Choosing how you live involves more than finding a suitable home. You also need to consider the assistance you require, who provides it and how it fits into your everyday routine.
When comparing SIL vs ILO, the main difference is how support is arranged. Supported Independent Living funds support workers for people who need assistance throughout the day and night. Individualised Living Options builds a personalised arrangement that may involve a host or housemate, additional services and informal support. Both are types of NDIS home and living support. Neither pays for the home itself.
What Is Supported Independent Living?
Supported Independent Living (SIL) funds help or supervision with daily tasks for people with higher support needs who require support 24 hours a day, including overnight. Assistance may include showering, dressing, preparing meals and completing household tasks. Workers may support several participants in a shared home, or provide individual support where this is appropriate and funded.
SIL also focuses on helping people build skills and participate in their routines. It does not mean someone must do everything for you.
What Are Individualised Living Options?
Individualised Living Options (ILO) helps you explore where and how you want to live, then design the support arrangements needed.
An arrangement might involve living with a host or sharing with a housemate who provides agreed support. Additional paid assistance and help from family, friends or community connections may form part of the arrangement.
ILO includes ongoing checks and adjustments. The intention is to create a workable arrangement around the individual, rather than simply assign a fixed schedule of worker visits.
SIL vs ILO Comparison
Area | SIL | ILO |
Main purpose | Provide ongoing help or supervision for higher support needs | Design and maintain a personalised living support arrangement |
Support structure | Support workers available throughout the day and night | Primary support through a host or housemate, with supplementary assistance |
Planning focus | Required assistance, staffing and daily routines | Living preferences, relationships, support responsibilities and backup arrangements |
Review focus | Whether support continues to meet assessed needs | Whether the overall living arrangement remains suitable |
Ordinary expenses | Rent, groceries and household bills are separate | Rent, mortgage repayments, food and household bills are separate |
How Does the Planning Process Differ?
With SIL, planning considers your assessed needs and the support required throughout the day and overnight. Shared arrangements also need clear discussions about how assistance will work for each person.
ILO follows two stages. Exploration and design considers your preferences and develops a service proposal. Once approved, the second stage puts the arrangement in place, with monitoring and adjustments. Completing ILO exploration does not automatically mean a proposed arrangement will receive approval.
What Might Support Look Like Day to Day?
Consider someone receiving SIL who needs assistance showering, preparing breakfast and managing parts of their evening routine. Workers provide the agreed support, including overnight assistance, while the person makes choices about their day.
In an ILO arrangement, someone might live with a host who provides agreed daily assistance. A separate worker could offer supplementary help, with backup arrangements for when the host is unavailable. These examples illustrate different structures. They do not establish which option a person is eligible for.
Which Costs Remain Your Responsibility?
Neither option covers ordinary rent, groceries or utility bills. ILO also excludes home modifications and activities outside the home, although separate supports may be available.
Before agreeing to an arrangement, ask for written information about funded assistance, personal expenses and each person’s responsibilities.
Start With Your Needs and Preferences
Your NDIS contact can explain the assessment and funding process. Discuss your circumstances before making decisions about either option. We Care welcomes enquiries across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Call 0451189817 to discuss your needs and our available services.
