Understanding SIL vs SDA: what is the difference?
Supported Independent Living and Specialist Disability Accommodation are often confused. This guide explains what each one covers and how they work together.
By National Choice Care Team · Published
Two of the most commonly confused terms in the NDIS are SIL and SDA. They sound similar and often appear together, but they fund very different things. Put simply: SIL is about the support people provide, and SDA is about the building itself.
What SIL covers
Supported Independent Living (SIL) funds help with daily tasks for people who need significant support, usually in a shared home. That can include assistance with cooking, personal care, medications and building everyday living skills. SIL funding pays for support workers' time — not rent, groceries or the house itself.
What SDA covers
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funds the physical dwelling for people with very high support needs or significant functional impairment. SDA homes are built or modified to specific design standards, such as hoist provision, reinforced walls and emergency backup power. Only a small proportion of NDIS participants are eligible for SDA funding.
How they work together
- A person can have SIL funding without living in an SDA property
- A person in an SDA home usually also has separate funding for daily supports
- Rent and day-to-day living costs are generally paid by the resident in both cases
- Housing and support decisions are assessed separately, so eligibility for one does not guarantee the other
Where to start
If you think shared supported housing might suit you or someone you support, talk with your support coordinator or planner about whether SIL, SDA or another housing option fits your goals. Eligibility rules and design standards are updated from time to time, so check the latest government guidance before relying on any summary — including this one.