Updated on March 10, 2026
SIL funding is included in your NDIS plan under Home and Living supports and covers the support worker services you receive at home. Support can be delivered in shared living arrangements with other participants or in individual living settings tailored to personal needs.
Before applying, consider whether SIL is the right option for your goals and daily needs. If your support needs are less intensive, other home and living options, such as Individual Living Options (ILO), drop-in support, or personal care supports, may be more suitable.
Work With a Support Coordinator or NDIS Planner
SIL applications are stronger when you have professional guidance. Your Support Coordinator or NDIS planner can help you plan and prepare the necessary documentation, articulate your goals, and ensure your application aligns with NDIS funding criteria.
At your next planning meeting or review, clearly communicate that SIL support is a priority. Discuss: Your daily support needs, why those support needs mean SIL is reasonable and necessary, and how SIL will help you achieve your goals. If you do not have Support Coordination in your current plan, consider requesting it, especially if navigating SIL feels overwhelming. Your LAC can help with this if you ask during plan development or review.
Gather Supporting Evidence
The NDIS uses the reasonable and necessary criteria to decide if SIL should be funded, meaning the supports must be essential to help you live safely and meet your daily living goals.
Key evidence you will need:
- Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA): Usually completed by an Occupational Therapist (OT) to show how your disability impacts daily activities (e.g., showering, meal prep, mobility).
- Daily Support Needs Reports: Documentation showing your actual support requirements throughout the day.
- Allied Health Professional Reports: Information from therapists, psychologists, behaviour support specialists, doctors, or other clinicians.
- Home and Living Supporting Evidence Form: This form helps the NDIA understand your home support needs.
- Roster of Care (ROC): A detailed schedule showing how many support hours you need, prepared with your SIL provider.
These documents should clearly demonstrate that your support needs are ongoing or frequent, not adequately met by your existing supports, directly related to your disability, and essential for maintaining your safety and independence. The more recent, specific, and detailed the evidence provided, the stronger and more compelling your SIL application will be.
Request SIL Funding in Your NDIS Plan
There are two main ways to request SIL:
- During a plan review, include your SIL request in your planning meeting or review process.
- With a change of circumstances: If your current supports are no longer meeting your needs, you can submit evidence and request a plan reassessment.
Your Support Coordinator or LAC can submit your evidence and request for SIL through the Home and Living pathway in your plan. It’s important to allow enough time before your current plan ends. Submitting at least 100 days before the plan’s end date can help avoid delays.
Choose a SIL Provider and Develop Your Roster of Care
Choosing a registered SIL provider who understands your support needs is a practical part of the application process. Once selected, your provider will work with you and/or your Support Coordinator to develop a Roster of Care (ROC). This document breaks down:
- What support is required each day
- When support is needed (morning, day, evening, night)
- Whether 1:1 or shared support is required
- The intensity and type of tasks needed
A well-prepared ROC is essential because the NDIA uses it, alongside your evidence, to make a funding decision.
What Happens After Approval
If your SIL request is approved, the funding will appear in your NDIS plan under Home and Living supports. The next steps usually involve reviewing and signing service agreements with your chosen SIL provider, confirming support schedules and staff rostering to ensure your daily needs are met, and preparing for the transition into a SIL arrangement if you are not already living in one. This planning phase helps ensure supports are implemented smoothly and align with your goals, routines, and level of independence.
Your Support Coordinator will be key in this phase, helping to ensure services are delivered as intended and that supports continue to meet your goals.
SIL funding typically continues across planning periods unless your circumstances change significantly. If you disagree with the NDIA’s decision, you can request an internal review within three months of notification.
Tips to Strengthen Your SIL Application
Beginning the process early allows you to gather the right evidence, consult with professionals, and avoid the stress of rushing before a plan review. Early preparation also makes it easier to address any gaps in documentation or request updated assessments if needed.
All submitted reports must be recent, detailed, and clearly describe how your disability affects your daily life. Assessments should go beyond diagnosis and focus on your functional support needs, such as personal care, mobility, communication, and safety. Clear, up-to-date evidence helps the NDIA understand why SIL is necessary rather than optional.
Your application should also clearly explain why your current supports are no longer sufficient. This might include situations in which informal supports have decreased, safety risks have increased, or your needs have changed over time.
Finally, providing concrete examples and personalising every document makes your application more compelling. Real-life scenarios, such as difficulties managing daily routines, overnight safety concerns, or reliance on constant prompting, help paint a clear picture of your lived experience.
Working closely with an experienced Support Coordinator or SIL provider can significantly strengthen your application. If you’re considering SIL and want support every step of the way, Centre Disability Support can help.
