Complex Care Group
FLEXIBLE USE OF CARER SUPPORT AND INDIVIDUALISED FUNDING TO CONTINUE BEYOND 1ST MARCH 2021 – NEWS JUST IN:
26 February 2021
To
The Disability Community and sector
Kia ora
The Disability Directorate of the Ministry of Health will continue flexibility of carer support and individualised funding for eligible people from 1 March 2021.
Carer Support is a subsidy to support full-time carers of disabled people to have a break (respite) from their caring responsibilities. Individualised Funding allows disabled people to directly manage their supports (personal cares, home management and respite).
This flexibility means that people can continue to buy the support appropriate for them within guidelines, instead of being limited by the rules on what support funding can be used for. You can find the guidelines of what you can buy here https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/what-people-can-buy-disability-funding-ministry-health-purchasing-guidelines
This initiative is proving very popular with many positive examples of how disabled people are using this flexibility to improve their lives, and allowing their whānau to get a break.
Please email customerservice@health.govt.nz or phone 0800 855 066 option 4 if you have any questions.
Ngâ mihi
Adri Isbister
Deputy Director-General
Disability
Ministry of Health