Guide
What SIL funding pays for — and what it doesn't
By Complete Choice · Last reviewed 25 September 2026
Supported Independent Living (SIL) funding pays for support workers — the people who help or supervise you with daily tasks at home, around the clock. It doesn't pay for the house. Rent, board, food and utilities come from your own income, usually including the Disability Support Pension. Specialist housing, if you're eligible, is funded separately.
What SIL funding is for
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) describes Supported Independent Living (SIL) as funding for a support worker to help or supervise you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You might share a support worker with the people you live with, or have one of your own, depending on how much help you need.
It’s for people who need someone there around the clock — including overnight — with hands-on help for a good part of the day. According to the NDIS, that’s usually help with daily activities for at least 8 of those 24 hours, and some level of help or supervision for the rest.
What it pays for
SIL pays for the people. Support workers can help with:
- personal care, showering and getting dressed
- eating, and cooking meals
- household tasks, like cleaning
- building your skills, so you can do more for yourself over time.
What it doesn’t pay for
SIL doesn’t pay for the property, or for the things anyone pays for to live somewhere. The NDIS is clear that SIL funding can’t be used for rent or other day-to-day expenses, like groceries.
Who pays what
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Support workers in the home | SIL funding, in your NDIS plan |
| Rent or board | You, from your own income |
| Food | You, from your own income |
| Electricity, gas, water, internet | You, from your own income |
| The home itself, if you’re eligible for specialist housing | Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funding — separate from SIL |
For most people, “your own income” includes the Disability Support Pension.
Where SDA fits in
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is the housing itself — homes built for people with very high support needs. It doesn’t cover the support workers. SIL covers the support workers, not the building. Some people have both in their plan.
Complete Choice provides SIL. We are not registered for SDA, so if you need it, we’ll say so on the first call and point you somewhere that is.
What it costs to live in one of our homes
The support is covered by your plan. What you contribute for rent, board and utilities depends on the home. Ask us for the real figure for a specific home before you decide — we’d rather tell you now than have you find out later.
See our Supported Independent Living page for how we deliver it, or the current vacancies, each dated with the day it was last confirmed.