Advocacy, Law & Government
Financial support
Work and Income NZ (WINZ)
The focus of this website is to provide information for people who use, or may use, the Department's services. There is information about finding work, getting income support or employing a job seeker - along with links to online vacancy and job seeker listings.
ALLOWANCES AND ENTITLEMENTS 2002
Department of Work and Income
Application forms for these benefits are available from your local WINZ office.
Invalid Benefit
Available to people 16 years or over, who are totally blind, or permanently or severely restricted in their capacity for work due to an illness, injury or disability from accident or birth defect. To be granted an Invalid Benefit the applicant must be permanently and severely restricted in their capacity to work. This benefit is medically tested, and paid fortnightly by direct credit, into a bank account. The current rate of payment for a single person aged 16 to 17 years is $156.33, per week, after tax. For a single person over the age of 18 is $193.18 per week, after tax. There is a residency requirement of 10 years.
Child Disability Allowance (formerly called Handicapped Child Allowance)
The Child Disability Allowance is available to people looking after a child with a serious physical or mental disability at home. To qualify for the allowance your child needs a serious intellectual disability or a physical disability and needs constant care (more than is needed for another child of the same age without the disability) and is likely to need that care and attention for longer than 12 months.
The payment is made to the child’s principal caregiver, usually by direct credit, fortnightly, into a bank account.
This allowance is medically tested, but not means tested and is not taxable. The current rate of payment is $34.18 per week.
Disability Allowance
The Disability Allowance is a supplementary allowance for people with a disability on a low income or who receive a benefit. It is paid because there are regular, on-going costs because of the disability or a personal health need, and these will continue for a minimum of 6 months. These costs must be actual costs incurred because of the disability and provable, i.e. you must be able to show receipts.
There may be special travel costs, special clothing, medicines or diet, or help with the regular costs of visits to the doctor, hospital or treatment.
Some examples of the expenses, which may be considered, are:
- Doctor/specialist Fees - incurred because of the disability, not for regular medical visits
- Transport to the Doctor/Specialist/hospital - usually bus fares are allowed, or you can claim mileage if you use your own car
- Prescription surcharge (if not covered by Health Benefit)
- Special Food - e.g. if you have to transfer your baby to a milk formula because the baby can’t be breast-fed.
- Equipment - if you need to hire a breast pump, because your baby cannot breast feed.
- Lawn mowing
- Medical alarm costs
This benefit is means tested - for a child less than 16 years, the parent’s income is tested. For a married couple with children, the cut off figure of entitlement is $32,448 pa. For a single parent with one child the cut off is $27,144 pa.
The maximum rate is $45.35 per week.
Community Services Card
For families and individuals on a low or medium income to give cheaper costs for visits to doctors, specialists, hospitals and for prescription charges. Issued automatically to families receiving benefits or to children receiving the Child Disability Allowance.
Childcare Subsidy
A Childcare Subsidy of more than 9 hours a week may be available where a parent is seriously disabled or ill or where a child is receiving a Child Disability Allowance. This subsidy usually finishes when the child turns 5, but where the child is in receipt of the Child Disability Allowance the subsidy can continue to be paid while the child is under 6 and not attending school.
To qualify you must be the main caregiver, legally resident in New Zealand and your child must attend a licensed childcare centre. The subsidy is paid directly to the childcare centre.
Special Benefit
A Special Benefit is a discretionary benefit that provides assistance to people whose particular financial circumstances are causing them financial hardship. A person does not need to be receiving a benefit to qualify for a special benefit. The grant of this benefit is discretionary, however generally people must meet a cash asset test, have an ongoing substantial deficit between income and expenditure, have expenses which are essential and not reasonable avoidable and have no other means of financial assistance. There is no maximum amount payable. A special benefit is a non-taxable allowance and there is no time limit on the special benefit as long as the payment continues to be justified.
Ministry of Health
Prescription Subsidy Card
For any family where more than 20 prescription items have been paid for in any one year. No further prescription charges or a reduced rate should then be paid in that year, except for those medicines for which everyone always paid the full cost.
High Use Health Card
For an individual with a chronic condition that involves more than 12 consultations per year with the doctor, consultant or outpatient services in a hospital. This card entitles the holder to reduced charges on doctor’s visits and prescription charges.
Carer Support
This is an allowance paid to an alternative caregiver, at the family’s request. It is allocated in "days" which families use for relief/respite care. A Needs Assessment is required to access Carer Support.
