NDIS home and living options
- Supported independent living (SIL): help with daily tasks, usually in a shared home, with support staff available for much of the day
- Individualised living options (ILO): flexible, tailored arrangements such as living with a host or with support from people you choose
- Specialist disability accommodation (SDA): specially designed housing for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs
- Medium-term accommodation (MTA): short-term housing while you wait for a long-term option to be ready
Why the NDIA needs an OT assessment
Home and living supports are among the most significant supports the NDIS funds. The NDIA looks for clear evidence of how your disability affects daily living, what support you need across the day and night and why the option you are asking for is the right one. An occupational therapist's functional assessment provides that evidence in a structured, objective way.
What the OT assesses
- Personal care, meal preparation, household tasks and managing money
- Safety at home, including overnight needs and emergency awareness
- Mobility, transfers and any equipment used
- Communication, decision-making, routines and community access
- How much support is needed, when and from whom
- The home environment and whether a different type of housing is needed
The assessment usually combines interviews, observation of everyday tasks and standardised assessment tools and it results in a report with clear recommendations. About our functional capacity assessments →
How to prepare
- Be clear about your goals: where and how you want to live and why.
- Gather existing reports: medical, therapy, behaviour support and previous FCAs.
- Describe a typical day and night: including what support you currently get and from whom.
- Include people who know you well: family, support workers or your support coordinator.
- Be honest about hard days: describe what happens on a bad day, not just a good one.
- Talk to your support coordinator: about timing, the NDIS home and living request process and any deadlines.
For support coordinators: Exercare's OTs complete home and living assessments with no waitlist. Download our OT referral guide or see our support coordinator referral page.
Book a home and living assessment
Exercare's occupational therapists visit you at home across north-east, eastern and south-east Melbourne, with no waitlist. One NDIS intake form gets you started.
Funding
OT assessments for home and living requests are usually funded from Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living Skills (Category 15). If you do not yet have funding for the assessment, talk to your support coordinator about requesting it.
Evidence referenced in this article
Written by the Exercare allied health team. This article is general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Exercare provides mobile exercise physiology and NDIS occupational therapy across south-east and eastern Melbourne.
Frequently asked questions
What is a SIL assessment?
A SIL assessment is a functional assessment, usually by an occupational therapist, that provides evidence of the daily support a person needs to support a request for supported independent living.
How long does a home and living assessment take?
Home and living assessments usually take longer than a standard FCA, because they cover support needs across the day and night and often the home itself. We quote each one individually and give you a written estimate before starting.
What is the difference between SIL and SDA?
SIL is the support you receive to live as independently as possible. SDA is the specially designed housing itself. Some people receive both.
Can family be involved in the assessment?
Yes, with your agreement. People who know you well often provide important information about your support needs.