ILO vs SIL: which is right for you?
How Individualised Living Options and Supported Independent Living differ, and how to work out which home-and-living support fits your goals
What is the core difference between ILO and SIL?
How do they compare?
How do I decide which to ask for?
Can you move from one to the other?
How ILO and SIL are funded and budgeted
Two worked examples
How ILO and SIL work with SDA and housing
What to bring to your planning meeting
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ILO and SIL?
SIL funds rostered hours of support, often in a shared home, for people with higher support needs. ILO funds a designed, personalised living arrangement that blends paid support, informal support and community connection so you can live alone or with a chosen person or host. SIL is about support hours; ILO is about…
Is ILO or SIL better for living alone?
ILO is usually the better-suited path to living alone because it funds a tailored mix of paid and informal support around your choices. SIL living alone is possible but must be shown to be value for money compared with alternatives.
Which has more flexibility, ILO or SIL?
ILO is more flexible — it is built around your individual choices and a designed support model. SIL delivers a set roster of support hours, which offers consistency but less day-to-day flexibility.
Can I switch from SIL to ILO or back?
Yes. As your needs and goals change you can move between them at a plan review, supported by current evidence such as an OT assessment. Some people move from SIL to ILO as they build independence; others move the other way when needs increase.
Do ILO or SIL pay my rent?
No. Neither ILO nor SIL pays your rent — they fund support. Your housing and rent are funded and arranged separately, for example through SDA (if eligible), private rental, social housing, plus any Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
Can I have both ILO and SIL at the same time?
Generally you are funded for one home-and-living support model at a time, because ILO and SIL are two different ways of organising and funding your support. Which one is in your plan depends on your needs and how you want to live, as decided by the NDIA. If your situation changes, a plan review is where you make the…
Does ILO or SIL cost the NDIS more?
There is no fixed answer — the cost depends on the level and pattern of support you need, not on the label. The NDIA funds what is reasonable and necessary and considers value for money for either model. ILO is designed around a personalised mix that can include unpaid, informal support, while SIL funds rostered paid…
What evidence do I need to request ILO or SIL?
For both, you generally need a home-and-living goal and evidence of your support needs, usually gathered with a support coordinator and often an OT. ILO also involves a Stage 1 exploration and design process that produces a proposed living arrangement. Ask about the model you want explicitly at your planning meeting so…