NDIS Individual Living Options (ILO)
Individual Living Options is NDIS-funded support that helps you design, then live in, a home arrangement built around you. It happens in two stages: exploring your options, then ongoing living support. Coast Transitional Support helps Participants and families across Central Coast NSW work through both.
The Two Stages of ILO
ILO confuses people because it is really two supports in one. You do not jump straight to a funded arrangement; you design it first, then live it.
Step One: Exploring Your Options
This first stage is a funded process, not a commitment. Together we work out what independence looks like for you: where you want to live, who with, what support you would need and what it might cost. You can test options along the way, including short stays through Short Term Accommodation. The result is a proposal the NDIA can assess.
Step Two: Ongoing Living Support
Once the NDIA approves the arrangement, the second stage funds the supports that keep it working day to day. That might be drop-in help with meals and routines, support from a host, or a mix built around your week. The arrangement can adjust as your life changes, without needing to move into a set model of care.
Who ILO Suits
ILO tends to work well for people in a few common situations.
People who want choice
You want your living arrangement built around your preferences, not fitted into an existing vacancy.
People open to creative setups
Living with a host, sharing with chosen housemates, or living alone with drop-in support all sit within ILO.
People with moderate support needs
You need regular support but not necessarily a full daily roster of workers in your home.
Families planning ahead
Parents and carers looking for a sustainable, long-term arrangement for an adult family member.
ILO or SIL: Which Fits?
The simplest way to think about it: SIL starts with the support model and finds you a place in it, while ILO starts with you and builds the arrangement around your answer. If you need rostered support for most of the day in a shared or set home, Supported Independent Living may suit you better. If your support needs are lighter, or you want more say in how and where you live, ILO is worth exploring first.
How ILO Is Funded
ILO funding comes in stages that match the two steps above. The exploration and design stage is funded first, so you can map options properly. The ongoing supports are funded after the NDIA approves your proposal. Amounts are individual, so we do not quote figures here; the current rates sit in the official NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Like all NDIS home and living supports, ILO pays for the support, not rent, groceries or bills.
As of September 2026, ILO sits within the newer home and living framework under PACE, and the detail differs between older and newer plans. Confirm against your own plan, or ask us to check it with you.
Getting ILO into a plan usually starts with evidence and a clear request. Our Support Coordination team can organise assessments, map your options and prepare the paperwork. Day-to-day help inside an ILO arrangement can also draw on supports like Assistance with Daily Life.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions families ask us most about ILO.
ILO Support Across the Central Coast
We help Participants explore and set up Individual Living Options across the region: