Supported Independent Living (SIL) is an NDIS-funded support designed for people with disabilities. It's for those who need daily life support assistance or supervision to live as independently as possible in their home.
SIL is generally intended for people who need support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with assistance for daily activities. This may include support with personal care, cooking, cleaning, developing independent living skills, etc.
However, getting SIL funding is not an easy nut to crack. The NDIS needs evidence showing your disability-related support needs and why SIL is appropriate. It also checks why other home and living options do not adequately meet those needs.
Today we’ll explain how to apply for supported independent living under NDIS. We’ll also share the eligibility criteria to apply, evidence that the NDIS prioritizes, and common reasons why the NDIS rejects an SIL application. Let’s start.
Who Can Apply For SIL Under NDIS? Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for Supported Independent Living (SIL), you need substantial disability-related support with everyday activities at home. The NDIS considers your functional capacity, the amount and type of support you need, and whether SIL is the appropriate home and living option.
Here are the eligibility criteria to apply for SIL under the NDIS:
✔ Having an NDIS-eligible Disability
Your disability must meet the NDIS requirements for disability-related support. However, having a particular diagnosis does not automatically qualify you for SIL.
✔ Significant Support Needs
SIL is generally intended for people who need support available in their home 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This may include assistance or supervision with daily activities for at least part of each day.
✔ Need Help With Everyday Activities
You may need help with personal care, dressing, showering, meal preparation, household tasks, or maintaining daily routines. If so, you can apply for SIL. But the NDIS will also consider the level, frequency, and intensity of support you require.
✔ Need Regular Supervision for Safety
You may require ongoing supervision because of disability-related safety risks or difficulties managing daily activities without assistance. Your evidence should clearly explain when supervision is required and what risks exist.
✔ Existing Support Network is Not Enough
The NDIS considers whether you have assistance from family, friends, community services, and other government-funded supports. Your evidence should explain why SIL is necessary and why these alternatives do not adequately meet your needs.
✔ You Have Evidence of Support Needs
You may need evidence from relevant professionals like an occupational therapist, describing your functional capacity, daily support requirements, and why SIL is appropriate.
✔ SIL is Appropriate for Your Circumstances
The NDIS considers whether SIL is the most appropriate support for your needs. You need to demonstrate that your disability creates substantial support needs and that SIL is an appropriate way to address them.
✔ Having a Relevant Home and Living Goal
Your SIL request should also explain your goals and preferred living arrangements. For example, you may want to develop greater independence or build daily living skills.
How to Apply For Supported Independent Living Under NDIS?
Applying for SIL starts with showing why you need this level of support. After SIL funding has been included in your NDIS plan, you can then find a professional NDIS SIL provider like Optimistic Disability Services. You need to explain your daily support needs, living goals, and how your disability affects your ability to live independently.
Here’s the step-by-step guide to apply for an SIL:
Step 1: Identify Your Support and Housing Needs
Before requesting SIL, consider what you need help with throughout a typical day. Think about tasks such as personal care, cooking, cleaning, communication, mobility, managing behaviors, maintaining routines, etc. You should also consider when you need assistance and how much supervision is required.
The NDIS recommends preparing information about your disability-related support needs and goals. This also includes the informal support you currently receive from family, friends, or community organizations.
Explain your housing goals as well. For example, you may want to live away from your family, or share a home with other NDIS participants.
Step 2: Speak With Your My NDIS Contact
Discuss your request with your ‘my NDIS’ contact. They can help you understand the different home and living options available and consider whether SIL is appropriate for your circumstances.
The NDIS may also consider options like assistance with daily living, Individualized Living Options (ILO), SDA, community support, etc. This comparison matters because SIL is not automatically funded when another support arrangement could reasonably meet your disability-related needs.
Step 3: Obtain Professional Evidence
Strong, relevant evidence is central to a SIL request. The NDIS says evidence should be recent and provided by a relevant treating health professional.
Based on the circumstances, evidence can also come from other professionals or providers who understand your support needs. The evidence should explain what you can and cannot do because of your disability and how this affects your everyday life.
It should also describe how often you need support, when you need it, and what type of assistance or supervision is required.
Step 4: Submit the Evidence to the NDIS
Once your evidence is prepared, you can submit it through the available NDIS channels. You may submit through the Service Hub, by mail, or through your ‘my NDIS contact’ or local office. The NDIS will review the information and may request further evidence if there is not enough information to make a decision.
If home and living supports are included in your plan, you may be invited to a plan meeting with an NDIS planner. The planner can explain how the decision about your support was made. If your request is not approved, the NDIS will explain why. You can request a review if you disagree with the decision.
Step 5: Find a Suitable SIL Provider
Once SIL funding is included in your plan, you can work with your support coordinator, where funded, to explore suitable providers. You should consider if the provider can meet your specific support needs, how support is delivered, who you would live with, etc. Ensure you get support from a reliable SIL provider.
