Supported Independent Living (SIL) is an important option for NDIS participants who need substantial support to manage everyday life at home. But having an NDIS plan does not automatically mean you qualify for SIL.
The NDIS looks at your individual circumstances, including how much assistance you need, how often you need it, and whether SIL is the right way to meet your disability-related support needs.
If you’re wondering who is eligible for SIL under the NDIS, the answer depends less on a particular diagnosis and more on the practical support you need to live safely and independently.
Who Is Eligible for SIL Under the NDIS?
Supported Independent Living (SIL) is available to NDIS participants who have disability-related support needs that make it difficult to manage everyday activities independently. Eligibility involves meeting the general requirements to access the NDIS and demonstrating that SIL is an appropriate support for your individual circumstances.
General Eligibility for the NDIS
Before SIL can be considered, you must first meet the NDIS access requirements. These include requirements relating to your age, residency and disability.
Age Criteria
You generally need to be under 65 years old to apply for the NDIS. If you are 65 or older, you may need to explore other support systems, such as aged care services.
Residency Status
You must meet the NDIS residency requirements. This generally includes being an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or a holder of a Protected Special Category Visa living in Australia.
Disability-Related Requirements
You must have a permanent disability that significantly affects your ability to take part in everyday activities, or meet the NDIS early intervention requirements. The impact may involve areas such as personal care, mobility, communication or managing daily activities.
Specific Eligibility Criteria for SIL
Once you meet the general NDIS access requirements, the NDIS considers whether your individual support needs make SIL an appropriate option.
Your Need for Supervision
Support does not always mean hands-on assistance. Some people can complete certain activities themselves but still need prompting, guidance or supervision to do them safely or consistently. This can be particularly relevant when considering whether someone needs a more substantial support arrangement at home.
Your Safety and Support Needs
Safety can also be part of the picture. If your disability means you cannot safely manage certain activities without assistance, prompting or supervision, this information can help demonstrate why a higher level of support may be needed. The focus should be on the actual difficulty and support requirement rather than simply stating that you have a particular disability.
Your Functional Capacity
Your functional capacity refers to how well you can manage different parts of everyday life.
This can include areas such as:
- Moving around
- Communicating
- Learning new skills
- Looking after yourself
- Managing daily routines
- Making decisions
- Managing household activities
The NDIS disability requirements also assess whether a permanent impairment substantially reduces a person’s ability to perform everyday activities.
Living Arrangements
Your current circumstances can help explain why you are seeking SIL. You may currently live with family who provide substantial informal support, or your current living arrangement may no longer be safe or sustainable.
Living alone does not automatically mean you will receive SIL. The NDIS notes that other home and living supports may be more suitable for some people who live alone or want to manage their own supports.
Evidence Required for SIL Funding
SIL funding requests need evidence that clearly shows the participant’s disability-related support needs and explains why Supported Independent Living is appropriate. The evidence should provide the NDIS with a practical picture of the person’s functional capacity, current living situation, and the level of assistance they require.
Core Documentation
The evidence used to support a SIL request may include:
- Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA): Usually completed by an occupational therapist or another relevant professional, an FCA can explain how the participant’s disability affects their functional capacity and the areas where they require assistance or supervision.
- Home and Living Supporting Evidence Form: This form provides information about the participant’s current living situation, support needs, goals and the type of home and living support being requested.
- Roster of Care (RoC): A SIL provider can use an RoC to outline the required support hours and staffing arrangements. This can include different support ratios depending on the participant’s needs, such as 1:1 support for particular activities or shared support when several participants can be supported together.
Supporting Evidence
Other information may also help demonstrate the participant’s circumstances and support requirements, including:
- Professional reports or letters: Information from an occupational therapist, GP, psychologist or other relevant professional can explain the participant’s functional difficulties and ongoing support needs.
- Medical reports and clinical summaries: These can provide information about the participant’s disability and its impact on their everyday functioning.
- Daily support needs information: A detailed description of the assistance required throughout a typical day can help show the frequency, type and level of support needed.
Your evidence should explain why the support is needed, how it supports your NDIS goals and independence, and why your current living situation is no longer suitable without regular, structured suppor
How Does the NDIS Assess SIL Eligibility?
The NDIS considers your circumstances as a whole rather than relying on one piece of information. Your application or request may need to demonstrate:
- What support you currently need
- How often you need it
- Why those needs are related to your disability
- What risks or difficulties arise without appropriate support
- What you can already do independently
- What you want to achieve with support
- Why SIL is an appropriate way to meet your needs
It is important to show what type and level of support is reasonable for your circumstances. Because someone may need disability support without necessarily needing SIL, depending on their circumstances, a different support arrangement may better meet their needs.
How to Apply for SIL Funding
If you believe SIL may be appropriate for your circumstances, you can ask the NDIS to consider it as part of your home and living supports. The process generally involves:
- Discuss your needs and goals: Speak with your my NDIS contact about your current living situation, daily support needs and goals for how you want to live.
- Explore your home and living options: Consider SIL alongside other available options to determine which type of support is most appropriate for your circumstances.
- Provide supporting evidence: Submit relevant information from treating health professionals that explains your functional capacity, daily support needs and housing requirements.
- Submit your request to the NDIS: Provide the required information and evidence so the NDIS can assess whether SIL or another home and living support should be included in your plan.
- Receive the NDIS decision: The NDIS will consider your circumstances and supporting evidence before deciding whether the requested home and living support can be funded.
For a more detailed explanation of the funding process, see our guide to Getting SIL Funding Added to Your NDIS Plan in South Australia: A Step-by-Step Guide
EasAbility Care – General Information Disclaimer
The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, medical, or NDIS advice. While reasonable efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of the content, EasAbility Care makes no representations or warranties regarding the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information provided.
Please note:
- EasAbility Care provides a range of disability support services designed to assist NDIS participants in achieving their goals, increasing independence, well-being, and community participation.
- EasAbility Care offers various NDIS-related supports, and the availability of specific services may vary depending on individual circumstances, funding, and location.
- Eligibility for NDIS funding and related support is determined solely by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) based on a participant’s individual needs, goals, and assessments.
- Access to services, funding approvals, and support arrangements may vary depending on a participant’s NDIS plan and personal circumstances.
- Users should seek independent advice from the NDIA, Support Coordinators, Support Workers, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, General Practitioners, or other qualified professionals before making decisions based on the information available on this website.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, EasAbility Care accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on the information contained on this website. This disclaimer may be updated at any time without notice.
