Who pays what in SDA
Living in SDA involves three separate costs. The NDIS pays your SDA provider the SDA funding in your plan, which covers the specialist design of the home. You pay the provider a reasonable rent contribution from your own income. And you pay your own day to day living costs.
Support in the home, such as Supported Independent Living, is a different thing again. It is funded separately in your plan and often comes from a different provider.
How the rent cap is worked out
If you get the Disability Support Pension, your reasonable rent contribution cannot be more than:
- 25% of the basic rate of the Disability Support Pension
- plus 25% of any Pension Supplement you receive
- plus 25% of any Youth Disability Supplement you receive
- plus all the Commonwealth Rent Assistance you receive
If you do not get the Disability Support Pension
The same cap still applies, based on the pension rate rather than your own income. If you work and do not get the pension, your rent contribution cannot be more than 25% of the basic rate of the Disability Support Pension plus all the Commonwealth Rent Assistance you receive.
The caps move when pension rates change, usually in March and September each year. Check the current rates on the Services Australia website.
Commonwealth Rent Assistance
Commonwealth Rent Assistance is an extra payment from Services Australia for people on certain payments who pay rent. Because the whole amount you receive is passed on as part of your rent contribution, make sure you have told Services Australia about your rent so you get it. Ask your SDA provider for a rent statement if you need one.
Costs that are not rent
The rent contribution does not cover everyday living costs. These are usually paid by you, whatever your support arrangements:
- Food and groceries, often shared with housemates through a household kitty
- Electricity, gas, water usage and internet
- Phone, clothing, personal items and entertainment
- Contents insurance for your own belongings
Checking your agreement
Your SDA provider should give you a written agreement that states the rent, how it is calculated, how often you pay, and how increases are handled. Residential tenancy or SDA residency laws in your state or territory also apply, including notice rules for rent increases.
If the rent looks higher than the cap, ask the provider to show the calculation. An advocate or your support coordinator can help you raise it.