Supported Independent Living and Specialist Disability Accommodation are funded separately, assessed separately, and answer different questions. Mixing them up is one of the most common reasons people end up in housing that does not suit them.
The short version
SIL is the people. It funds the support workers who help with daily tasks, personal care and building independence. SDA is the property. It funds housing that has been designed or modified for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.
You can receive SIL in a home you already live in, in a shared house, or with family. You do not need SDA funding to receive SIL. Most people who receive SIL do not have SDA.
What SIL actually covers day to day
- Personal care such as showering, dressing and grooming
- Meal planning, shopping and cooking together
- Medication prompting and routine health support
- Household tasks and keeping the home running
- Support to get to appointments and activities
- Overnight or 24-hour support where the plan allows
Choosing who you live with
In a shared arrangement, who else lives in the house matters as much as the support itself. You are entitled to meet potential housemates and to say no. A provider who treats that as an inconvenience is telling you something about how they will handle the rest.
If your needs change
Support ratios are set against your assessed need. If that need increases, the roster should be reviewed, and if it goes beyond what the current plan funds, your provider should help you gather evidence for a plan review rather than quietly stretching the existing hours.