Understanding Individualised Living Options
This guide explains Individualised Living Options (ILO), how participants can plan living arrangements and supports, and what to discuss with their NDIS contact or Support Coordinator.
What Is ILO?
Individualised Living Options (ILO) is NDIS support designed around how you want to live and the help you need at home. An arrangement might involve living with a host or sharing a home with a supportive housemate. The starting point is your daily life: your preferences, relationships, routines and disability-related support needs.
ILO has two stages. Exploration and design helps you work through possible arrangements and develop a service proposal. If the proposed supports are approved, the second stage puts them into practice. The arrangement includes primary support, supplementary support and a process for checking whether it is working for you.
ILO funding pays for approved disability supports. It does not pay your rent, mortgage, groceries or household bills. Support for activities outside your home is considered separately. Understanding these boundaries helps you plan both your support arrangements and your everyday budget.
ILO vs. SIL: What's the Difference?
ILO and Supported Independent Living (SIL) describe support arrangements, rather than a particular house or a requirement to move into an existing vacancy. Both should be considered in relation to the person's disability support needs and preferences.
SIL provides assistance or supervision throughout the day and night for people with substantial daily support needs. Support workers may provide shared support; individual support can be funded in limited circumstances. SIL funds the support workers, rather than the housing itself or ordinary living expenses.
ILO organises a different combination of support around a host or housemate arrangement, with additional help and regular review. It is not simply a more flexible version of SIL, and it does not require every part of someone's life to be built again from scratch.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a separate category relating to housing designed for particular disability needs. The property and the support delivered inside it are different things. When comparing options, ask two separate questions: where would I live, and how would my support needs be met there?
Who Benefits Most From ILO?
ILO may be worth discussing if you want to explore a host or housemate arrangement and are ready to spend time designing how support would work. The NDIA considers daily support needs and the practicality of the proposed arrangement.
Having strong preferences about your home, or not finding a suitable SIL vacancy, does not by itself establish that ILO is appropriate. The NDIA advises that ILO may not suit someone who needs continuous rostered support or frequent assistance overnight.
Your preferences still matter. Record what you want from home life alongside the help you need, including during difficult days and unexpected changes. You can involve people you trust in the discussion. Your my NDIS contact or support coordinator can help you explore the available pathways. Funding decisions depend on individual circumstances and the NDIS funding criteria.
Starting the ILO Conversation
Start an ILO conversation by discussing your goals, daily life and how you would like to live. A provider should understand these before suggesting a particular arrangement. You can begin with your my NDIS contact, a support coordinator or Bloom Supports to discuss your questions.
Before the conversation, describe what an ordinary day looks like for you. What do you enjoy doing for yourself? Where do you want help? What helps you communicate, feel comfortable and make decisions? Include mornings, evenings and weekends, as well as anything that is difficult to predict. You can write notes, use pictures or ask someone you trust to help record your views.
Who would provide each part of my support? Ask which tasks a host or housemate would help with, what additional support is planned and who you would contact if the usual person were unavailable. Discuss how personal space, visitors and household routines would work together. The people involved should understand what is expected of them.
How would we know the arrangement is working? Ask how often there would be a check-in, how your views would be heard and what would happen if something changed. Choose examples that matter to you: feeling comfortable at home, having enough privacy or getting the help you need at the right time. Ask how a concern would be raised and who would help resolve it.
What would I pay, and what would my supports cover? Request a clear explanation of the proposed supports and charges. Keep ordinary household costs separate when comparing options. Ask about changes, cancellations and what happens if a provider cannot deliver an agreed support.
Can I review the information in my own time? Ask for the proposal and agreement in a format you understand. Bring someone you choose to discussions, keep a list of questions still to answer, and request changes where needed. Understanding an arrangement matters more than making a quick decision.
For the current funding rules and guidance, refer to the NDIS resources 'What are individualised living options (ILO)' and 'How to make a service agreement'. This article was checked against those resources on 20 October 2026.