Email Alerts RSS Print page

Disability in New Zealand

You are here: Disability in NZ > Ministry-funded Services

Ministry-funded Services


Disability Support Services, part of the Health and Disability National Services Directorate, is one of a number of agencies who fund support and services for disabled people.

Ministry-funded disability support services include:


More information on the services:

Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination services (NASC)

NASCs are organisations contracted to the Ministry of Health to work with disabled people to help identify their needs and to outline what disability support services are available. They allocate Ministry-funded support services and assist with accessing other supports.

The Disability fact sheets and pamphlets page has downloadable information on NASC.

Disability Information Advisory Service (DIAS)

The Ministry of Health funds a number of organisations throughout the country to provide disability information and advice in the form of a DIAS. Some of these services are individual regional organisations while others provide information through a national network.

The Disability fact sheets and pamphlets page has downloadable information on DIAS.

Environmental Support Services (ESS)

Environmental Support Services are a range of services funded by the Ministry of Health.
Equipment and Modifications Service (EMS) – Equipment such as wheelchairs, hoists, hearing aids, cochlear implants, spectacles; housing modifications such as door widening, ramp access and level access showers; vehicle purchase and modifications
Hearing Services - Children’s Hearing Aids, Cochlear Implants, Hearing Aid Subsidy
Vision Services – Children’s Spectacle Subsidy, Contact Lens Subsidy,
Specialised Assessment Services - Wheelchair and Seating, Assistive Technology / Specialist Communication
Specialised Assessor Training - Wheelchair and Seating
Other supports - Wigs and Breast Prostheses, Artificial Eyes etc..can be found under Sector Services

Information on Equipment and Modifications

The Disability fact sheets and pamphlets page has downloadable information on Equipment and Modifications.

Disability Services manages a number of services in this area. The two service providers for equipment and modification services are:


Home and Community Support Services (HCSS)

Home and Community support services are one of a range of support services paid for by the Ministry of Health to help disabled people to live at home. HCSS include household management and personal care.
The Disability fact sheets and pamphlets page has more information on HCSS.

Individualised Funding

Individualised Funding (IF) is a way of paying for home and community support services which lets disabled people directly manage the resources they are allocated for disability supports.
View the IF Service Specification page

The Disability fact sheets and pamphlets page has more information on Individualised funding.

Respite and Carer Support

Respite services are one of a range of support services paid for by the Ministry of Health. Respite services are available to disabled people and to carers, family and whanau whose primary role involves the care and support of a disabled family member. Carer support is a subsidy funded by the Ministry of Health to assist the unpaid, full-time carer of a disabled person to take a break from caring for that person.

The Disability fact sheets and pamphlets page has more information on respite and carer support.

Carer Support Changes

An updated Carer Support Claim Form and How to Claim Carer Support leaflet will be introduced from the 11th of January 2010. You can download a copies of both below:
Full time carers will start to receive the updated claim form from the 11th of January 2010:

  • when a new allocation of Carer Support has been made for their client or
  • where a claim form for Carer Support has been processed and paid, and a claim form is sent out with the client's remaining Carer Support allocation.
These changes will:

  • improve the accuracy of the information that is needed to complete a claim form
  • simplify the claiming process for Carer Support claimants
  • ensure that Carer Support payments are GST compliant.
If you have any questions about these changes please contact your NASC or the Ministry of Health Contact Centre on 0800 281 222.

Child Development Services

Child Development Services are non-medical, multidisciplinary allied health and community based services. They focus on early intervention for pre-school children who have disabilities or who are not achieving developmental milestones. They also encourage and help each child to achieve their potential. They work with other agencies involved in providing services to children to ensure that the Child Development Service is integrated, easily accessible and that service links and boundaries are clear. The service provides specialist assessment, intervention and management services to ensure good rehabilitation/habilitation results for children who have an intellectual, sensory or physical disability.


Community Residential Support Services

Community residential support services are one of a range of support services funded by the Ministry of Health. These services assist disabled people to live in a supported community environment.


The disability fact sheets and pamphlets page has more information on community residential support services.


Rest home and private hospital services (for adults generally aged under 65 years)

See related service specifications on the Contracting processes and documents page - Rest home and private hospital services (for adults generally aged under 65 years)

Assessment and service delivery for people with intellectual disability who have high and complex needs

See related service specifications on the Contracting processes and documents page - Assessment and service delivery for people with intellectual disability who have high and complex needs


Behavioural Support Services

See related service specifications on the Contracting processes and documents page - Behavioural Support Services


Day services for people who have moved to the community from institutional care

See related service specifications on the Contracting processes and documents page - Day services for people who have moved to the community from institutional care

How can I access these services?

You can access most disability support services through NASC services. NASCs are agencies contracted to the Ministry of Health to assess the needs of disabled people, and co-ordinate services as required.

However, some services, including Disability Information and Advice Services , Environmental Support Services (equipment and other items), Child Development Services, and Inpatient Rehabilitation Services and can also be accessed directly.


Who is eligible and who pays for these services

The Ministry of Health funds disability support services for people with a physical, intellectual or sensory impairment or disability (or a combination of these) that is likely to continue for a minimum of six months and result in a reduction of independent function to the extent that ongoing support is required.

For specific information on eligibility for Ministry of Health disability funding, see the Ministry’s eligibility website or your local needs assessment and service co-ordination service.


Client contribution

Disability support services are largely free to those assessed as needing them, although consumers may pay part charges for some services. For example, there is a charge for some items of equipment and a person may be required to make a contribution to home modifications. Consumers do not pay for services such as needs assessment and service co-ordination, or personal care services.Disability support services are generally free for children up to the age of 16 or until they qualify for an invalid’s benefit. Some services are income and asset tested, for example people who have a Community Services Card do not pay for home help.


Which services are not funded by the Ministry of Health?

The Ministry of Health does not generally fund disability support services for people with:
  • personal health conditions such as diabetes or asthma
  • mental health and addiction conditions such as schizophrenia, severe depression or long-term addiction to alcohol and drugs
  • conditions more commonly associated with aging such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Disability support services are also not funded for most people with impairments such as paraplegia and brain injury caused by accident or injury. ACC has been responsible for funding these support services since 1974.

In most cases, District Health Boards fund disability support services for older people, including people with disability aged 65 and over assessed as requiring aged residential care, and those with mental health needs.
Page last updated: 8 August 2010


newzealand.govt.nz - connecting you to New Zealand central & local government services