NDIS Housing Options Explained (SIL, SDA, ILO, MTA)
A calm, plain-English guide to NDIS housing options — SIL, SDA, ILO and MTA — what each covers, who they suit, and how to get them funded.
The four main NDIS housing options at a glance
SIL: Supported Independent Living
SDA: Specialist Disability Accommodation
ILO: Individualised Living Options
MTA: Medium Term Accommodation
Comparing the options side by side
Housing versus support: why the NDIS splits them
How to get housing supports into your plan
What the NDIS reforms mean for housing supports
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
Your rights and where to get help
Frequently asked questions
Does the NDIS pay my rent?
Generally no. The NDIS funds disability-related support (like SIL) and, for a small group, specialist building features (SDA). Your everyday rent, food and bills come from your own income, often with help from the Disability Support Pension and Commonwealth Rent Assistance. SDA is the main exception, where funding goes toward the specialist home and you still pay a reasonable rent contribution.
What is the difference between SIL and SDA?
SIL (Supported Independent Living) funds the *support* you get in your home — support workers, personal care, overnight help. SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) funds the *home itself* when it needs to be specially designed or built for very high or complex needs. They often work together, but many people have SIL in an ordinary rental without any SDA.
Will the NDIS reforms cut my housing support?
Critical daily-living and personal-care supports, including SIL, are not part of the social and community participation budget reset. The broader reforms change how supports are planned and assessed over the coming years, and stronger evidence will be expected. Dates have already shifted once, so confirm what applies to you and when directly with the NDIA.
I want more choice than a group home — what are my options?
Ask about ILO (Individualised Living Options). It funds you to design a living arrangement around your own choices — living with a housemate, a host family, or alone with tailored support — rather than moving into a standard service-run house. It usually starts with funding to explore and design the arrangement before it is set up.
What can I do if a housing support is declined?
Ask for the reasons in writing, then request an internal review with the NDIA. If you still disagree, you can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Extra appeals-advocacy funding is available in 2026-27, and an independent advocate can support you at no cost — you do not have to do it alone.