complete the form and update any costs listed on it for your Disability Allowance, gather receipts for any new or increased costs. Check their website for more information about: Free information and advice is also provided by Disability Information Advisory Services (DIAS) to disabled people, their families/whānau and caregivers. To get the Disability Allowance, you must have a disability, impairment or illness that: To apply, you also need to be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who normally lives in New Zealand and plans to stay here. If ACC does not cover your injury or disability, you may get a benefit or allowance from Work and Income. If you have not applied for help from Work and Income before, you need to give them personal information first. We have an agreement with New Zealand that allows New Zealand citizens living in Australia to claim the following payments: Age Pension; Disability Support Pension if you're severely disabled; Carer Payment if you're the partner of a disability support pensioner. You can collect forms or get general information from a service centre without making an appointment. New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) isn’t income-tested or asset-tested, except that if you have a partner aged … Our families, whānau, friends, carers and supporters are an important part of our community. Disability Allowance is a means-tested payment for people with a specified disability whose income falls below certain limits and who are aged between 16 and are under 66. Work and Income reviews your Disability Allowance for any changes that relate to your circumstances. They can ask for receipts for any new or increased costs. A productivity allowance is only considered after all other support services have been provided, including physical supports relevant to your disability. Does the person have a disability that meets the Disability Allowance criteria? travel for health reasons or because of your disability. A guide to applying online for financial assistance. If you have any queries or want to make an appointment with Work and Income, you can contact them online, by phone or in person. As part of this, you also need to set up a RealMe account. You also need to ask your doctor to confirm any costs for new items or services you want to include in your Disability Allowance. Māori and Pasifika are also more likely to live in poverty, which means they should be more likely to qualify for the Disability Allowance because the allowance … Child disability allowance in NZ The Child Disability Allowance is paid to the principal carer of a dependent child or young person under the age of 18 years with a serious disability. There is no income test and the benefit is not taxable. If you want to go ahead and apply, go to https://my.msd.govt.nz or call 0800-559-009 or 0800-552-002 if you are over 65. It is not paid to cover any ongoing additional costs associated with the child or young person's particular disability (i.e. It recognises the extra care and attention provided. Commons 4.0 International Licence, Your browser currently has JavaScript turned off, Some of the additional payments and allowances you might qualify for aren’t income-tested (for example, the Child Disability Allowance) – we explain this below. Most people talk to their doctor or health practitioner about what they need before they apply for the Disability Allowance. clothes or shoes that are made-to-measure or wear out more quickly because of your disability, eg from using a wheelchair or an artificial limb. The Disability Allowance is for people who have an ongoing disability that is likely to last at least six months and who need help with everyday tasks or ongoing medical care. If you’re 65 or over, you can use the online contact form to make an appointment. means you need ongoing help or medical care as a result. 'Disability Allowance' SW 29 The main provisions relating to Disability Allowance are contained in Chapter 10 (PART 3) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as amended, and Chapt… You can also apply online at studylink.govt.nz Find the best way to finance your future studylink.govt.nz If you, or a family member has a health condition, injury or disability lasting more than six months, you may be Commons 4.0 International Licence, directly related to your disability or illness. other health treatments if they are approved by a doctor, and provided or supervised by a registered health practitioner, eg a chiropractor, osteopath or acupuncturist. This allowance can be paid for both children under 18 years and adults. Use the checklist to get an overview. If you receive another benefit, including NZ Super, your Disability Allowance is added to that benefit. Commons 4.0 International Licence, Your browser currently has JavaScript turned off, Your Disability Allowance is usually paid straight into your bank account. Use the Disability Allowance Application if you are already getting a payment from Work and Income. It can help pay for things like regular visits to the doctor, prescriptions, travel because of ill health or disability and hearing aid batteries. Speak normally – it will listen to you and understand what you want to do. It's easy to turn JavaScript on -, New Zealand Government | Te Kawanatanga o Aotearoa, find out how to enable JavaScript in your browser, Financial help for people with a disability or illness, Government help with healthcare if you’re over 65, Lottery grants for people with disabilities, types of household management and personal care, Creative If you receive another benefit, including NZ Super, your Disability Allowance is added to that benefit. The Disability Allowance is a benefit that you can apply for through Work and Income. which means that Govt.nz might not display properly on your device. how to apply for yourself or on behalf of someone else. Find statistics about disabled children and adults living in New Zealand. The amounts are reviewed every year on 1 April. When you’re getting the Disability Allowance The Disability Allowance is a type of extra help available from Work and Income to help with the ongoing extra costs associated with having a disability. You don’t have to be on a benefit to qualify for a Disability Allowance. If you’re sick or injured or have a disability, the main benefit you should apply for is the Supported Living Payment. You only get an allowance for the items you claim for. equipment and supplies related to your illness or disability. Contact Work and Income online, by phone or in person to tell them. Most people talk to their doctor or health practitioner about what they need before they apply for the Disability Allowance. 