What Is Supported Independent Living (SIL) Disability Funding? 

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is provided as part of some participants’ NDIS plans. It’s intended for people with disability who require around-the-clock support to live at home. 

Although described as 24-hour care, SIL might not always add up to constant disability support service provision. This is particularly true for participants who work, are enrolled in training or education, or attend regular community events. 

However, SIL will ensure that participants receive the support they need at all times.

Receiving SIL allows people with disability to continue living in their communities with dignity and autonomy. It is instrumental in ensuring a high quality of life for NDIS participants.

SIL & the NDIS: Key Facts 

SIL disability support funding is allocated separately to core and capacity-building supports. The NDIA only allocates funding after receiving a draft care roster from a provider. If they approve the roster, the required funds will then be added to the participant’s NDIS plan.

SIL is designed for people with permanent disability. As such, it’s automatically extended every year for an additional 365 days unless a support plan review has occurred.

It’s important to note that SIL may not enable recipients to live in their existing or preferred home. Although the NDIA will consider recipients’ preferences, they make their SIL funding decision based on several factors, including cost-effectiveness and potential impact.

SIL funding isn’t just designed to support independent living. When approving it, the NDIA will always consider if it’s reasonable and necessary. This means they look at how it could help the participant achieve their goals, participate in the community and more. Our guide breaks down SIL funding goals in more detail.

People who receive SIL typically live with other people with disability, helping to ensure cost-effectiveness and community involvement. However, it is possible to be awarded SIL funding and live alone.

Eligibility for Supported Independent Living Funding

The NDIA will consider participants to be potentially eligible for SIL if they meet three criteria:

1. They are aged 18 or over

2. They need active disability support for at least eight hours a day, in addition to some level of support at other times

3. Supported independent living would meet the NDIS funding criteria 

In reviewing the third point, the NDIA will consider if other home and living supports could be more appropriate. These include specialised disability accommodation, individualised living options, home modifications, short-term and medium-term accommodation, residential aged care for younger people and personal care supports.

Which Supports Can Be Funded Under SIL?

Every person provided with SIL disability supports is also provided with NDIS funding for a support coordinator. The support coordinator will help the client plan how to best use their SIL funds to enable independent living. This includes crafting a full-time roster for NDIS care services.

SIL funding can be used for:

• A round-the-clock roster of services, such as support workers and caregiver staff

• Help with household tasks, such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting

• Support with personal hygiene, such as bathing and getting dressed

• Travel to appointments

• Support with participating in social and community activities

• Training to develop essential skills

Since every person with disability has unique challenges and goals for their supported independent living, the SIL disability fund is deliberately flexible. 

However, it cannot be used for day-to-day living expenses such as rent and groceries. It’s not designed for home modifications or assistive technology, either — those are separate supports that can be awarded alongside or instead of SIL.

Providers may also need to claim for irregular SIL funding. This is when unexpected circumstances cause recipients to need additional support services. For example, the participant might fall ill and need additional support services at times when they would normally be attending community events or studying.

Simplifying SIL Support Management for NDIS Providers

ShiftCare’s NDIS software helps disability service providers deliver exceptional support, no matter the participant’s needs. The drag-and-drop rostering feature automatically takes into account support workers’ availability so you can quickly build a full-time care roster, including overnight shifts. And with per-client roster views, it’s easy to double-check that the participant’s support needs really are met at all times.

Document sharing ensures all of a participant’s assigned caregiver team are on the same page. And real-time funds management makes it easy to track spending, even when there are multiple funds or irregular SIL funding.

Discover how the right tools can help you deliver better support. Try ShiftCare for free.