The short version
- SIL is the support. It’s to help with daily tasks so someone can live as independently as possible.
- SDA is the housing. It’s a specially designed building for people with high physical support or safety needs.
- They’re funded separately in your NDIS plan, and one does not automatically come with the other.
- Many people have SIL without SDA, because SIL support can be delivered in an ordinary home.
SIL and SDA get mixed up all the time, and it’s easy to see why. They’re both about where and how someone with disability lives, and they often appear in the same conversation. But they’re two very different things, and knowing the difference helps you understand what your plan is actually paying for.
Here’s the simplest way to hold it in your head: SIL is the support, and SDA is the building.
SIL is the support
Supported Independent Living, or SIL, is the help a person receives with everyday tasks. That covers things like personal care, cooking, taking medication, keeping the house running and building life skills. It’s about people, not property. Support workers are rostered on to provide the level of help each person needs, whether that’s a few hours a day or round-the-clock care.
Crucially, SIL can be delivered in almost any home. A regular rental, a family-owned house or purpose-built accommodation all work. The support goes to the person, wherever they live. If you want the full rundown, start with our guide on what SIL is.
SDA is the housing
Specialist Disability Accommodation, or SDA, is the physical home itself. It’s housing that has been specially designed or modified for people with very high physical support needs or complex safety requirements. Think wider doorways, ceiling hoists, reinforced walls, or built-in assistive technology.
SDA is not for everyone. It’s funded only for people who meet specific eligibility criteria around the type and level of their needs. The funding pays for the specialised bricks and mortar, not the support that happens inside.
How they work together
When someone has both, the two fit together neatly. SDA provides the accessible home, and SIL provides the daily support inside it. But plenty of people have one without the other. Someone might receive SIL support in an ordinary shared house and never need SDA at all. Equally, a person might live in an SDA home while managing much of their day themselves.
The key point is that they’re assessed and funded on their own merits. Being approved for one doesn’t mean you’re automatically approved for the other.
How each is funded
SIL and SDA both sit within the Home and Living funding category of an NDIS plan, but they are different funding categories within it, and they are assessed and worked out separately. SIL pays for the support you receive. SDA is a housing payment that goes to the provider of the building.
If you’re trying to understand how the support side is paid for, our explainer on how SIL funding works breaks it down.
Not sure which you need? Explore our Supported Independent Living services, or get in touch and we’ll help you make sense of it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have SIL without SDA?
Yes, and many people do. SIL support can be delivered in an ordinary home, so you don’t need SDA housing to receive it.
Does SDA come with support workers?
No. SDA funds the specially designed building only. Any daily support inside it, such as SIL, is funded and arranged separately.
Who is SDA for?
SDA is generally for people with very high physical support needs or complex safety requirements, who meet specific NDIS eligibility criteria for specialist housing.
How do I know which I’m eligible for?
Both are assessed through your NDIS planning process. It’s best to talk it through with your planner or a provider who can explain what fits your situation.
- Tyrone Faulkner