2. heating — provide your electricity bills, or if you have an interview with Work and Income, you may be able to show them your power usage online. The normal extension is 10 working days and you need a good reason to ask for one. Only contact Work and Income if you need to update the information in the letter about your circumstances. Commons 4.0 International Licence, extra doctors’, specialists’ and hospital fees you have to pay because of your disability, eg physiotherapy, audiology, podiatry or dental services, prescription charges for subsidised medicines you use regularly, rental and monitoring of a medical alarm, including the cost of the phone connection, if your life or health would be at risk, or your disability would be worse without it, special foods if you, and your doctor or dietician agree that you need them to manage your disability, eg vitamins, supplements, herbal remedies and minerals, counselling fees and transport for up to 10 sessions, or more if clinically necessary. Your Disability Allowance and any other benefits you receive stop if you do not send the form back in time. What is the nature of the person’s disability? If you have a good reason for not completing your application within 20 days, contact Work and Income to ask for an extension. Statistics NZ yesterday released the annual child poverty statistics. Disability impacts on many non-disabled people too. You may also be able to get a separate Disability Allowance to cover ongoing disability costs (see below, “Help with ongoing disability costs: Disability Allowance”). The low employment rates of disabled people represent a significant loss of potential contribution to New Zealand’s economy. Find out about allowances or benefits from ACC, Work and Income or Veterans’ Affairs for people who can’t work due to a long-term disability or illness. It's easy to turn JavaScript on -, New Zealand Government | Te Kawanatanga o Aotearoa, If you get NZ Super or a Veteran’s Pension, find out how to enable JavaScript in your browser, Financial help for people with a disability or illness, Government help with healthcare if you’re over 65, Lottery grants for people with disabilities, Creative Disability Allowance Application Form (PDF 153KB). If you want to go ahead and apply, go to https://my.msd.govt.nz or call 0800-559-009 or 0800-552-002 if you are over 65. Ask Work and Income if you’re not sure what costs you can claim. If your disability is the result of an accident, then your care is covered by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). The Disability Allowance is currently paid up to a maximum of $65.36 per week for adults (as at 1.4.20) to contribute to the cost of your counselling. Take your completed form and receipts to the meeting. Work and Income take the opportunity to review your Disability Allowance when you contact them to let them know your circumstances have changed. The gateway to our resources on NZ Super including some of the most common questions we get asked. Disability Allowance: The Disability Allowance is for people who have ongoing extra costs because of a disability or illness. If you were getting Disability Allowance before 26 September 2007 and you were still in payment on 26 September 2007, your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant's earnings will be assessed under the new means assessment to find out whether you are better off. Your review date may be different if you have a younger partner included in your NZ Super payment. There are extra steps if you’re claiming for a medical alarm or counselling. Disability Allowance. Ask your doctor to list the costs you want to claim for and complete the Disability Certificate part of the form. Yes u Please provide details below: No u Please go to Registered Medical Practitioner Verification 3. Disacility allowance is a weekly payment for people who have regular, ongoing costs because of a disability, like visits to the doctor or hospital, medicines, extra clothing or travel. In all other cases it depends on how much you, and your partner if you have one, earn. Child disability allowance: NZ$42.94 a week is paid. The scheme was introduced on 2 October 1996 and replaced the Disabled Person's Maintenance Allowance which was administered by the Health Boards. Your Disability Allowance is usually paid straight into your bank account. If you need to find out about tax and retirement, you can go to: Tax and retirement on the Govt.nz website. It provides a weekly payment to assist with certain types of medical costs, such as unsubsidised doctor, specialist or hospital visits, prescriptions and counselling, as well as ongoing costs, like travel, clothing, heating and medical alarms. transport to regular health appointments for treatment of your disability, eg travel to your doctor or a counsellor, extra travel costs of a one-off visit to a doctor, hospital, specialist or counsellor, the costs of getting to and from day care if you’re 65 years or older. Disability Allowance. take the form to your doctor so they can renew your Disability Certificate — they’ll also need to approve any new or increased costs. Contact Work and Income immediately if you need an extension — for example, you’ve been in hospital or are travelling overseas with Work and Income’s approval. Grants and scholarships Grants, awards, scholarships and fundraising options available to disabled children, young people and adults in New Zealand. is likely to last at least 6 months — it can be less if you are in the last stages of a terminal illness. It is added to your benefit and paid into your bank account. agreed to by your doctor or another registered