— Housing
SIL vs SDA — what's the difference?
SIL (Supported Independent Living) funds the people who support you with everyday tasks at home — personal care, meals, medication prompting, overnight help. SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) funds the dwelling itself: purpose-built or modified housing for participants with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs. SIL pays for people; SDA pays for bricks. Neither pays your rent.
The Care Coordinators · Updated 15 September 2026
| SIL | SDA | |
|---|---|---|
| What it funds | The support staff who help you at home | The specialist dwelling — design, build, modifications |
| Who it is for | Participants needing daily or overnight support with everyday tasks | Participants with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs |
| Where it applies | Any home — shared, rental, or your own | Only SDA-enrolled dwellings |
| How it is assessed | A roster of care plus treating-team evidence | Housing assessment against SDA eligibility criteria |
| Rent | You pay rent or board yourself | You pay a reasonable rent contribution yourself |
Why the distinction matters before you look at houses
Providers talk about "SIL vacancies", which blurs the two. If you are funded for SIL but not SDA, a vacancy in an SDA dwelling may not be available to you — and if you are funded for SDA, accepting an ordinary rental can cost you the specialist design you were assessed as needing. Knowing which funding is in question changes every conversation that follows.
How SIL funding is worked out
- Your support needs are documented across a full week, including nights — this is the roster of care.
- Evidence from your treating team, and often an occupational therapist, supports it.
- The NDIA prices the roster, accounting for support shared with other residents in a shared home.
- The funding goes into your plan and is drawn on by the SIL provider who delivers the support.
What to check before you sign anything
- Whether the vacancy is SIL-only or SDA-enrolled
- How many staff are on across the day and overnight
- Who else lives there, and whether you would get along
- What the rent or board is, separately from the support funding
- What happens if you want to move out later
We visit houses with participants and families, take notes and compare them properly — see SIL exploration. You are never obliged to use a provider we suggest.
SIL and SDA questions
What is the difference between SIL and SDA?
SIL (Supported Independent Living) funds the support people who help you with everyday tasks in your home. SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) funds the dwelling itself — purpose-built or modified housing. SIL pays for people; SDA pays for bricks. A participant may be funded for one, both or neither.
Can I get SIL without SDA?
Yes, and most participants who receive SIL do not have SDA. SIL can be delivered in ordinary rental housing, a shared home or your own property. SDA is only funded where a participant has extreme functional impairment or very high support needs requiring specialist housing design.
Who pays rent in a SIL or SDA home?
You do, from your own income, just as any tenant would. Neither SIL nor SDA funding pays your rent or board — SIL pays the support staff, and SDA pays a contribution towards the cost of the specialist building to the housing provider.
How is SIL funding decided?
From a roster of care: what support you need, at what times of day and night, across a full week, backed by evidence from your treating team and often an occupational therapist. The NDIA then prices that roster, taking into account whether support is shared with other residents.
Thinking about a move, or being pushed towards one?
Talk it through with a coordinator before you sign anything.