SIL or ILO?
Choosing home and living support
Two NDIS supports that sound alike but work differently. Here is how each one works, in plain English.
If you have NDIS funding and want to live more independently, two supports come up a lot: Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Individualised Living Options (ILO). This guide explains both.
What is SIL?
Supported Independent Living is funding for support workers to help or supervise someone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including overnight. It is for people who need a lot of help each day. Support workers help with things like:
- Personal care, showering and getting dressed
- Cooking meals
- Cleaning and other household tasks
- Building everyday skills
People in SIL often live with one or two housemates and may share support workers. One-to-one support is only available in some situations.
What SIL doesn't pay for: rent, groceries or other everyday living costs.
What is ILO?
Individualised Living Options is about designing a living arrangement around one person: where they live, who they live with and how they are supported. It is for adults (18+) who need support at home, from paid or unpaid supports, for at least 6 hours a day.
ILO has two stages:
- Exploration and design. You work with a provider to plan where and how you want to live, and who will support you. This usually takes between 30 and 100 hours.
- Setting it up. The arrangement starts, with regular check-ins to adjust it as needed.
An ILO arrangement might look like:
- Living with a host in their home
- Sharing a home with a housemate who gives some support
- Living alone with supports around you
How to choose
| Question | SIL | ILO |
|---|---|---|
| Support level | Support worker on hand 24/7 | At least 6 hours a day, built around you |
| Living with others | Often shared with housemates | Your choice: host, housemate or alone |
| Built around | The home and its support roster | One person's goals and routines |
| Good fit if… | You need help or supervision at any hour | You want more say over who you live with and how |
Not sure which fits? A Support Coordinator, Local Area Coordinator or your NDIS planner can help you work out what your plan can fund.
Common questions
Is SIL the same as ILO?
No. SIL funds support workers to help or supervise someone 24/7, often in a shared home. ILO designs a living arrangement around one person, with at least 6 hours of support a day.
Does SIL or ILO pay for rent?
No. SIL funding can't be used for rent or everyday costs like groceries. Ask your Support Coordinator about housing costs.
How long does ILO take to set up?
The exploration and design stage usually takes between 30 and 100 hours, before the arrangement starts.
Which areas does Your Way Living cover?
Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, the Hunter and the Central Coast.
Home and living support with Your Way Living
We are a registered NDIS provider based in Edgeworth, supporting people across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, the Hunter and the Central Coast. Our homes:
- Gateshead and Argenton: ILO, open to SIL depending on the person's plan
- Wallsend: a small two-bedroom granny flat, offered as SIL or ILO
- Edgeworth: SIL
Support workers are matched to each person. We work with NDIA-managed, plan-managed and self-managed plans. Learn more about SIL and ILO with us.
Call us: 0469 053 050 (office 9am–5pm, seven days). Current participants can reach our on-call team 24/7 on 0424 872 425. In an emergency, call 000 first.
This guide is general information, not advice about your plan. Information checked on ndis.gov.au on 30 September 2026. Sources: NDIS: What is supported independent living (SIL); NDIS: Individualised living options.
Talk to us about home and living
Support Coordinators and families can make a referral online. We'll call back to talk through needs, area and funding.
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