SIL vs SDA vs ILO: NDIS home and living options explained
SIL pays for support at home, SDA is a specially built home, and ILO is a living setup designed around you. Here's how they differ and fit together.
SIL, SDA, ILO or another option?
Three acronyms, one plain-language table
| Funding | Pays for | Doesn't pay for |
|---|---|---|
| SIL — Supported Independent Living | Support workers to help or supervise you at home | Rent, bills, mortgages, or the home itself |
| SDA — Specialist Disability Accommodation | A specially designed home for very high needs | The day-to-day supports inside the home |
| ILO — Individualised Living Options | A designed living arrangement (host, housemate, or your own mix) | A set blueprint — it's built around you |
What each funding actually pays for.
SIL: the support, not the home
SIL funds people: support workers who help or supervise you with daily tasks at home, such as personal care, cooking and cleaning, 24 hours a day. It does not pay for the house, rent, or day-to-day expenses like groceries. Some people have SIL in an SDA home.
The NDIA says SIL may suit you if you need a support worker with you 24 hours a day, including overnight, helping with daily activities for at least 8 of those hours. If you need less help, other home and living supports may suit you better. From 1 July 2026, SIL providers must be registered, subject to transition arrangements. Compare SIL providers near you in our directory.
SDA: the building
SDA is the home itself: housing built for people with very high support needs, with features like wider doorways, ceiling hoists, accessible bathrooms and extra safety. It's funded separately from support, so someone living in SDA pays rent and uses SIL or other funding for the people who help them. You can browse SDA providers in our directory.
Whether you get SDA depends on your support needs and what you can do day to day, and the NDIA decides based on evidence. It isn't about getting a nicer house. It's about a home designed for needs that an ordinary home can't meet.
ILO: designed around you
ILO starts with you instead of a housing model. You work with a provider to design a living setup around your choices: where you live, who you live with and how you're supported. First you explore and plan, then you put it in place. Living with a host family or a housemate are common examples.
The NDIA says ILO might be right for you if you're 18 or over (or 17 and thinking about where you'll live), you need support at home for at least 6 hours a day, and you're ready to put time into designing your future home. ILO doesn't pay for rent, everyday living costs or home modifications.
How they combine
| Combination | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| SDA + SIL | A designed home with 24-7 support workers inside it |
| SDA + ILO-style supports | A designed home with more flexible supports arranged around your routine |
| SIL in ordinary housing | Shared or individual housing with funded support, no special design |
| Home modifications + daily living support | Your existing home adapted, plus lighter support — no SIL or SDA |
Common combinations.
Taking housing questions to your plan review
Bring this preparation to the planning conversation
01Describe where you want to live
Own place, shared, with family, a host arrangement — start from lifestyle, not funding.
02List the supports your home needs
Daily help, overnight help, specialised equipment, or a purpose-designed home.
03Gather evidence
Therapy reports and provider input that show the level and design of support you need.
04Ask your coordinator for options
Support coordination can lay out SIL, SDA, and ILO trade-offs before the meeting.
05Ask how each option fits your plan
Ask how SIL, SDA, ILO or other supports would work together with the rest of your plan. The NDIA decides what it funds.
Check a provider is registered
SDA providers must be registered, and SIL providers must be registered from 1 July 2026, subject to transition arrangements. Confirm the provider holds the right registration before you go further.
Our directory is a guide. The NDIS Commission register is the official source for current registration and approved groups.
Build your provider shortlist
Choose the home and living support you're considering, such as SIL or SDA, and your suburb. Then save the providers worth a conversation. Your shortlist stays on this device.
Search and save providers without leaving this guide. Your shortlist stays on this device.
Choose a service and enter your suburb or postcode to see providers near you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have SDA and SIL at the same time?
Yes, and many participants do. SDA is the building, SIL is the support inside it. They're separate funding lines that often pair together — the home is designed, and the 24-7 supports come on top of that design.
Does SIL pay for rent or the home?
No. SIL funds the support workers — the help and supervision. Rent, bonds, and the accommodation itself are paid separately. That's also true for SDA: the participant pays rent to the SDA provider as a separate arrangement.
What's the difference between ILO and SIL?
SIL is a support model: workers helping or supervising you in your home, usually around the clock. ILO is a way of designing a whole living arrangement — where you live, who with, and how you're supported — which can be a host arrangement, a housemate arrangement, or your own mix.
Who decides which option I need?
You choose what to ask for, and the NDIA decides what it funds, based on evidence of your support needs. Eligibility for SIL, SDA or ILO is the NDIA's decision. A support coordinator can help you gather evidence and weigh the options before the meeting.
Are these the only home and living options?
No. The NDIS also funds assistance with daily life in your own home, home modifications, medium-term accommodation for transition periods, and mainstream housing support. The housing decision usually starts with a conversation about where you want to live — not which acronym to pick.
Official sources
This guide is checked against these official pages.
- Types of home and living supportsSIL, ILO, SDA, and the other home and living options at a glance.
- What is supported independent living (SIL)What SIL funding does and doesn't cover.
- What are individualised living options (ILO)How ILO lets you design where and how you live.
- What is specialist disability accommodation (SDA)What SDA is, who it's for, and what it doesn't include.
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