ILO Host Arrangements: Living in a Host's Home
In an ILO host arrangement, the person lives full time in the home of a host who isn't related to them. The host shares everyday life with them and gives the main support at home. The ILO provider puts the arrangement in place, helps draft the agreements, organises back-up support and checks regularly that it's working.
What Does a Host Do?
It depends on the person. The host is the primary support: the main support at home, from someone the person lives with.
The NDIA's examples of primary support include help with personal care, cooking, cleaning, emotional support, getting ready for work and making sure the person is safe at home. Its funding levels describe a range, from companionship with some casual support, like prompting with personal care, through to sustained support that includes physical help with personal care.
A host isn't there to replace the person's own family and friends. ILO is meant to work alongside the help people already give, and family often stays involved as supplementary support.
Who Can Be a Host?
Someone who isn't related to the person, who has them live full time in their home.
That's the NDIA's definition, and its guideline leaves the choice of who to live with to the person, with help if they need it. Finding the right host is part of exploration and design, and the ILO provider builds the arrangement in stage 2.
Ask the provider how they find hosts, how they check them, and how the person can get to know a host before deciding. Our questions to ask an ILO provider has the full list.
Looking for an ILO Provider?
We'll connect you with a registered ILO provider who may be able to help.
How Are Hosts Paid?
Through the ILO package, as a reimbursement agreed in the service proposal, not as an hourly wage.
The NDIA's service proposal form says any payment received by a host should be a general reimbursement rather than an hourly wage. Payment arrangements are agreed between the person, their supports and the provider, and written into the proposal.
Tax
Payments received through an ILO may be assessable for tax. The NDIA recommends that participants and providers get independent financial advice before agreeing to an ILO. The Australian Taxation Office has information on assessable income and deductions.
Board, groceries, rent and utilities can't be included in the ILO costs. The person pays their own living costs.
What Happens When the Host Needs a Break?
Supplementary supports cover it. They're built into the plan from the start.
Supplementary supports cover times the host has other commitments, such as work, medical appointments or holidays. They might be a second host who provides relief, paid drop-in support, a support worker staying over, respite, or time with family. At the NDIA's highest funding level, an alternate primary support who provides relief is expected.
How Is a Host Arrangement Checked?
Through the monitoring plan in the service proposal, which the provider coordinates.
Monitoring checks whether the person is happy with where they live, feels safe, is getting more independent, and knows how to raise a problem, including a problem with the people they live with. If the arrangement isn't working, the provider helps make changes, including finding a new host if needed.
Questions People Ask
Is an ILO host the same as foster care?
No. ILO is an NDIS support for adults (and 17 year olds planning ahead). The person chooses the arrangement, and it's designed around their goals, with the provider monitoring it.
Can a family member be my host?
Not under the NDIA's definition. A host isn't related to the person. Family can still be part of the ILO as unpaid supplementary support.
Can I live with a host part time?
The NDIA describes a host arrangement as living full time with the host. Time with family can sit alongside it as a supplementary support.
How do I find an ILO host?
Through exploration and design, usually with an ILO provider, who then puts the arrangement in place. Finding a new host when one is needed is part of monitoring and adjustment. We can connect you with a registered ILO provider.
Keep Reading
- The ILO support modelStage 2 of an ILO: primary supports, supplementary supports, and monitoring and adjustment.
- Housemate arrangementsHow an NDIS ILO housemate arrangement works, sometimes called co-residency: sharing your own home or a rental with a housemate who supports you, and the rules.
- Questions to ask an ILO providerQuestions to ask an NDIS ILO provider before you choose: exploration and design, hosts and housemates, back-up support, monitoring, costs and agreements.
- How ILO funding worksHow ILO funding works in an NDIS plan: the two stages, the three stage 2 support levels up to $230,000 a year, what's excluded, and how the funding is managed.
- NDIS ILO providersWhat an NDIS ILO provider does in each stage, the rules they follow, registration and plan management, and what to look for when choosing an ILO provider.
We share your details with one provider at a time, never a list. Privacy policy