When can I claim for assistance towards travelling costs

National Travel Assistance (NTA) Scheme
When can I claim for assistance towards travelling costs?

If you are referred for treatment by your publicly funded health or disability specialist (not a GP) to another publicly funded specialist and can answer ‘yes’ to one or more of the following questions, you maybe eligible to claim assistance after 1 January 2006.

1. Do you travel more than:

80 km one way per visit (for a child)?
350 km one way per visit (for an adult)?

2. Do you visit a specialist 22 or more times in two months?

3. Do you visit a specialist six or more times in six months?

25 km one way per visit (for a child)?
50 km one way per visit (for an adult)?

4. Are you a Community Services Card holder and travel more than:

25 km one way per visit (for a child)?
80 km one way per visit (for an adult)?

Please note that:

a child is anyone younger than 18 years of age at the time of treatment
if you receive, or are eligible for travel assistance from another provider such as ACC, Work and Income, Ministry of Transport, or Ministry of Education, you may not be eligible for assistance under the National Travel Assistance Scheme.
Mileage is calculated from the client's residential address to the attending facility/hospital treating department via the shortest practical route.
When claiming for either;
- 22 or more visits to a specialist in two months
OR
- six or more visits to a specialist in six months, and travel more than 25km one way (Child), 50km one way (Adult), per visit. Please either wait until the minimum number of visits required have been attended before submitting your first claim.