APPENDIX H: The Little-Known SDA Rule Keeping Families Together
For many NDIS participants, moving into Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) used to mean leaving their loved ones behind, along with the stability and familiarity of life in the family home.
Happily, the introduction of Appendix H into the NDIS pricing structure means this no longer has to be the case.
Now NDIS participants can retain their SDA funding while living at home with their spouse, parents, partner or other primary carer.
Appendix H is a hugely important addition to the NDIS, but it is still relatively new. Many people don’t know that Appendix H even exists, let alone what it could mean for their living arrangements.
So here’s the GR8 guide to Appendix H to answer some key questions.
What is Appendix H and why does it matter?
Appendix H is a little-known arrangement under the SDA rules that adjusts the funding for shared homes so that participants can live with their family.
Before the introduction of Appendix H, participants had very few options. They essentially had to choose between living in a home-for-one or sharing a home with others who had SDA funding.
Appendix H has changed all that. It offers NDIS participants the best of both worlds by adjusting the funding for shared homes to accommodate people without SDA funding.
It means participants can live in a purpose-built SDA home and still be with their loved ones.
The benefits are many, including:
· Stronger family units.
· Greater support and emotional wellbeing.
· Independence and comfort in familiar surroundings.
· Tailored care and support from loved ones.
Who can use Appendix H?
Appendix H is designed for NDIS participants with SDA funding who wish to live with someone who does not qualify for SDA. This could include a partner or spouse, a parent or other family member who isn’t eligible under SDA rules.
The goal is to support family units and give participants more freedom and choice over their living arrangements.
How do I apply for Appendix H?
Here’s the catch.
Appendix H isn’t offered automatically. It is up to individual participants to request it in their NDIS application.
Hopefully, as awareness of Appendix H grows, more advocates and disability housing providers like GR8 will be asking participants: Do you know what Appendix H is and might you need it?”
It could be the difference between the heartbreak of a family separated or the joy of a family moving into a purpose-built SDA home together.
How can GR8 help?
A disability housing provider such as GR8 can help you apply for Appendix H as part of your NDIS application.
If you don’t have a quote from an SDA provider, it can be tricky to know how much Appendix H funding you might receive, so GR8 can help you navigate this too. Our aim is to alleviate as much of the stress and uncertainty as possible.
And as a leading provider of high-quality disability housing, GR8 has access to some of the best family-ready homes purpose-designed for NDIS participants in Western Australia.
If you’d like to explore the choices Appendix H offers you, the GR8 team is ready to guide you through every step of the process, from handling the paperwork, to finding a home perfect for you – and your family.
