If you have heard about the new SIL claims changes and felt a bit unsure what they actually mean for you, you are not alone. NDIS updates can feel confusing, especially when they touch something as personal as your home and your supports. We wanted to take a moment to walk through what has changed, why it matters, and how we can help make sense of it together.
The Challenge: Understanding the SIL Claims Changes
As of 1 July 2026, the way Supported Independent Living (SIL) is claimed and paid has changed. If you are a participant, family member, support coordinator, or allied health professional, this might raise a few questions.
- Does this affect my home?
- Will my support still be paid on time?
- Do I need to do anything?
These are fair questions, and we think you deserve clear answers, not jargon.
Here is the heart of it:
- Supports delivered before 1 July 2026 still use the existing code, 0115. This covers daily life tasks in a group or shared living arrangement.
- Supports delivered from 1 July 2026 use the new code, 0138, for assistance with Supported Independent Living.
This applies to every SIL provider, whether they are registered, newly registered, or in the process of applying.
The Challenge for Plan Managers
If a plan manager manages your plan, there’s a practical flow-on effect. Plan managers can only pay invoices under the new 0138 code in three cases. The SIL provider must be:
- Registered under 0138, or
- An unregistered provider who was delivering SIL before 1 July 2026, and has since applied under registration group 0138.
- An existing unregistered provider who was already delivering SIL before 1 July 2026.
In plain terms, if your provider’s registration is not sorted, your payments could be delayed. It is a simple thing to check, and it can save a lot of stress down the track.
The Solution: Know Your Dates and Ask the Right Questions
The good news is that none of this is complicated once you know what to look for.
A few key dates and a couple of questions are all it takes to stay ahead of it.
- 1 October 2026 is the deadline for unregistered providers who were delivering SIL before 1 July to apply for registration if they want to keep providing these supports. That date is still a little way off, so there is time to sort this out without rushing.
- Providers who have already applied can keep claiming under 0138 while their application is assessed.
- If an unregistered provider has not applied by 1 October 2026, they can only claim for services delivered up to 30 September 2026.
- From 1 October 2026, plan managers are expected to reject invoices from SIL providers who are not registered and have not applied to register.
If any of this applies to you, the simplest next step is a quick conversation with your plan manager or SIL provider to confirm where things stand.
Why This Matters to You
These SIL claims changes are part of the NDIS strengthening registration and accountability across the sector, and they touch different people in different ways:
- Participants and families.
This change does not affect your home itself, but it is worth knowing that your provider’s registration status can affect whether your plan manager is able to pay for your support without delay. A quick check now can save a headache later.
- Support coordinators.
When matching a participant with a SIL provider, registration status under the new 0138 code is now a practical detail worth checking upfront, alongside fit and location. It can save you and your client unnecessary back and forth with plan managers.
- Allied health professionals.
If you work alongside SIL providers as part of a participant’s broader support team, continuity of funding matters for consistency of care. A registration gap with a SIL provider can disrupt the wider support arrangement around a participant, not just the SIL side.
- Investors and partners.
If you are considering investment in SDA, this is a good reminder that the SIL sector is moving toward tighter registration and accountability. Homes paired with well-established, properly registered SIL providers tend to offer more stability over the long term.
At The Independent Living Company, we work alongside trusted SIL providers across our homes in Queensland, Australia, so the support side of your home is just as solid as the build itself. If any of this feels uncertain, we are genuinely happy to talk it through with you, no pressure, just a conversation.
What You Can Do Next
- If you have a plan manager, ask them to confirm your SIL provider’s registration status.
- If you are exploring Supported Independent Living for the first time, ask any prospective provider whether they are registered or have applied under the new code.
- If you would like to talk through how this fits with finding a suitable SDA home, get in touch with our team.
We are always happy to help you understand how SDA and SIL work together, in plain language.
For full details, you can read the official update on the NDIS website.
