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Quick guide to SDA for NDIS Support Coordinators

We know that the process of supporting participants in finding Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) can be a little confusing. Here is a Quick Guide on the essentials of SDA. If you have any questions regarding SDA or if you have any participants that feel would benefit from us having a discussion about how SDA can work for them in partnership with an SDA provider have a chat with Richard.

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How does Guide You Home provide suitable SDA to your participants?

Guide You Home is our unique initiative that helps people through the SDA process to find them forever homes. Every participant and their support team will be assigned an SDA Specialist who will work closely with you to help manage the complex SDA process. Our aim is to build a bespoke home on land where the participants want to live. Throughout the design process, we will incorporate the participants needs not just by the NDIS design category but to include their current and future needs, hobbies/interests and preferences. Also, as it is our intention to own the SDA property, we can offer long term leases so our clients and their loved ones have peace of mind in their forever home.

Above all, it’s about designing a house that our clients can feel at home in.

Read more about our process: 7 Steps to Move Into Your New Home

How do they apply?

Who is eligible for SDA?

SDA is only designed for NDIS participants who have an extreme functional impairment and/or the highest physical support needs. Currently, only about 6% of NDIS participants (about 12,000 people) meet these requirements. Priority is given to young people who are either in aged care or who are at risk of entering aged care.

To be eligible for SDA funding, NDIA assessment staff must be able to answer ‘Yes’ to each of these three questions which are:

Does the applicant have an extreme functional impairment and/or very high support needs?
Does the applicant have an SDA needs requirement?
Is SDA reasonable and necessary for the applicant?

An SDA needs a requirement. If an applicant has an extreme functional impairment and/or very high support needs, NDIA assessment staff also need to be confident that SDA is the right long-term care option. They will consider whether SDA will reduce the applicant’s need for intensive one-on-one support and improve their quality of life, or whether there are other options.

For information on the four SDA Design Categories, read more here: What is the SDA Design Standard

Read more at Will I qualify for SDA?

How do they apply?

Applications for specialist disability accommodation (SDA) can be made by downloading, completing and lodging a Home and Living Supports Request Form. This form is available via the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) website.

We do recommend that if you are assisting your participant in this application process that you work with an OT that is experienced in SDA applications and has had helped individuals successfully qualify for SDA. Errors made during the application process can end up with a participants application being delayed, rejected or approved based on wrong assumptions.

Don’t know an OT? Reach out to Richard and we can see if we can help you in your search.

Read more at: How Do I Apply for SDA?

Guide to SDA pricing and payments

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Guide to SDA pricing and payments

SDA payments are based on age, location, and the features of the dwelling (including their SDA Design Category). You’ll be using the SDA Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2021-22, it was previously called the Price Guide for Specialist Disability Accommodation and you may hear people still using the old name. The NDIS has provided a helpful calculator that can assist you with calculating pricing and payments for your participant. You can find the latest version of the calculator on the SDA Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2021-22 page, at the bottom in their list of resources.

Location factors are really important in making the right calculations. Each location has a ‘factor’ that is used to increase the base price of their support to meet You’ll find this on the third tab of the calculator. If you aren’t using the calculator, when selecting the Design Category and then using the Base Price matrix, do not forget to multiply by the location factor. If your participants are looking at a range of suburbs that sit across two or more regions with different location factors, you should consider calculating based on the highest figure, when appropriate.

Reach out to Richard and we can see if we can help you in your search.