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/ Back to home / Parent support / Disabilities or chronic conditions - support / Financial help when your child has a disability or chronic condition
Financial help when your child has a disability or chronic conditionDisclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child. What financial help can you get?Financial support may be available because of your child’s special needs. Information brochures and application forms are available from your nearest Work and Income branch – see their contact details below. Information and forms may also be available from your social worker, paediatrician, child development service or early intervention team.
The following are some of the types of benefits that may be available. You might wish to discuss your eligibility for these allowances with your health professional, social worker, or NASC (Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination) Service.
You may find the following fact sheet on this website helpful:
 Back to TopChild Disability AllowanceThis is a non-taxable, non-means-tested allowance for the parent or guardian of a dependent child who has a serious disability. It is paid because of the extra care that may be needed by a child who has a physical, sensory, psychiatric or intellectual disability. To receive the allowance, parents / carers need to be New Zealand residents.
You need a Child Disability Allowance application form. Your doctor (general practitioner or paediatrician) should complete the medical section which includes questions on your child’s entitlement to the allowance.
For current rates or other questions, contact Work and Income on 0800 559 009. The Work and Income website provides the following:
Back to TopChildcare SubsidyThis helps families to pay for their pre-school children to go to an Early Childhood Service, for example:
If you get the Child Disability Allowance for your child, you can receive the Childcare Subsidy until your child reaches six years of age. You may be able to receive help with up to 50 hours of childcare a week.
This subsidy is paid on an income-related basis (it depends on how much you and your partner earn). Where one child in a family is receiving the Child Disability Allowance, the requirement for both parents to be working is waived.
Phone Work and Income on 0800 559 009 for more information or see the Work and Income website for:
Back to TopCommunity Services CardThe Community Services Card allows you to get discounts on doctors’ fees and prescriptions. If you have not received one, and think you should have, please phone Work and Income on 0800 999 999.
You can also visit the Work and Income website for information on:
Back to TopDisability AllowanceThis is an allowance in addition to the Child Disability Allowance. It reimburses people for ongoing regular costs associated with having a disability that is expected to last six months or longer. The allowance is non-taxable and income tested. The amount you are paid depends on your costs. There is a limit to how much you can claim per week.
Some costs might be:
You must be caring for the child who has the disability. The Disability Allowance requires your doctor to sign an application form. You will need to submit receipts for your ongoing costs with your application, and then annually after that.
Ask your healthcare worker for a form.
You can also phone Work and Income on 0800 559 009 or visit the Work and Income website for further information: Back to TopMobility Parking Permit schemeThis scheme provides people with Mobility Parking Spaces. Information and application forms can be obtained from the CCS website or your local CCS branch. Call CCS free on 0800 227 200.
Back to TopOther Work and Income assistanceWork and Income has a wide range of assistance available to people in a variety of circumstances. If you have costs that you can’t meet on your own, contact Work and Income on 0800 559 009. They may be able to offer further help.
Back to TopReview rights with Work and IncomeYou can ask for a Work and Income decision to be reviewed if you don't agree with it. Work and Income have forms available for you to use or you can write to them (call 0800 559 009 for local contact details). You generally need to do this within three months of the decision that you would like reviewed. When there is good reason for a delay, a review may be possible after this time. For more information about the review process, contact Work and Income on 0800 559 009.
Back to TopTravel and accommodation costsMany of the costs you incur while attending treatment for your child
 are able to be reimbursed under the NTA (National Travel Assistance) Scheme. If eligible, you will receive assistance towards your travel and possibly your accommodation costs.There is a Ministry of Health pamphlet (at right) which sets out the eligibility criteria for the Scheme and explains how to go about making a claim. You can also check the Ministry of Health website for:
For clarification of any aspects of this policy, or for information on claiming for travel and accommodation costs, please contact your hospital social worker or call the Ministry of Health’s travel assistance help line on 0800 281 222 (press 2).
Back to TopGrantsApplication may be made to organisations such as the New Zealand Lotteries Commission, Halberg Trust and the Variety Club for assistance for vehicle modification, sporting activities or specialised equipment. Please contact your needs assessment facilitator, health professional, social worker in the community, or ward social worker if your child is an inpatient, for information on these options.
Back to TopRespite care and carer supportYou may be eligible to have some relief care for a number of days each year. Usually, this is money paid to an informal carer that you choose. This is called carer support.
In some cases, where there is severe disability, there may also be access to some respite provided for your child in a facility. This is called respite care and needs to be assessed by a NASC (Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination) Service. Ask your social worker for assistance or call HealthPAC, the Ministry of Health’s help line on 0800 281 222 (press 2).
YOu may find the following fact sheet on this website helpful:
Back to TopSpectacles SubsidySome children with a disability may receive some help towards the cost of glasses.
 If your child has a vision problem, there is a Spectacles Subsidy which can help with the costs of your child's:
The subsidy is available for:
For more information about this subsidy:
Back to TopTotal Mobility schemeYou may be able to apply for travel assistance, in the form of a discount on taxi fares, through the Total Mobility scheme. This service is provided by local and regional councils. To find out if you qualify, speak to your social worker or contact your local or regional council. You can also call Enable free on 0800 171 981 for contact details for your local council.
Back to TopExtra AssistanceCheck the following kidsheath fact sheet to see if there's any other help you may be entitled to:
Back to TopWhere to go for more informationOn this website
Disability Funding Info website
Provides information about Ministry of Health funding for people with disability related needs. Includes information on specialised equipment and housing modifications including eligibility, how to apply, what is funded and how the funding process works. The Disability Funding Info website is maintained by Enable New Zealand. Call Enable free on 0800 171981.
Website: http://www.disabilityfunding.co.nz/ Enable New Zealand
A multiservice organisation assisting disabled people and their families. Call free on 0800 171 981 Websites: http://www.enable.co.nz/ and http://www.weka.net.nz/
Inland Revenue Contact Inland Revenue to find out if you qualify for any payment under the Working for Familes package. Call free on 0800 227 773 Website: http://www.ird.govt.nz/ Work and Income
Contact Work and Income to ask what financial support you are entitled to. Call free on 0800 559 009. Website: http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/
Your health professional
Information and forms may also be available from your GP (general practitioner), needs assessment facilitator, social worker, paediatrician, or an early intervention centre. Back to TopAcknowledgementsEnable New Zealand. “Parenting special needs children: Manawatu, Horowhenua, Tararua.” Enable New Zealand 2004.
Thanks to Maureen Anderson and Robyn O’Neill for permission to reproduce some of the content from their booklet “Waikato specialist services for special kids: A directory for carers of children with special needs”. Hamilton Printing Works 2005.
Back to TopYour notesEndorsement
This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 01/11/2009
CopyrightFact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation. © The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2012
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