If you, your loved one, or the person you’re caring for requires daily living support, but dreams of living independently, you may be eligible for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding.
Referred to as Supported Independent Living (SIL), this Core Supports budget scheme funds the assistance needed to help those with disabilities lead an independent life, and offers a huge number of benefits.
But how do you access this support? We explain exactly how to get the ball rolling with SIL, what SIL providers like Gracious Australia can offer, and whether you are eligible for this funding.
Steps for Getting Supported Independent Living in Your NDIS Plan
Whether you’re wanting to move out of your family home or learn new life skills, independent living may feel daunting at first.
The SIL application process may also seem overwhelming, but can be achieved by working with a National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) planner, who will guide you through the following steps:
1. Planning meeting
You will first attend a meeting with your NDIA planner, who helps in deciding whether SIL is the right type of disability support funding for you. During the meeting, you will discuss your:
- Needs, goals, and preferences
- Current life skills, and those you’d like to develop
- Daily support needs
- Housing options
2. Choosing an SIL provider
After creating your NDIS plan, the next step is to select an SIL provider to work with so long as you and your planner agree that supported independent living funding is the most appropriate type. A support coordinator can then help you connect with the right provider, and may set up a meeting to discuss the services that the provider can offer.
During the meeting, a good provider should share actionable insights into what they can offer to create a care plan based on your independent situation. For instance, they may recommend a mentoring scheme, which helps participants set personal goals. They could also offer daily living support, which provides help with tasks like cooking and cleaning.
This process is essential in ensuring that you find a provider who truly listens, demonstrating empathy, compassion, and respect for your needs.
3. Creating a roster of care
To ensure that the SIL care you receive is matched specifically to your requirements, your provider will then help you create a roster of care.
This is a document that indicates the supports you need in 30-minute blocks throughout the week, and can include everything from help with leaving the house, including travelling and attending appointments, to budgeting and money management.
4. Receiving a decision
Once you’ve approved the roster of care, your SIL provider submits it to the NDIA. The agency will then consider your application to see whether you meet the appropriate criteria, and will finally confirm your funding level.
5. Signing a service agreement
If funding is approved, you might need to sign a service agreement. This is a contract between you and your provider that details the supports you will use, how you’ll receive them, and how much they cost.
It also offers the opportunity for you or your loved ones to ensure that you’re getting access to all the support you need, and adjust the plan where necessary.
6. Paying for your support
Most of the time, your SIL funding will go directly to the provider, based on the details outlined in your service agreement.
The NDIS automatically creates two service bookings for your provider – one under the “Core” category, which covers Assistance with Daily Life, and another for irregular supports. The latter booking offers SIL funding for an unplanned event, such as when a participant falls ill.
This allows the provider to claim your funding for the supports delivered. You can choose to self manage your SIL funding, paying the provider directly, or work with a plan manager, who will pay providers on your behalf. In some cases, the NDIA may pass on the funding directly to providers.
What Does Supported Independent Living Offer?
Supported Independent Living provides daily support to help people with disabilities or mental health issues live independently in their homes. Funded by the Government’s Core Supports Budget, the scheme offers assistance 7 days per week, both during the day and overnight, depending on your individual needs.
The NDIS will communicate the estimated funding value for weekly SIL supports, and then pay providers either weekly or fortnightly. This helps providers stick within the approved budget, allows support workers to be paid regularly, and ensures that they can deliver the services that you need either full or part time.
The scheme is designed primarily for those residing in a shared home, and can match participants with friendly and supportive housemates of the same age, with similar interests, and similar care needs.
Generally, two to seven people will be living in specialist disability accommodation, each with their own private room. Depending on the needs of yourself and each of your housemates, funding may cover one-to-one support, or shared support to help prepare meals, for example.
Research suggests that 59.8% of those with a disability require assistance with at least one activity of daily life. SIL therefore prioritises providing help with these daily tasks, such as cooking, showering, and getting dressed.
Support workers also help participants to build new life skills, which will help you to live more comfortably and confidently. This includes completing chores, shopping, and socialising with others.
Supported Independent Living Levels of Support
There are three distinct levels of assistance that SIL can provide. The level that you’ll receive will be determined based on your disability, your individual support needs, and the number of people living in your specialist disability accommodation.
The higher the level of support required, the more funding you are likely to receive to cover your Supported Independent Living care, but the exact figure will vary from person to person.
These levels are:
- Lower needs – This type of support isn’t provided 24/7, but offers regular supervision of your living arrangements.
- Standard needs – Offers 24/7 assistance, including overnight support and supervision for everyday tasks.
- Higher needs – Required by people with behavioural impairments or high medical needs, this level provides frequent assistance for both day and night activities.
Benefits of Supported Independent Living
For those with access to SIL, the scheme can pay for expert support workers to help you live independently. This allows more people with disabilities to access the help that they need from the comfort of their own homes, without the added financial burden.
Here are 3 SIL stand-out points that make applying for funding truly worthwhile:
Promotes Independence
What’s great about SIL is that there will always be professional support on hand if you require it. Whilst the scheme’s main goal is to help participants live independently, giving you the freedom to make your own decisions, it also provides important general life education.
Learning new skills can support you or your loved one in building the confidence and independence needed to thrive, especially if you are struggling to develop these things alone.
Provides Financial Support
Supported Independent Living funding from the NDIS also has financial benefits for those living in a shared environment. For instance, it allows you to split rent costs with housemates and share some of the expenses for top-quality care.
However, it’s important to note that the funding doesn’t support day-to-day expenses, such as rent, grocery, or utility costs.
Helps you meet new people
Government statistics indicate that 17%, or 1 in 6, people with a disability aged 15 to 64 experience social isolation, compared to 8.7% without a disability.
If you’re experiencing loneliness as a result of your disability, social support schemes like SIL help you to build new friendships with other like-minded people, both in your shared living home and within your community.
Is Supported Independent Living Suitable for You?
Supported Independent Living Funding is primarily designed for people with very high support needs, such as those living with a physical disability, who need a significant amount of help and require specialist housing solutions.
You may also be eligible if you have autism and receive NDIS funding.
Although SIL is most ideal for those living with other NDIS participants in a supported living environment, you can also access it if you are living on your own or with family members. However, there may be other forms of in-home support that are more suitable for you.
SIL isn’t provided to those under the age of 18, but many providers do offer alternative disability support services for children.
Find Supported Independent Living for You
Once your Supported Independent Living funding has been approved, the next step is to find a provider who understands your support needs.
As a NDIS-approved provider, here at Gracious Australia we know that everyone has different needs, and therefore requires unique assistance on a day-to-day basis.
Contact our friendly team today to find the right support services for you or your loved one, and feel assured that your care and comfort is our highest priority.