What Evidences the NDIS Prioritize to Approve SIL?
The NDIS needs clear evidence that SIL is necessary because of your disability. Your evidence should show what support you need, how often you need it, and why other options are not suitable. Let’s delve into evidence that supports or encourages the NDIS approval for SIL:
☑ Functional Capacity Evidence
A professional report should explain how your disability affects your ability to manage daily activities. It should identify what you can do independently and where you need assistance, supervision, or prompting.
☑ Evidence of Daily Support Needs
Explain the specific support you need at home. This may include personal care, meal preparation, medication, household tasks, communication, routines, or safety. The evidence should also state when and how often you need support.
☑ Evidence of Support Intensity
The NDIS needs to understand the level of assistance you require. For example, explain if you need occasional prompting, regular supervision, or hands-on assistance with particular tasks.
☑ Clear Evidence of Safety Risks
If your disability creates safety risks when you are alone, these should be clearly documented. Explain what the risks are, when they occur, and what level of supervision is needed to manage them.
☑ Explanation of Why Other Options are Not Suitable
Your evidence should explain why other home and living options cannot adequately meet your needs. This may include living with family, living alone with targeted support, etc.
☑ Evidence of Your Goals
Your SIL request should connect with your goals and preferred living arrangements. Your goal can be developing daily living skills or improving your independence. Whatever it is, it should be clear to the NDIS.
Evidence that SIL is Suitable for You
The evidence should show a clear link between your disability, functional limitations, and need for SIL. The NDIS also considers whether the requested support is reasonable and necessary.
When Does the NDIS Reject SIL Applications? Common Reasons
A SIL application may be rejected when the evidence does not show that Supported Independent Living is appropriate for your needs. Common reasons for rejection include:
▶ Insufficient Evidence
A diagnosis alone is not enough to establish the need for SIL. The evidence should explain your functional limitations, daily support needs, and the level of assistance or supervision you require.
▶ SIL Is Not the Appropriate Option
The NDIS considers whether your needs could be met through another home and living support. If a less intensive option can reasonably meet your needs, SIL may not be considered appropriate.
▶ No Clear Need for 24/7 Support
SIL is generally designed for people who need support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If your evidence does not demonstrate this level of support need, another type of assistance may be considered instead.
▶ Request Is Mainly for Accommodation
SIL funds disability-related support. It does not generally cover your rent, groceries, utilities, or other ordinary living costs. If the request is primarily about paying for accommodation, SIL may not be the appropriate funding option.
▶ Evidence Is Outdated
Old evidence may not accurately reflect your current circumstances. If your support needs or functional capacity have changed, updated evidence should clearly explain those changes. It should also show why you now need additional or different home and living support.
▶ The Request Does Not Show Reasonable and Necessary Need
The evidence should establish a clear link between your disability, functional limitations, and the requested SIL support. The NDIS also considers whether the support is reasonable and necessary for your individual circumstances.
Bottom Line
Learning how to apply for supported independent living under NDIS is mainly about demonstrating need with clear, current evidence.
Start by documenting what you need help with at home. Include when you need that help and how your disability affects your everyday activities independently.
Then discuss your situation with your ‘my NDIS’ contact and obtain appropriate professional evidence. The evidence should explain your functional limitations, required support level, and why other home and living options are not suitable.
If SIL is approved, you will get the funding. Remember that it funds disability-related support from workers. It does not generally cover your rent, groceries, utilities, or other ordinary living expenses.
FAQs About the Application Procedure for SIL Under NDIS
What is supported independent living under NDIS?
Supported Independent Living (SIL) is NDIS funding for disability-related support at home. It can include personal care, meal preparation, household tasks, supervision, and support to develop daily living skills.
Who is eligible for SIL under NDIS?
SIL may be suitable if you have substantial disability-related support needs at home. The NDIS considers your functional capacity, daily support needs, goals, and other available supports.
How long does it take to get into supported living?
It may take anywhere from a few weeks to over a year to get into supported living in Australia. It depends on the NDIS assessment process, required evidence, and the availability of a suitable living arrangement.
Do I have to pay for supported living?
Yes. SIL funding covers disability-related support, not ordinary living costs. Usually you remain responsible for expenses such as rent, groceries, and utilities.
How long can you stay in supported living?
The duration depends on your needs and the type of program you enter. Some placements can be for a week, and some can last a lifetime.
Can someone live with you in supported living?
Yes, you can live with your close ones in supported living arrangements, like with family members, partners, friends, or housemates.
Can you have pets in supported living?
Whether you can keep a pet depends on your individual living arrangement and the applicable tenancy, property, and house rules. You may need agreement from the landlord, provider, or other people you live with.