Supported Independent Living (SIL) vs Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can provide funding for a huge range of supports. Depending on your needs and goals, the NDIS can even provide funding for accommodation and your daily care needs. These two types of funding are split into Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). While the two types of funding may sound similar, they focus on very different areas of your life.
What is Supported Independent Living (SIL)?
Supported Independent Living (SIL) is a special type of NDIS funding that can be used to fund supports that help you with daily living tasks. For people who need lots of help throughout the day with things like supervision, personal grooming, preparing meals or getting dressed, SIL can be used to fund support workers. Those support workers visit your house and provide services that are designed to increase your independence and help you build your capacity.
SIL provides supports such as:
- General support and supervision around the home to make sure you’re safe
- Help with daily living activities, like personal grooming, cooking, or cleaning
- Modifications to your home that improve your independence or support the delivery of your other supports and treatments.
What is Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)?
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is accommodation that is funded, or partially funded, by the NDIS. SDA is typically only available to people with very high support needs. SDA housing is designed to provide the support you need to live in the community, improve the delivery of other supports and increase your independence. While your SDA funding goes towards the SDA provider to cover the cost of the accommodation, you’ll still need to provide a “reasonable rent contribution,” which is usually a portion of your disability support pension. In return for your money, the SDA provider will manage the property and maintain the accessibility features that support your lifestyle.
SIL and SDA can sound like very similar supports. At the most basic level, the difference between the two is how they help. SIL is for support services that help you manage your daily life, while SDA funds your brick-and-mortar accommodation. SIL vs SDA is often easier to understand if we talk about what each type of provider offers:
- SIL providers supply the staff that deliver support for daily living activities (like personal grooming, cooking, and cleaning). Your SIL provider also manages the support staff that work in your house.
- SDA providers are like landlords in that they build or own the home you live in. Your rent is paid to the SDA provider, and in return they are responsible for fixing and maintaining the house. In some cases, an SDA provider might also be able to supply things like household furniture.
Can I receive funding for both SIL and SDA?
It’s possible to be eligible for both SIL and SDA funding under the NDIS. If you meet the requirements for both types of supports, your SIL and SDA funding will be recorded separately in your NDIS plan. Just like other types of NDIS funding, it’s up to you to make sure your NDIS assessor understands your needs. If you think SIL, SDA or a combination of the two supports is right for you, talk to your Support Coordinator about your NDIS application.
Looking to access SIL or SDA? Talk to Multicap about your needs today!
If SIL or SDA funding could make a big difference to your life, it’s worth discussing your needs. If you’d like help applying or want to find out more about SIL and SDA, get in touch with Multicap.
Multicap offers disability and NDIS services that help our customers live life to the fullest. We’ll work with you to design SIL and SDA supports that match your needs, NDIS plan and goals. Our personalised approach to disability support means that we’re always working with you to explore new ways we can help.
Contact us today on 1300 135 886 if you have any questions about SIL vs SDA – we’re always happy to help.