing the support you need in a typical week. The NDIA uses it, with other information, to decide your funding.
Choose a Provider
Once SIL is in your plan, choose a registered SIL provider. A support coordinator can help you find one.
SIL Providers Must Now Be Registered
From 1 July 2026, all providers delivering SIL must be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Your plan and funding do not change, and if your provider does not register, the NDIS will help you understand your options. If you organise or employ your own support workers, you do not need to change anything.
Supported Independent Living With GHCA
Glow Health Care Australia is a registered NDIS provider (Provider Number 4050030708) supporting participants in shared homes across Sydney. Our team can talk with you about SIL, whether it may suit you, and current vacancies. Read about our supported independent living services, see our SIL vacancies, or learn about our NDIS services in Sydney.
Source: NDIS, What is supported independent living (SIL), page current as of 9 June 2026.
Talk to Us About Supported Independent Living
Call 1300 157 715, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, or send us a referral. Our NDIS Provider Number is 4050030708.