Can I Request ILO Support in My NDIS Plan? Here's What Families Need to Know

One of the most common questions I hear from families is: "Can we actually ask for ILO funding — or does the NDIS just decide?"

The answer: yes, you can absolutely request it. But there are eligibility criteria, and the NDIS will assess whether ILO is the right fit before approving funding.

Here's what the process looks like — and how to set yourself up for success.

Who Is ILO Suitable For?

ILO might be right for your family member if they:

• Are 18 or older (or 17 and planning ahead for life after home)
• Need formal or informal support at home for at least 6 hours per day
• Are ready to explore what independent living could look like for them
• Want to have genuine choice over where they live, who they live with, and how they're supported

ILO is probably not the right fit if they:

• Need 24-hour rostered support from one or more workers
• Need frequent overnight support
• Have a behaviour support plan that includes restrictive practice

If ILO isn't the right match, there are other options — including SIL, personal care supports, or medium-term accommodation — and the NDIS will help explore those instead.

How Does Funding Actually Work?

ILO funding happens in two stages, and understanding this is important before your next planning meeting.

Stage 1 — Exploration and Design

This is where your family member (with support from you, a provider, or a support coordinator) figures out what their ideal living arrangement looks like and documents it.

The NDIS funds up to 100 hours for this stage, depending on complexity:

Situation	Funding Cap
Clear on what they need, staying local, can make decisions	Up to 30 hours
Unsure of needs, moving to a different area, some help needed with decision making	Up to 50 hours
Complex needs, moving to a different type of area, many people involved in decisions	Up to 100 hours

 

These are guides. The NDIS will assess your family member's actual situation before deciding.

What Does the NDIS Look At When Deciding?

The NDIS applies their funding criteria to every request. For ILO, they ask:

1. Is this support related to the person's disability needs?
2. Does it help them pursue their goals?
3. Is it likely to be effective and beneficial?
4. Is it value for money compared to other options?
5. Is it legal and safe?
6. Is it something the NDIS should fund — or another service system?

The stronger the evidence you bring to your planning meeting, the better your chances of getting the right level of funding approved.

What Should You Do Before the Planning Meeting?

• Have a clear home and living goal documented in the plan — this is a prerequisite
• Gather functional assessments and reports that describe support needs at home
• Know roughly what kind of arrangement suits your family member (host, housemate, etc.)
• Consider engaging a support coordinator who knows ILO well

And importantly: understand what the Service Proposal needs to contain. This document is what the NDIS uses to approve Stage 2 funding, so getting it right matters.

My ILO course walks families and providers through the entire Service Proposal process step by step — including what the NDIS is looking for, common mistakes, and how to build a proposal that gets approved.