Disability in New Zealand

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Housing Modifications for disabled people of all ages

Is it difficult for you to get around and do tasks in your home because of your disability?
If you need modifications to help you to remain in, or return to your home, the Ministry of Health may be able to help.

How can I get housing modifications?
An assessor (occupational therapist) completes an assessment of your needs, and with your help, identifies what modifications are needed for you to get in and around your home safely, or for you to be able to look after someone who depends on you.

Assessors can be contacted via your District Health Board, NASC agency (Needs Assessment Service Coordination), GP or phone 0800 17 1981. They can apply for funding for housing modifications for you from Accessable (if you live in Auckland or Northland) or Enable New Zealand (rest of New Zealand).

Who can get housing modifications?
If you live in New Zealand, are a New Zealand resident, and have a long-term disability which isn’t covered by ACC you may be able to get help with housing modifications through the Ministry of Health.

For housing modifications above a set limit, Work and Income NZ will work out if you have to pay part of these costs. This does not apply for housing modifications for children 15 years and under.

You cannot get funding for housing modifications that cost less than $200, modifications already done without funding approval, soft furnishings, general maintenance, or modifications to your home for work, social or economic reasons.

There is an upper limit on the amount of funding of $15,000 inc GST, that you can get towards access modifications to allow people to get in/out of their home, including moving between floors. This upper limit includes modifications such as ramps, platform lifts, through-floor lifts, but does not include other types of housing modifications such as door widening and level access showers.

Please note: Getting housing modifications through the Ministry of Health can take a long time. In most cases you can only get funding for modifications once, so think carefully about what you need now and in the future. Moving to a single storey house, getting useful equipment or help in the home through NASC should also be looked at before thinking of expensive housing modifications.

Types of housing modifications
Housing modifications might include:

handrails to help you use the steps into your house.
ramps to help you get into your home, particularly if you use a wheelchair.
level access showers/accessible bathrooms to help you use your bathroom safely and independently or with help from a carer.
fencing to safely support a person who is at risk of injury because of their disability. Funding is not available for the usual fencing and security needs of young children.

What do Accessable and Enable New Zealand do?
Accessable and Enable New Zealand receive applications from assessors. They check applications to make sure the occupational therapist has considered many support, equipment and housing modification options for you. This is so you get modifications, which are suitable and useful for you.

If your application is approved, housing modifications start in the following weeks or months depending on availability of funding, Income and Asset Testing (if required), contractors, building consents, and the urgency of each application.

The occupational therapist, and Accessable or Enable New Zealand, stay involved until the agreed modifications are completed.

For more information contact:
Accessable (Auckland/Northland)
Ph 0508 001 002
Fax 09 620 1702
www.accessable.co.nz

Enable New Zealand (rest of New Zealand)
Ph 0800 17 1981
Fax 06 353 5876
www.disabilityfunding.co.nz

Page last updated: 11 March 2010