Where you live, and who supports you there, shapes almost everything else in your NDIS plan. So it makes sense that the SIL vs group home NDIS question comes up constantly with participants, families and carers, and the two options get mixed up more than any others in the scheme.
Here’s the short version: one funds the support that comes into your home, and the other is the home itself. This guide unpacks what each option covers, how they compare side by side, and how to work out which one fits your goals, support needs and lifestyle.
What Is Supported Independent Living (SIL)?
Supported Independent Living (SIL) is NDIS funding for support workers who help you with everyday tasks in your home. The NDIS designed SIL for participants with higher support needs, generally people who need help available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It isn’t housing. The funding pays for the people who support you, wherever you live.
SIL support workers can help with things like:
- Personal care, such as showering and dressing
- Meal preparation and household tasks
- Medication support
- Skill building, so you can manage your home and daily routine
- Supervision and safety support throughout the day and overnight
Because the funding follows you rather than a building, SIL gives you real say over where you live. That could be your own place, a private rental, or a share house with other participants. You can see how this works in practice on our 24-hour Supported Independent Living page, or read the official NDIS explanation of SIL for the full funding criteria.
Worth knowing: only need a few hours of help a day? The NDIS won’t class that as SIL. Lower-level help at home usually sits under other supports, such as assistance with daily tasks in shared living or in-home personal care.
What Is a Group Home Under the NDIS?
A group home is a shared living arrangement where several participants live in the same property, share support workers and communal spaces, and usually have staff rostered on-site. Many group homes are linked to Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), which is purpose-built or heavily modified housing for people with very high support needs or extreme functional impairment.
Group homes tend to suit people who:
- Have higher or more complex support needs
- Prefer the routine and structure of shared, staffed accommodation
- Want built-in social connection from living alongside housemates
- Need a home specifically designed or modified for accessibility
Keep the funding distinction clear: SIL and SDA are separate. SIL pays for the support workers. SDA, where a participant qualifies, pays for the specialised housing itself and sits in a different part of the plan.
Quality standards in this space have also tightened. From 1 July 2026, every provider delivering SIL must register with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and new SIL practice standards now apply across shared living settings. For participants weighing up a group home, that means stronger safeguards, independent audits and worker screening than in previous years.
SIL vs Group Home NDIS: What’s the Difference?
SIL and a group home are not the same thing. SIL is NDIS funding for support workers in your home, whatever that home is. A group home is shared, staffed accommodation, often funded through SDA. Many participants in group homes hold both: SDA covers the housing, and SIL covers the support.
| Feature | SIL | Group Home (SDA) |
|---|---|---|
| What it funds | Support workers in your home | Specialised housing (SIL still funds the support) |
| Housing choice | Your own home, a rental, or a share house you choose | Purpose-built or modified property, often chosen from available stock |
| Flexibility | Higher: you decide where you live | Lower: tied to available SDA housing |
| Best suited for | People who want more control over their living situation | People with very high support needs who benefit from structured, shared housing |
| Social environment | Depends on your living arrangement | Built-in housemates and on-site staff |
| Where it sits in your plan | Core supports (Assistance with Daily Life) | Capital supports, separate from SIL funding |
The scale of SIL surprises many people. NDIA quarterly data shows more than 35,000 participants now have SIL funding in their plans, which makes it one of the largest single supports in the scheme. You can explore the figures in the NDIS quarterly reports.
How Do You Decide Between SIL and a Group Home?
Neither option is “better”. The right answer depends on your goals, your assessed support needs, and how much control you want over your day-to-day living. A few questions worth sitting with:
- Do I want to choose my own home, or is purpose-built shared housing more important to me?
- How many hours of support do I realistically need each day, including overnight?
- Do I want to live with people I already know, or am I open to housemates arranged for me?
- Does my plan currently include SDA funding, or only SIL and core supports?
Still unsure? A Support Coordinator can walk through your plan with you, explain what funding you can actually access, and help you weigh up the options before you commit to a living arrangement. And where your needs point to occasional support or a short break rather than a permanent move, respite care offers a lower-commitment starting point.
Our team at URCARE Support has these conversations every week with participants across Brisbane, Ipswich and the Springfield corridor, and the pattern we see is consistent: people who get clear on their funding first make far more confident housing decisions.
Managing the Funding Side
Whichever way you lean, understanding your plan comes first. SIL and SDA are funded and managed differently, and the paperwork, budgeting and provider agreements can pile up fast. Our Plan Management service takes care of the financial side, so you can focus on choosing the right home rather than chasing invoices.
For a broader look at how this funding works day to day, our guide to NDIS Assistance with Daily Life is a useful next read.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have SIL funding without living in a group home?
Yes. SIL funding can be used in your own home, a private rental, or a share house you choose yourself. It isn’t limited to SDA properties. The funding attaches to your support needs, not to a specific building, so you keep it if you move.
Is a group home the same as SIL?
No. A group home usually refers to the physical housing, often funded through SDA, while SIL is the funding for support workers. You can have SIL support without living in a group home, and many group home residents hold both SIL and SDA funding in the same plan.
Does SIL pay for rent, food or bills?
No. SIL only covers the cost of your support workers. Rent, board, groceries, utilities and other everyday living costs come out of your own income, such as the Disability Support Pension. SDA funding, where you qualify, contributes to the housing cost itself.
How do I know how many hours of SIL support I need?
The NDIA works this out from your assessed support needs, documented in a roster of care. You, your provider and your support coordinator usually build the roster together, and it maps out exactly when and how support workers assist you across the week.
Who can help me apply for SIL or SDA?
A Support Coordinator or your NDIA planner can guide you through the process, including evidence and assessments. You can also read the full home and living support options on the NDIS website before you start a conversation with your planner.
To Sum Up
Deciding between SIL and a group home doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Our team can talk through your NDIS plan, your goals and your support needs, then help you land on the right fit. Contact us today or submit a referral to get started.
