What Makes a Strong Supported Independent Living Assessment?

Clarify what SIL is and what it is not

The NDIA describes SIL as funding for support workers to help or supervise you throughout the day and overnight. It can involve individual or shared support and is intended for people with substantial daily support needs. Tasks may include personal care, meals and household activities, alongside support to build skills and independence. See the official participant guidance on SIL listed below.

SIL funds support, not the house itself. Rent, groceries, utilities and other ordinary living expenses are not automatically included. Specialist disability accommodation concerns eligible housing needs and has separate criteria. Wanting to move out of home is an important goal, but it does not by itself establish that SIL is the appropriate funded response.

Show what assistance looks like across a usual day

A useful functional assessment explains how daily tasks are completed, what assistance is required and why. It should distinguish prompting, supervision, hands-on help and tasks completed by another person. Describe frequency, approximate duration and relevant variation, rather than relying on broad statements such as needs full support or cannot live independently.

Evidence may include interviews, observation, relevant assessment tools, existing reports and support records. Explain who provided each account and whether it reflects direct observation or reported experience. Differences between what happens during an appointment and at home should be explored, not ignored. Standardised scores can contribute evidence, but they do not replace a practical explanation of support needs.

Consider personal care, meals, household routines, communication, decision-making and managing everyday risks. Describe what happens when the usual assistance is unavailable and which existing strategies help. The NDIA's evidence guidance listed below explains why information about disability support needs is important when requesting new or different supports.

Make overnight needs and risks specific

Overnight recommendations need their own evidence. Explain whether support involves scheduled assistance, intermittent responses or a worker who must remain awake and available. Relevant records may describe how often assistance is needed, what the worker does, how long it takes and the consequences of delayed support. Avoid assuming that every overnight concern requires the same staffing arrangement.

Risk descriptions should be factual, proportionate and respectful. Include existing safeguards, assistive technology and strategies that support your autonomy. If information is incomplete, identify the gap rather than presenting an assumption as a clinical finding. An assessment should explain support needs without using frightening language or treating restriction as the default response to risk.

Connect recommendations to evidence and alternatives

Every recommended support should have a clear link to an identified need. Where shared support or individual assistance is proposed, explain which tasks could be shared and which require focused attention. Consider privacy, compatibility, simultaneous needs and your preferences. A staffing ratio should follow the evidence, not be selected first and justified afterwards.

SIL is one home and living option, not the automatic answer to every support need. Consider whether other arrangements, assistive technology, home modifications, skill development or a different combination of supports could meet your needs. Discuss informal assistance realistically, including availability and sustainability, without assuming relatives will continue providing care indefinitely.

A provider's roster or service proposal is not the same as an independent clinical explanation of your needs. The documents should be consistent without simply copying each other. The NDIA's SIL provider guidance listed below also distinguishes included supports from ordinary living costs. Check current provider registration requirements before arranging services.

Prepare for assessment and review the draft

Before assessment, gather your current plan, relevant reports, daily routines and available support records. Include overnight information where relevant, details of equipment and a practical account of unpaid assistance. Tell the assessor about communication adjustments, cultural considerations, preferred supporters and any topics you want discussed privately. You should not need to rehearse an exaggerated account of your difficulties.

Ask what the assessment will cover, how information will be collected and what the agreed fee includes. Where possible, review the draft for factual accuracy and whether your preferences are represented fairly. Correcting an error is different from asking a clinician to change an opinion without evidence. Any limitations or disagreements should be recorded transparently.

Frequently asked questions

Is an occupational therapy report enough to obtain SIL funding? Not necessarily. It may be an important part of the evidence, but the NDIA considers the whole request and may need other information. Ask what is required for your circumstances before commissioning several reports or assuming one document will settle the decision.

Does a SIL assessment need to recommend shared living? No. It should examine your individual needs, preferences and suitable support arrangements. SIL can involve shared or individual support, subject to the applicable funding decision. An assessment should not assume that a particular house, vacancy or provider model is the right fit simply because it is available.

Discuss an assessment that fits the question

To discuss daily functioning or disability-related support needs, contact Today & Tomorrow Allied Health Services to discuss an appropriate assessment. Confirm the scope, suitability, fees and availability before proceeding. Funding decisions and plan permissions should be clarified with the NDIA; an assessment does not guarantee funding.

This article provides general information, not an individual clinical recommendation or funding assurance. NDIS guidance and home and living requirements can change.