Home Based Support
A Needs Assessment is required to access Home Support. This may be short or long-term assistance and may include things like assistance with dressing, bathing and other personal care, or may provide support for access to community activities or may provide assistance with developmental programmes.
Spectacles Subsidy for Children under 6
This subsidy is available to children under 6 years of age. The children must have a disability, hold a Community Services Card, or the family have a High Use Health Card and have undergone a professional eye examination with the outcome being a prescription for glasses, exercises, patching or no intervention required. The subsidy is currently $225 (including GST) per year. Enable New Zealand administers the subsidy on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
Ministry of Education
School Boarding Assistance
Boarding bursaries may be made available to pupils who require special education which is not available at their local school or in the vicinity of their home; or to pupils who do not require enrolment in a special school, class or unit, are seriously at risk in their educational, social or emotional development because of important, continuing unsatisfactory features in their home and or social environment.
School Transport
Students with special needs can receive assistance. This assistance may be in the form of a conveyance allowance, a school bus service, public transport allowance or travel in a taxi, depending on the circumstances. Assistance is approved depending on the cost and availability of suitable bus and taxi services.
There are only two criteria: Safety and/or Mobility.
Application forms are in three parts, a section for the parent/caregiver to complete a section for SES and the school fundholder to complete and the last section to be completed by the School Transport Service Agent.
Parents/caregivers must sign the application. Each request is individually assessed against the two criteria of safety and mobility and is reviewed at least annually.
Assistance with non-school transport
Transport and Travel
Any child under the age of 16 who has a disability and qualifies for a Child Disability Allowance, is automatically eligible to receive assistance without having to meet any further criteria provided they are attending services directly related to that disability.
Claims can be made for visits to specialists, assessments, treatment, therapy and for accommodation and meals while your child is in hospital or attending therapy appointments directly related to that disability. Travel and accommodation assistance is only available for one support person and up to defined limits. The same forms need to be completed as are outlined below for young people over the age of 16 and adults. Receipts are necessary for all claims, except mileage claims.
If you are over the age of 16, then there are strict criteria for access to travel and accommodation assistance. These criteria may differ slightly between different regions, but in general, you must:
- Have been referred by a health professional or specialist to another health professional or specialist or to a particular treatment or service; and the referral to attend that service must relate directly to the disability, illness or condition.
- Have a Referral made by your doctor; a hospital based doctor, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, psychologist, speech language therapist or NASC service coordinator.
- Be a child must be under the age of 16 or an adult who holds a community services card.
- Be required to travel at least 6 times within a 12 month period from the date of the first appointment.
- Live a return journey of at least 60 minutes or 80 kms from the hospital or service provider.
What you may claim for varies depending on which area of New Zealand you live in, what transport is available and most practical for your needs. The person making the referral or your nearest Ministry of Health Office or hospital, should be able to tell you the eligibility criteria for your area.
Two separate forms are required. The first is available from the referring doctor or service: Travel and Accommodation Authorisation, and the second from the hospital or service provider: Appointment Attendance and Claim. Both forms must be completed and signed and sent off together. Keep your receipts, as these must be sent at the same time as both forms.
The first time you apply for this assistance you will also be asked to complete a Client Details Form. This will be provided by the person referring you for services and will be sent on by them. Once the Ministry of Health have received your first Client Details Form and your Travel and Accommodation Authorisation you will be issued with an authorisation number to quote on future Appointment and Attendance Claim forms.
Total Mobility
Where no suitable transport is available, you may qualify for Total Mobility. This offers discounted taxi vouchers. Information and application forms for the Total Mobility Scheme are available from your regional authority, DPA or local community support organizations.
Mobility Parking Scheme
This scheme provides designated parking spaces for people with disabilities. Designated spaces can only be used while the person with mobility difficulties is using the vehicle. Application forms are available from New Zealand CCS and require signing by your family doctor. Mobility Permits for display in the vehicle window cost $35 for a long-term permit (up to 5 years) and $20 for a permit lasting a maximum of 12 months.
Not all benefits and allowances are listed on this flyer, e.g. the Training Incentive Allowance and School Holiday programmes.
There are other forms of assistance available from the
Departments of Work and Income; and Child, Youth and Family; the Ministry of Education and Needs Assessment Agencies.
These agencies need to be approached directly for information and assistance.