Choosing where and how to live is a deeply personal decision. For NDIS participants who need regular support at home, two options often come up in conversation: Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Individualised Living Options (ILO).
Both can support greater independence, but they are designed for different situations. The clearest way to compare them is to begin with your preferred life – your routine, relationships, home environment and support needs – rather than beginning with a program name.
This guide explains the practical differences between SIL and ILO, what each option may include and the questions that can help you make an informed choice.
What is Supported Independent Living?
Supported Independent Living is NDIS funding for support or supervision in the home. It is generally considered for people with higher support needs who require a support worker to be available around the clock, including overnight. Support may be shared with other participants or delivered individually in limited circumstances, depending on assessed needs.
SIL support can include help with:
- personal care, such as showering, dressing and grooming
- preparing meals and maintaining a regular routine
- cleaning, laundry and other household tasks
- building daily living skills and confidence
- staying safe at home, including overnight support or supervision
SIL pays for the support delivered in the home; it does not pay rent, groceries, utilities or other ordinary living costs. It is also different from Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), which relates to specially designed housing. A participant may have SIL without SDA, or both where each support is approved.
What are Individualised Living Options?
Individualised Living Options help a participant design a living arrangement around who they want to live with, where they want to live and how support will work. ILO may combine paid support with help from housemates, hosts, family, friends and community connections.
An ILO arrangement may involve:
- living with a compatible housemate who provides agreed support
- living in the home of a host
- setting up and managing your own home
- a flexible mix of primary and supplementary support
- regular monitoring and adjustments as your needs or relationships change
ILO is developed in stages. The first stage explores and designs the arrangement. Once the service proposal is approved, the second stage puts the arrangement and its safeguards into place. Like SIL, ILO does not fund rent, mortgage repayments, food, power bills or the home itself.
SIL vs ILO: the key differences
| Factor | SIL | ILO |
| Typical support level | Regular support or supervision across 24 hours, including overnight. | Flexible supports built around the chosen living arrangement; formal and informal supports may be combined. |
| Living setup | Often a shared home, although individual support may be funded in limited situations. | May involve a host, a housemate, living alone or another personalised arrangement. |
| How support is organised | A rostered team provides agreed daily support within the home. | Primary, supplementary and monitoring supports are designed as one arrangement. |
| Design process | Support is planned around assessed daily and overnight needs. | Begins with an exploration and design stage before the arrangement is implemented. |
| Best starting question | Do I need reliable support or supervision available throughout the day and night? | What living arrangement, relationships and support mix would help me live the way I choose? |
Which option may suit you?
SIL may be worth exploring when:
- you have higher daily support needs
- you need support or supervision available during the day and overnight
- a consistent rostered team would help you feel safe and settled
- you want structured support to build everyday living skills
ILO may be worth exploring when:
- you want more flexibility over who you live with and how support is provided
- you are willing to spend time designing and testing a tailored arrangement
- a host, housemate or existing relationship could form part of your support network
- you need at least several hours of home support each day but may not need a traditional 24-hour roster
These are starting points, not eligibility rules. Your goals, functional needs, risks, preferred relationships and available informal supports all matter. An assessment and conversation with your my NDIS contact can help identify which home and living supports may be considered in your plan.
Questions to ask before choosing
- Choice: Will I have a genuine say in where I live, who I live with and who supports me?
- Daily routine: How will support fit around my work, study, appointments, community activities and preferred routines?
- Compatibility: If I share with a host or housemate, how will compatibility be assessed and reviewed?
- Continuity: How will the provider reduce frequent worker changes and introduce new team members?
- Safeguards: What happens if a housemate leaves, a support worker is unavailable or the arrangement stops working?
- Costs: Which expenses are covered by NDIS funding, and which housing or everyday costs remain my responsibility?
| Important SIL registration change in 2026
From 1 July 2026, providers delivering SIL must be NDIS registered. Existing providers have until 1 October 2026 to register or apply for registration. Participants who organise and manage their own support workers are not treated as receiving SIL for this requirement. Ask a prospective SIL provider to confirm its registration status and what the change means for continuity of support. |
How Ram Support Services can help
A good living arrangement should feel like your life, not like a service model imposed on it. Ram Support Services begins by listening to your goals, routines, preferences and support needs. The team can help you explore SIL and ILO, plan supports that promote independence and keep the arrangement responsive as life changes.
If you need help understanding your plan or connecting the different parts of your support, our support coordination service can help you prepare questions and navigate the next steps. Ram Support Services supports participants across Hobart, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Ready to discuss a home and living option that fits your goals? Call Ram Support Services on 0450 341 737 or submit an online enquiry for a friendly, no-pressure conversation.
