How ILO Funding Works
ILO funding goes into an NDIS plan in two stages. Stage 1 pays for 30 to 100 hours of exploration and design. Stage 2 pays for the ILO package itself, at one of three support levels in the NDIA's guideline: up to $105,000, $150,000 or $230,000 a year. The NDIA decides the actual amount from the service proposal and the person's situation.
What Are the ILO Support Levels?
Three levels, set out in the NDIA's ILO guideline. They're a guide only.
| Level | Funded up to | What the NDIA may consider at this level |
|---|---|---|
| Support Level 1 | $105,000 a year | Sharing a home with someone who provides companionship and some casual direct support, like prompting with personal care and household tasks. Supplementary support such as drop-ins, on-call, time with family or a neighbour's help. Monitoring with limited redesign. |
| Support Level 2 | $150,000 a year | Companionship and more regular direct support, including physical help with personal care and supervision with household tasks. Paid drop-in support, on-call support, structured family support, a neighbour or mentor. Monitoring likely to lead to redesign. |
| Support Level 3 | $230,000 a year | Companionship and sustained support, including physical help and personal care, significant physical disability or disability-related health supports. An alternate primary support provides relief. Significant monitoring and a high likelihood of redesign. |
The NDIA decides the actual level based on the person's situation. When it adds stage 1 funding to a plan, it gives an estimate of the stage 2 amount, so the person and their provider can design a proposal that fits.
How Is Stage 1 Funded?
By the hour, up to 30, 50 or 100 hours depending on how much help the person needs to design their ILO.
The NDIA works out the amount using the NDIS pricing arrangements. Our page on exploration and design explains which situations fit each number of hours, and the price guide page has the 2026-27 hourly price limits.
Looking for an ILO Provider?
We'll connect you with a registered ILO provider who may be able to help.
What Can't ILO Funding Be Used For?
The home and the costs of everyday life, and supports funded elsewhere in the plan.
- Rent, mortgage repayments, board and lodging
- Groceries and utilities, like gas, electricity, water, phone and internet
- Holiday costs, including travel
- Personal care and emotional support while the person is in hospital
- Payments to family and friends for informal support
- Supports funded another way in the plan, like transport, assistive technology, plan management or allied health
- SDA-related costs, like property maintenance and vacancies
Who Manages ILO Funding?
The same three options as other NDIS funding: self-managed, plan-managed or agency-managed.
If the NDIA manages the funding, providers have to be registered NDIS providers. Self-managing participants can use registered or unregistered providers. The ILO guideline says self-managing ILO brings extra things to think about, including possible conflicts of interest if a paid support is also the person's plan nominee, and that some supports, like behaviour support, need a registered provider even when self-managed.
Does ILO Funding Replace Family Support?
No. ILO is meant to complement unpaid support, not replace it.
The NDIA doesn't fund things it's reasonable to expect family, friends or the community to provide, and it says including informal supports in an ILO is a proven way to reduce the overall cost. It also looks at whether family can realistically give the support needed, and whether doing so would put anyone's wellbeing at risk.
Questions People Ask
How much ILO funding can you get?
The NDIA's guideline sets three stage 2 levels, funded up to $105,000, $150,000 or $230,000 a year. The levels are a guide only; the NDIA decides from the service proposal and the person's needs.
Is ILO funding paid to the participant?
It sits in the NDIS plan and is used to pay for the ILO supports, through whichever way the plan is managed. Hosts and housemates are paid as agreed in the service proposal.
What if the NDIA says no to ILO?
You get written reasons, and you can ask for an internal review within 3 months of getting your plan.
Can ILO funding change?
If the person's needs change, they can ask for a plan change with new evidence. Within the plan, the mix of ILO supports can often be changed without a reassessment.
Keep Reading
- ILO price guideThe NDIS ILO price guide for 2026-27: the exploration and design hourly price limits, the weekly ILO Support Model item, quotes, and how hosts are paid.
- Exploration and designILO stage 1, exploration and design: what it's for, how the NDIA decides on 30, 50 or 100 hours, what a provider does in that time, and how it ends.
- The ILO support modelStage 2 of an ILO: primary supports, supplementary supports, and monitoring and adjustment.
- How to ask for ILO fundingHow to ask for individualised living options funding: the home and living goal, the evidence the NDIA wants, how to send it, what happens next and if it's no.
- ILO eligibilityWho individualised living options suit, according to the NDIA's ILO guideline: age, 6 hours of daily support, readiness, and when ILO is unlikely to be funded.
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