What is supported independent living?

Are you hoping to develop your skills with daily tasks so that you can live more independently? Then supported independent living might help you achieve those goals!

If you haven’t already heard of supported independent living, it basically means receiving an extra hand when it comes to daily activities, personal care, medication management and lifestyle activities, so that you can achieve your goals and live the life you deserve. Whether you need support in your own home or your chosen NDIS housing, a disability support worker can come to you.

By including SIL in your NDIS plan, you can ensure that the necessary support is provided to help you live independently and make progress towards your goals. It’s important to discuss your specific needs and preferences with your NDIS planner to determine the level of support required and to explore suitable options, such as SDA homes, if applicable. Together, you can create a personalized plan that aligns with your aspirations and maximizes your independence.

Come with us as we explore ‘what is supported independent living’ and ‘how supported independent living can be included in your plan’!

What is supported independent living?

Like the name suggests, supported independent living (SIL)  a service that supports people with disabilities, including NDIS participants, in living their day-to-day lives independently. No matter what your care needs are, your disability support worker can provide one-on-one support for a range of tasks, depending on what your needs and goals are. The purpose of SIL is to build your skills so that you can live the independent life you want to.

Your disability support worker, who specializes in assisting NDIS participants, can provide a range of supports to help you achieve independence. These may include:

• Assistance with daily living tasks such as cleaning, gardening, and grocery shopping
• Personal care, such as assistance in showering, oral hygiene, dressing and toileting
• Medication management, including storage and administration of medication
• Assistance in lifestyle activities, such as engaging in your favourite hobbies, meeting new people, and engaging with the community
• Assistance in personal development to support you in achieving your goals

You can receive funding for SIL whether you are living in your own home, or your chosen NDIS housing. If your care needs require, you can also receive overnight support as well.

What SIL does not include

Now that you know what SIL covers, it’s also helpful to know what it doesn’t cover! Funding for SIL does not include:

• the cost of groceries
• rent, board or lodging costs
• utilities such as gas, electricity, water, telephone, or internet bills
• vehicle costs.
• household budgeting or bill paying activities
• expenses related to holidays, including travel costs.

Still interested in receiving SIL and think you might be eligible? Read on!

Am I eligible for SIL?

To receive funding for SIL in your plan, you must apply through the NDIS. Unfortunately, not everyone is eligible for funding for this type of support. The NDIS will provide funding if they believe the supports will help you pursue your goals, improve or maintain your ability to do things with less support, reduce or maintain your need for person-to-person supports, or create better connections with your family, community, health services, education and employment.

Funding for supported independent living (SIL) is provided on an individual basis, which means it is funded individually according to your unique needs and goals. This personalized approach ensures that the supports allocated to you are tailored to your specific requirements, promoting your independence and overall well-being.

When you apply for SIL funding through the NDIS, you have the opportunity to access the necessary resources and assistance to pursue your goals and lead a more independent life. The NDIS carefully considers your individual circumstances, taking into account factors such as your living arrangement. 

We have collated a few things that the NDIS will consider if you apply for this funding:

1. Personal circumstances: This includes your current situation, goals and aspirations, where you live now and future home and living goals and your independent living skills and potential to build on these. It also includes supports you need to achieve your home and living goals, information about your day-to-day support needs, reports or occupational therapy assessments, other helpful information about your support needs and any alternative home and living options.
2. Age: To be eligible for SIL, you generally must be aged 18 or older. In some circumstances, if you are 17 and your goal is to move out of home, then you may be able to receive funding as well.
3. Level of support: The NDIS will consider the level of support you require. You may be eligible for SIL if you require active disability support for more than 8 hours per day to complete daily activities, or some level of support for the other house.

To apply for funding, you will have to complete the Home and Living Supports Request form on the NDIS website. From there, the NDIS will look at information that you provide including any assessments of your disability support and housing needs, allied health professional reports, and reports about your daily support needs.

This will help the NDIS understand your current circumstances, strengths, barriers and daily support needs, so that they can make an informed decision.

What happens once you have received your funding?

So, you’ve received funding for SIL? Now it’s time to choose a registered NDIS provider, such as Aspire Hub.

At Aspire Hub, we believe your home should reflect who you are, and be a safe place where you’re free to be yourself. That’s why you will always be a part of household decisions from choosing your own home, to decorating your room.

With a range of SIL eligible homes across Queensland, we can help you find the perfect place for your lifestyle and deliver the supports you need to reach your independence goals. We understand that each individual’s needs are unique, and our services are designed to be funded individually, ensuring that you receive personalized support that aligns with your specific requirements.

But don’t just take our word from it! Here’s what one of our customers have said,

“I have lived in a SIL house before but none of them were as nice. My carers are very professional, they communicate with me and my family very well. Every day I do as much or as little as I want to. I live my life the way I want, and Aspire Hub helps me to do this.”

With no waiting lists, our friendly team can offer you support as soon as possible.

If you want to learn more about supported independent living at Aspire Hub, you can contact us today on 07 3074 9440 or by filling out this contact form.