Living independently is a goal for many people with disability. The ideal independent living assistance to support this may vary from person to person and situation to situation. In most cases, however, people with a disability would like to be able to live independently as much as possible, and this is what the Supported Independent Living funding can help with.
This article will help you understand the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Supported Independent Living (SIL) component, and what it means to you.
How can the NDIS funding help you?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme is a government-funded scheme that enables Australians with a disability to receive financial support for essential services such as personal support services, health, and accommodation.
NDIS funding is the money from your plan that pays for the supports and services you need. These supports and services are provided by Providers. Providers are an integral part of the NDIS, they help participants pursue their goals. They can be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) or unregistered.
The NDIS official website lists 3 types of categories for supports and services:
- Core: A support that helps a participant complete daily living activities.
- Capital: A support for an investment, such as assistive technologies, equipment and home or vehicle modifications, or funding for capital costs (e.g. to pay for Specialist Disability Accommodation).
- Capacity building: A support that helps a participant build their independence and skills.
SIL is a Core Support, and if you have SIL included in your NDIS plan, you may receive special funding for it under the category Assistance in Daily Life.
If you want more details about the NDIS, check out our what is the NDIS post!
Supported Independent Living – You Don’t Have To Do It All
Supported Independent Living (SIL) supports NDIS participants with day-to-day tasks, making them independent and allowing them to learn new skills. If your SIL eligibility is determined, it’s time to find a home and housemates to move in together.
In most cases, 2-7 participants will come together to live in a shared living setting, getting 24/7 support. Although, house rental fees and groceries are not covered in this program, SIL pays for a support person to help you with day-to-day tasks like showering and getting dressed, such as personal care. They are also helping with eating and cooking meals.
SIL is for participants who need support with tasks for most of the day. It’s best suited for participants that are over 18 years old and constantly need a significant amount of assistance throughout the day.
People who live in residential care may receive care services that assist in helping people stay as independent as possible. These services are provided by people trained in helping people with a disability. Do you want to find the right support worker that suits your needs? Check out our previous blog:
How to find the right support worker that suits your needs?
Additionally, NDIS independent living assistance helps with self-care such as mobility, communication, safe housing, and health. People living in residential care may receive assistance with self-care such as mobility, communication, safe housing, and health. This may include training in managing health conditions such as diabetes, medications, and finances.
Additional NDIS Support to Live Independently
In myplace portal, it’s possible to search for SIL service providers. These specialised providers can help you tackle your supported independent living challenges. Once you choose a SIL provider, they will write a roster of care. A roster of care is a document that clarifies the support you need in a week. Your week is broken down into 30-minute blocks, so every detail is carefully planned.
Support coordination plays an important role in getting SIL funding. Your Support Coordinator will help explore your housing goals, find and connect you with the most suitable SIL provider, and coordinate all your supporting documentation. At Devote Care we provide experienced Support Coordinators who will ensure that you get the most out of your NDIS entitlements.
Key Benefits of SIL
In most cases, SIL brings unprecedented freedom and control to NDIS participants, even in a shared apartment setting. Most NDIS participants enjoy being around other mates with similar challenges. You can think of this as being a part of a small community. If you are sharing an apartment, your costs are also much lower.
Secondly, since you discuss your roster of care with your SIL provider, you can have more choice and control over your daily activities and support. Talking about activities, you are likely to live with people of a similar age and interests, which is a great help in learning new skills and sharing interests.
What’s the Difference Between SIL, ILO & SDA
All these concepts are NDIS housing or accommodation concepts. SIL supports those living in a shared apartment, whereas Individual Living Options (ILO) focuses on people who prefer to live independently. Then we also have Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) available to people whole need specialist housing solutions due to the high demand for support.
We are Devote Care, enabling dignified lives through personalised service. It’s no understatement to say that every member of the Devote Care family sees what we do as a job; it’s a calling and a privilege. Achieve your NDIS goals with us. We are at our service on 1300 300 999, or get a free consultation here!