health practitioner, like a physiotherapist or an optometrist. If you do not contact Work and Income, your Disability Allowance continues to be paid at the same rate. To make an appointment online you need to register and set up MyAccount on the Work and Income website. For further information phone Work and Income: Unless indicated otherwise, all content on Govt.nz is licensed for re-use under a Creative Freephone 0800 552 002, if you’re 65 or older. You’ll usually qualify if you’re already on a benefit, except NZ Super or a Veteran’s Pension. They send you either a ‘Confirming your Circumstances’ review form or an ‘Annual Circumstances’ letter. The maximum payment is currently $65.36 per week , but this guide explains how your specific entitlement is calculated. The Human Rights Act has a full definition in section 21(1)(h). The Disability Allowance helps to pay for extra costs relating to: Check with your doctor to find out which costs you can claim. For more information on who can get it, what you can get and how to apply visit the Disability Allowance – … For everything you need to know about COVID-19, go to covid19.govt.nz. People don’t have to be on a benefit to qualify for a Disability Allowance. A doctor or registered health practitioner must approve the costs you claim. When you call, the system will ask you what you are calling about. There is no income test and the benefit is not taxable. This is a guide only. Work and Income reviews your Disability Allowance every year. the cost of day care, if you’re 65 or older. CCS Disability Action is the largest pan-disability support and advocacy organisation in New Zealand. Disability Allowance checklist. You’ve got a serious illness, injury or disability. If you get NZ Super or a Veteran’s Pension, those payments continue and only Disability Allowance payments stop. doctor’s or medical fees — keep the receipt or invoice showing the date, cost and reason for your visit, keep your ticket or receipt showing the date, cost and how you travelled, if you travelled by car, supply the cc rating of your car and how far you travelled, ask your chemist for a print-out of your medications including the date, cost and if they are subsidised, or. You will need to complete a Child Disability Allowance application form (PDF, 178KB). Find a Work and Income Service Centre or Community Link, Unless indicated otherwise, all content on Govt.nz is licensed for re-use under a Creative You can also contact Work and Income to ask for advice. For most people the review happens around the anniversary of starting their pension. Work and Income reviews your Disability Allowance 6 months after you start receiving the Supported Living Payment. You must tell Work and Income about any changes that may affect your payments, like changes in your living situation or income. Check with Work and Income about what expenses you can claim for. A review of ‘Full and correct benefit entitlements’ in the 2009 ENHANCE The Ministry of Health website has information about the services they fund to help you live at home. supplies that you need to manage your disability, including. Invalid, Sickness, Domestic Purposes), you will usually qualify for a Disability Allowance. Use the Extra Help Application if this is the first time you’ve applied. For everything you need to know about COVID-19, go to covid19.govt.nz. For example, it may be that your disability or illness means your power or heating bills are higher than for a household of the same size. The reveal small achievements and big shortcomings, writes Janet McAllister from Child … Work and Income usually pay you from the date you first contact them if they get your completed application within 20 working days of that date. Step 1 - Fill out the form. Apply for Child Disability Allowance only. If the Disability Allowance is the only government help you’re getting, you get paid weekly. The Disability Allowance is paid at a variable rate up to a maximum rate (based on what extra ongoing disability costs are identified), the Child Disability Allowance is a … other travel you have to pay for — this can include everyday activities such as shopping, job training and getting to work. The Disability Allowance helps to cover the extra costs of medical help, equipment, transport and running your home when you have an ongoing disability or illness. We have a long, proud history of working in partnership with disabled people, families and whānau to provide dedicated and flexible support services. For more information go to workandincome.govt.nz and search on Disability Allowance. Disability Action. New Zealand's disability allowances are failing disabled children. However, when it comes to disability benefits, New Zealand has strict specifications for eligibility. If you need to talk to Work and Income about your situation, then you’ll need to make an appointment first. Disability Allowance is a weekly payment for people who have regular, ongoing costs because of a disability, such as visits to the doctor or hospital, medicines, extra clothing or travel. SuperLife insurance puts you in control. SuperLife lets you decide how much you will receive should you become disabled or too sick to work (“benefit level”), how long you have to be off work before payments begin (“waiting period”), and how long it is payable while you are disabled (“benefit period”). For children with disabilities, there are two benefits under the law – the Child Disability Allowance … More About Us If you have an online account with Work and Income, you can log in to ask for help or manage your payments. which means that Govt.nz might not display properly on your device. You can ask for forms or make an appointment at the same time. You can apply for a Disability Allowance on someone else's behalf, but only if they've filled out a form to appoint you as their agent. It is not taxed and is paid directly to your bank account. To receive the allowance, you need to be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident. The Child Disability Allowance is a non-taxable payment made to the main carer of a child or young person under the age of 18 years with a serious disability.