We haven't heard an update in a while about the NDIS and Individualised Living Options (ILO) - finally, more information has just been released!
Firstly, let's refresh your memory about what an NDIS Individualised Living Option (ILO) actually is.
You may recall, the ILO model involves a participant:
- Sharing their home with friends or housemates or
- Living within a Host arrangement or
- Living on their own with tailored support
An ILO is a support that lets you choose the home you live in and set up supports the way that best suits you.
An ILO is the package of supports; it’s not the home itself.
According to the NDIA, the definition of an ILO is:
The reasonable and necessary supports provided to a participant so they can:
- identify their preferred living arrangement and support package through an in-depth exploration and design process; and
- implement and manage supports to help them to live the way they want, where and with whom they choose.
ILO supports are typically funded in two stages:
- ILO Stage 1: Exploration and design
- ILO Stage 2: Supports
ILO Stage 1: Exploration and Design
The first stage is all about exploring and designing the ILO supports a person may want. It involves working out:
- where they want to live,
- with whom they want to live,
- what support they'll need, and
- who they want to provide that support.
At the end of the Exploration and Design stage, a participant and whoever is helping design their ILO will complete a Service Proposal.
A Service Proposal tells the NDIA:
- how you want to live and
- who you want to support you
- how much your ILO supports will cost
Important: A service proposal needs to include information about how the person applying for ILO funding has been involved in developing their Service Proposal and ILO supports
The Service Proposal includes:
- the primary and supplementary supports (see Stage 2) in your ILO, including how many hours of support you’ll receive each week
- how this support will be organised and delivered
- how much your ILO supports will cost to deliver and monitor (this step is likely to involve working with a provider who implements the type of ILO you have chosen)
- how your ILO supports fit with other supports you use such as support for work, study or social activities.
Service Proposal Guidelines have also been added around what things can be included in the Service Proposal. These may include:
- Personal care, including help to shop, cook or pay bills
- Help to set up and manage your own home
- Help to build your independence
- Building and maintaining connection with others
- Help with making day to day decisions
- Support to manage your emotions or behaviour
- Unpaid volunteers, neighbours or carers who help you on a regular basis
- People who you call to help you when you need it (on-call)
- Training for the people who support you.
IMPORTANT:
To even be considered for ILO Funding a participant must:
- have a goal to explore home and living options.
- complete the NDIS Home and Living Supports Request form
What’s not covered by ILO supports?
- Supported Independent Living
- Specialist Disability Accommodation
- Home modifications
- Your rent or mortgage repayments
- Your everyday costs like food, electricity and internet bills
- Intensive supports around the clock (1:1 rostered support) as the only support
- Support not in your home, for example, to go to work, study or community activities
- Funding to develop a behaviour support plan (where needed)
ILO Stage 2: Supports
Stage 2 is now renamed “Supports” (previously called: “implementation, ongoing monitoring and redesign”).
Before reaching Stage 2, the following need to be submitted:
The NDIA will only make a decision on ILO Stage 2: Supports once your Service Proposal has submitted.
They’ll use the information in the Service Proposal and Home and Living Support Request form to help decide what Stage 2: ILO supports meet the reasonable and necessary criteria.
We need to have a good understanding of your support needs, so we’ll let you know if we need more information to make a decision.
All funding decisions will be based on:
- the ILO supports identified in the Service Proposal (which also includes a cost estimate) and
- whether the ILO supports meet the reasonable and necessary criteria
Your ILO supports have 3 parts:
- Primary supports - might specify help needed with things like personal care, cooking, cleaning, getting ready for work etc.
- Supplementary supports - these are needed to help sustain your primary support and provide backup support if needed. Supplementary supports might be paid or unpaid. These may include things like a second host or a 'drop in' support worker, a neighbour or a volunteer.
- Monitoring and adjustment - this covers setting up your supports and regularly check-ins by your ILO provider.
When are ILO Supports Reasonable and Necessary
When discussing the value for money criterion, the Operational Guidelines provide some dollar values aligned to three levels of ILO support:
- Up to $105 000/year (level 1)
- Up to $150 000/year (level 2) or
- Up to $230 000/year (level 3), with descriptors for each level.
These levels are a guide only. The NDIA decides the actual level of support based on a person's individual situation. Social, economic and community participation supports are usually funded separately to ILO.
Sources and additional information
NDIS THERAPY FINDER - FREE SERVICE
LET US FIND YOU A SKILLED SUPPORT WORKER
