SIL quoting for NDIS SIL providers (2026 guide)

What is a SIL quote and why does it matter in 2026?

A Supported Independent Living (SIL) quote is a formal document a registered SIL provider submits to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) detailing the supports, staffing arrangements, and associated costs required to deliver a participant's funded in-home supports. Unlike most NDIS supports, SIL funding is not self-managed through a participant's plan budget in the usual sense — the NDIA approves the specific SIL quote, and funding is attached to the quote rather than released as a lump sum.

From 2026, the stakes for getting SIL quoting right have increased significantly. The NDIS Commission's strengthened Practice Standards — which came into effect progressively from late 2024 and are fully operational from 2026 — introduce tighter requirements around participant voice, transparent decision-making, and evidence-based support design. A poorly structured SIL quote is no longer just a funding risk; it can constitute a Practice Standards non-conformance and trigger audit findings.

Who needs to prepare a SIL quote?

Any NDIS-registered provider delivering supports under the SIL support category (01 — Daily Activities, specifically SIL line items) must prepare and submit a SIL quote. This includes providers operating:

• Shared supported accommodation (multiple participants in one dwelling)
• Individual living options with intensive overnight or 24-hour staffing
• Transitional SIL arrangements (e.g., post-hospital or crisis accommodation)

Providers must hold registration under the NDIS Commission for the relevant registration group, and the SIL quote must be linked to a current NDIS plan that includes SIL as a funded support.

What must a SIL quote include? (Step-by-step)

The NDIA's SIL quoting process is guided by the Supported Independent Living — Information for Providers guidance and the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. A compliant SIL quote must address each of the following elements in order.

1. Participant details and plan information — Full name, NDIS number, current plan dates, and the relevant Support Coordinator or LAC contact. Ensure the plan explicitly includes SIL funding before proceeding.
2. Assessment of support needs — Document the assessment methodology used (e.g., functional assessment, OT report, behaviour support assessment). Under the 2026 Practice Standards, this assessment must centre the participant's own goals and preferences, not solely clinical need. Include the date of assessment and the name of the qualified person who conducted it.
3. Support hours breakdown — Specify weekday, Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday hours. Distinguish clearly between active support hours and sleepover or passive overnight supports. The NDIS Pricing Arrangements set different rates for each category, and quoting the wrong rate type is one of the most common non-conformances identified at audit.
4. Staffing ratio — State the ratio of support workers to participants for each shift type. In shared arrangements, show how costs are apportioned across participants. The NDIA expects a written rationale for why a particular ratio is necessary, linked directly to assessed need.
5. Individual versus shared supports — Itemise which supports are individual (not shared with any other participant) and which are shared. Shared supports must be apportioned fairly and transparently. From 2026, providers must be able to demonstrate on request that shared cost apportionment does not disadvantage any individual participant.
6. Cost calculation and line items — Use the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits for each line item. Show the calculation for each support type (hourly rate × hours × applicable loading). Providers should not use rates above the published price limits. Any provider-specific pricing below the price limit should be explained.
7. Rostering and vacancy information — Attach or reference a proposed roster or rostering methodology. Note any planned vacancies and how continuity of support will be maintained.
8. Participant agreement and consent — Under the strengthened Practice Standards, the participant (or their nominated representative) must have been meaningfully involved in the design of the support model. Include a statement confirming how the participant was consulted, what they said, and how their preferences were reflected in the quote. Where a participant has a guardian or administrator, document their involvement separately.
9. Review and transition arrangements — State how the SIL arrangement will be reviewed (frequency, triggers), and what the transition pathway looks like if the participant's needs change or they wish to move.

Common SIL quoting mistakes and how to fix them

How the 2026 strengthened Practice Standards change SIL quoting

The NDIS Commission's strengthened Practice Standards, introduced under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Approved Quality Auditors Scheme) Guidelines 2018 and associated regulatory changes, now apply more explicitly to the design and documentation of SIL supports. Key changes affecting quoting include:

• Participant-centred support design — The quote must demonstrate that the support model was designed with, not just for, the participant. Auditors will look for contemporaneous records of participant consultation at the design stage.
• Outcomes focus — The support hours and arrangements in the quote must be linked to the participant's NDIS goals. Quotes that simply replicate the previous arrangement without assessing goal progress are likely to attract scrutiny.
• Restrictive practices documentation — If any aspect of the SIL arrangement involves the use of regulated restrictive practices (including environmental modifications that restrict movement), this must be reflected in the quote documentation and linked to an approved Behaviour Support Plan.
• Worker qualifications — From 2026, providers must be able to demonstrate that workers delivering supports specified in the quote hold the qualifications or competencies required under the NDIS Worker Screening and Practice Standards requirements.

A practical SIL quote template excerpt

The following is an illustrative excerpt showing how to structure the support hours section of a SIL quote. Adapt line items to the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements.

Participant: [Name] | NDIS Number: [XXXXXXXXX]
Plan Period: [DD/MM/YYYY] to [DD/MM/YYYY]

SUPPORT HOURS — WEEKLY SUMMARY
Weekday active supports:        XX hrs @ [current weekday rate]  = $XXX.XX
Saturday active supports:       XX hrs @ [current Saturday rate] = $XXX.XX
Sunday active supports:         XX hrs @ [current Sunday rate]   = $XXX.XX
Public holiday supports:        XX hrs @ [current PH rate]       = $XXX.XX
Sleepover supports (Mon–Fri):   X nights @ [sleepover rate]      = $XXX.XX

SHARED SUPPORT APPORTIONMENT
Total dwelling cost per week:   $X,XXX.XX
Number of co-residents:         X
This participant's share:       $XXX.XX (based on equal apportionment)

PARTICIPANT CONSULTATION
Date of consultation:           [DD/MM/YYYY]
Method:                         Face-to-face meeting + written summary provided
Participant preference noted:   [Summarise in participant's own words where possible]
How preference reflected:       [Describe changes made to draft quote based on input]

Submitting and managing your SIL quote

SIL quotes are submitted to the NDIA via the myplace provider portal or, in some cases, through a Support Coordinator acting on the participant's behalf. Once submitted, the NDIA may request additional information before approving the quote. Approval is not automatic, and providers should not commence supports under a new SIL arrangement until written NDIA approval is received.

Quotes should be reviewed at each plan review, and whenever there is a significant change in the participant's support needs, living situation, or goals. Maintain a version history of all submitted quotes and NDIA responses as part of your participant records. These records form part of your evidence base during a compliance audit.

If you are building or reviewing your SIL quoting procedures as part of a broader compliance uplift, the 136-document SIL compliance kit available at ndiscompliant.com.au includes a SIL quote template, cost-sharing schedule, participant consultation record, and supporting policies aligned to the 2026 Practice Standards.