SIL vs SDA: understanding NDIS home and living supports
SDA is the home and SIL is the support. Who's eligible, how rent works, and the other options worth knowing about.
On this page
Short answer: SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) pays for a specially designed home for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. SIL (Supported Independent Living) pays for the help you get to live as independently as possible, usually in a shared home. Think of it this way: SDA is the house, SIL is the support. You can have SIL without SDA, SDA without SIL, or both.
Key points
- SDA = the building. SIL = the people who support you.
- Both need a registered provider and a service agreement.
- You still pay rent (capped) and everyday living costs.
- There are other options — ILO, MTA, STA and home modifications.
What is SDA?
SDA is funding for housing built or modified for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. It's only for a small proportion of participants. The NDIA decides eligibility based on your needs and evidence, often including a housing and support assessment by an occupational therapist.
SDA homes are built to one of four design categories:
- Improved Liveability — for people with sensory, intellectual or cognitive impairment
- Fully Accessible — for people with significant physical impairment
- Robust — built to be resilient and reduce the risk of harm, with space for staff
- High Physical Support — for people with very high physical support needs, often with structural ceiling hoists and back-up power
Rent: SDA funding goes to the property owner (the SDA provider). You pay a reasonable rent contribution, which is capped by the NDIS maximum reasonable rent contribution (MRRC). You also pay for food, utilities and personal costs.
What is SIL?
SIL is help with daily tasks to support you to live as independently as possible — personal care, cooking, cleaning, managing medications, and building living skills. It's usually provided in a shared home with other participants, with staff on shift and sometimes overnight.
SIL is for people with higher support needs who need some level of help throughout the day. The NDIA funds it based on a roster of support hours, often called a roster of care.
Registration: from 1 July 2026, new SIL providers must be registered with the NDIS Commission. Existing unregistered SIL providers had until 1 October 2026 to apply for registration or stop providing SIL. If you're choosing a SIL provider, check the provider register.
Separate providers: your SIL provider and SDA provider can be different organisations, and many people find it gives them more choice. If they are the same organisation, ask how you could change your support provider without losing your home.
Other home and living options
| Option | What it is |
|---|---|
| Individualised Living Options (ILO) | Flexible, personalised support arrangements — for example, living with a host family or housemate who provides some support |
| Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) | Somewhere to stay for up to 3 months while you wait for your long-term home or home modifications to be ready |
| Short Term Accommodation (STA) | Short stays (often called respite) that give you and your carers a break |
| Home modifications | Changes to your current home, such as ramps, rails or bathroom modifications |
| Assistive technology | Equipment that helps you live more independently at home |
How to ask for home and living supports
- Tell the NDIA you want to explore home and living options — at your planning meeting, reassessment, or by request.
- Gather evidence: an occupational therapist's functional and housing assessment, and reports from your other professionals.
- Describe your goals: where and how you want to live, and with whom.
- If approved, your plan will include home and living supports. A support coordinator can help you find a home and provider.
Signing up
Both SIL and SDA require a service agreement. Read it carefully, and check how rent, notice periods, shared costs and changes to support are handled. See how to choose an NDIS provider for questions to ask.
Find NDIS providers near you
Frequently asked questions
Ready to find the right provider?
Tell us what you need and we'll match you with up to three providers who fit.
Get MatchedSources
This article is general information, not advice about your situation. Choosable is an independent directory and is not part of the NDIA or the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Always check current rules on ndis.gov.au (opens in a new tab).
