Updated on April 10, 2026
According to the NDIS, ILO is a personalised home and living support option that helps participants decide where they live, who they live with, and what supports they need to live safely and independently. Understanding NDIA’s ILO requirements simplifies the process and improves approval odds.
Here, we break down what determines if your ILO requests are approved or not.
Reasons ILO Requests Get Approved
1. Clear Evidence of Daily Support Needs
A key factor is providing specific evidence of daily support needs: what is required, how often, and why. Do more than state a diagnosis by showing how disability affects daily living. The NDIA needs to understand how disability affects your daily living.
For example:
- difficulty with personal care
- challenges in preparing meals
- medication management needs
- support required for emotional regulation
- safety concerns when living alone
- support with household tasks
To strengthen your application, follow these key approval steps:
- Describe your daily support needs and link them directly to the requested supports.
- Provide specific details so the NDIA can see how ILO meets your needs.
- Include professional evidence to support your claims.
Professional reports, such as those from health professionals, provide vital evidence of needs.
2. A strong connection between the request and the participant’s goals
NDIA checks if supports match meaningful plan goals, not general needs. Requests should explain how the arrangement, support network, and options support independence and well-being.
To improve your chances of approval, structure your proposal by:
- explaining how each support fits into daily routines,
- detailing professional and informal supports involved,
- including timelines and readiness for implementation, and
- ensuring that the arrangement matches NDIS plan goals.
A clear, step-by-step proposal helps NDIA assess your readiness.
Reasons ILO Requests Get Rejected
1. Insufficient Supporting Evidence
A diagnosis alone is usually not enough. Stating autism, psychosocial disability, or physical impairment alone does not show why the ILO is needed. The NDIA needs proof of functional impact, not just diagnosis. Vague or incomplete reports lead to rejection.
For example, simply stating that a participant has autism, cerebral palsy, or a psychosocial disability does not automatically explain why they require a specific home and living arrangement.
The NDIA needs evidence that clearly shows the functional impact of the disability, that is, how it affects the person’s ability to manage everyday activities such as cooking, personal care, medication management, communication, decision-making, emotional regulation, or staying safe when alone.
2. The Request Does Not Clearly Show Why ILO Is the Best Option
The NDIA may decide that other options are more appropriate, such as:
- support coordination
- core support hours
- SIL
- informal family support
A common issue seen in participant experiences is being told that another support pathway may be more suitable.
The NDIA does not approve or support based only on preference; it needs to see why the requested arrangement is the most appropriate way to meet the participant’s disability-related needs.
For example, if a participant is asking for ILO funding, the application should clearly explain why alternatives such as drop-in core supports, Supported Independent Living (SIL), or existing informal support arrangements may not adequately meet their needs.
If the participant wants to live with a host, housemate, or in a co-residency arrangement, the application should explain why this setup will provide better safety, emotional support, skill-building, or day-to-day assistance than other models.
3. Goals Are Too Broad or Unclear
“I want to be independent” is too broad. A better goal can sound like: “I need support to live safely at home, manage daily tasks, and join my community.”
Specifics help NDIA see the support’s purpose.
4. Lack of risk assessment
A common rejection reason: the application does not identify and address risks in the living arrangement. NDIA needs to know support needs and home safety risks. Risks include falls, medication errors, distress, behavior incidents, self-neglect, or isolation. Outline risks, impact, and management.
This shows the support model is realistic and sustainable, increasing approval chances.
How Centre Disability Support Can Help
An ILO request is a carefully planned support arrangement that must clearly demonstrate need, safety, and long-term sustainability. While some requests are approved because they present strong evidence and a realistic support model, others may be rejected due to gaps in documentation, unclear goals, or insufficient planning.
The good news is that a rejection does not always mean ILO is out of reach. In many cases, it simply means the application needs stronger evidence, clearer Stage 1 planning, or better alignment with the participant’s goals.
At Centre Disability Support, we work with participants, families, carers, and support networks to simplify the ILO process. Each participant’s goals and support needs are unique, so our approach is always personalized and we’re ready to help you succeed.
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