SIL vs SDA: What's the Difference and Which Do You Need?
SIL vs SDA explained: what each NDIS funding covers, who each suits, whether you can have both, and how to decide which one you actually need.
SIL and SDA sound similar and often turn up in the same conversation about NDIS home and living, but they fund two completely different things. One pays for the people who support you; the other helps pay for a specialised building to live in. This guide explains what each is in plain English, who each suits, whether you can have both, and how to work out which you need.
The one-line difference
What SIL is
What SDA is
SIL vs SDA side by side
Who each one suits
Can you have both?
How to decide and what evidence you need
Finding SIL and SDA providers on Novida
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SIL and SDA?
SIL funds the support workers who help you with daily tasks at home. SDA funds a specially designed building to live in. SIL is the support; SDA is the bricks and mortar. They come from different parts of your plan and are assessed separately.
Can you get both SIL and SDA?
Yes. People with very high needs often have both an SDA dwelling and SIL support, because a specialist home and daily support tend to go together. But they are funded separately, so you can have one without the other depending on your evidence.
Do I need SDA to receive SIL?
No. Most people who receive SIL live in ordinary housing — a private rental, social housing, or their own home — not a specialist SDA build. SIL funds your support wherever you live, so the type of home you're in doesn't decide it.
Which budget does each come from?
SIL is paid from your Core budget, because it funds ongoing daily support. SDA is paid from your Capital budget, because it contributes to the cost of a physical dwelling. That split is part of why the two are quoted and approved separately.
Related guides
- SIL vs SDA vs ILO: NDIS Home & Living Options Compared
- SIL vs Supported Residential Service (SRS): Key Differences
- Speech Therapy vs Occupational Therapy: Which Does Your Child Need?
- Stated vs Flexible Supports: What You Can and Can't Change
- Support Agency vs Independent Support Worker: Which Should You Hire?
- Support Coordinator vs Recovery Coach: Which Do You Need?