Maximising Your SIL Funding with an Intellectual Disability

Published at 25-03-2025 13:00:03

Tags: #ForParticipants

What is Supported Independent Living (SIL)? Supported Independent Living (SIL) provides support to people with intellectual disabilities to help them live as independently as possible. It typically involves paid support workers who assist with daily tasks, either in your own home or in a shared living arrangement.

If your intellectual disability significantly impacts your daily functioning, SIL can be a great way to receive the necessary support to live more independently. However, it's important to understand how SIL is funded through your NDIS plan and how to make the most of it.

You can read more on SIL in our previous article: Intellectual Disability and Supported Independent Living (SIL)

How is SIL Funded in My NDIS Plan?

SIL funding is included under the Home and Living Supports category in your Core Support Budget (Category 16). This funding can be used only within this category and includes options such as:

• Short-term accommodation (STA)
• Medium-term accommodation (MTA)
• Supported Independent Living (SIL)
• Independent Living Options (ILO)

While SIL covers the costs of support services in your home, it does not include rent, groceries, or utility bills. These are your personal responsibilities. If you require housing support, you might also need to explore Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).

What Does SIL Cover?

SIL covers the assistance you receive to manage your home and personal care. This includes:

• Personal care: Assistance with showering, dressing, and toileting.
• Household tasks: Help with cleaning, cooking, and laundry.
• Overnight support: Active or sleepover assistance during the night.
• Medical support: Managing medications or more complex health needs.

However, it’s important to note that SIL does not cover day-to-day living costs like groceries or utility bills. If you’re living with others, you may be able to split these costs, but SIL funding is strictly for support services.

What Happens if I’m Hospitalised?

If you're admitted to the hospital, the health system will be responsible for your care, not your SIL provider. You’ll need to discuss with your provider how payments are handled if you're not home to receive services. Always review your service agreement to understand the policies on this before signing.

Staff Training for Intellectual Disabilities

While specific training on intellectual disabilities isn’t mandatory for SIL providers, it’s important to ensure that the staff has experience in supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. You can ask questions like:

• Do they currently support individuals with intellectual disabilities?
• What assistive technologies are they familiar with?
• Do they have any manual handling training?

Having skilled and experienced staff is crucial to receiving the quality care that meets your needs.

SIL: Individual vs. Shared Support

SIL can be tailored to your specific living arrangement. Options include:

• Individual Support: If you live alone, SIL can be customised around your personal needs with 1:1 or 2:1 support.
• Concierge Support: For those living alone but in a complex with other residents, support workers are stationed nearby and provide drop-in support as needed.
• Shared Living Support: In shared living settings, support services are provided to multiple participants with similar support needs. This allows for the sharing of resources and services.

What if I Don’t Need Full-Time Support?

If you don’t require 24/7 support, SIL may not be the right option for you. Instead, you can explore drop-in support or Individualised Living Options (ILO), which can provide assistance on an as-needed basis.

Choosing a SIL Provider

Once SIL is approved in your NDIS plan, you have the freedom to choose your provider. You’re not automatically assigned one, so take your time finding the right fit. Your provider will help prepare a roster of care that meets your needs and works within your NDIS budget.

Maximise Your SIL Funding

Understanding your NDIS plan and how SIL works is key to maximising your funding. Ensure that your support workers are experienced, review service agreements carefully, and choose a provider that meets your unique needs.

If you need assistance finding a provider, our Expath team can help you navigate the NDIS and find the right SIL provider for you!