Financial help for people with a disability or illness
If you have a disability or illness you may be able to get an allowance, subsidy or loan to help with your expenses. Financial assistance is available for all citizens.
Help at home
Home modifications
Modifications, like hand rails or a ramp, can improve safety and help you manage more easily in your home. You may be able to get some or all of the costs of home modifications paid for.
Breaks for carers
Carer Support helps full-time carers to take a break. ‘Full-time’ means providing more than 4 hours per day of unpaid care for someone with a disability or illness.
This could be help with care so the carer can take a break or make certain purchases that provide respite for the carer, such as noise-cancelling headphones or a tablet computer.
Help at work
Workplace modifications
You may be able to get help through Job Support Funds for workplace modifications or equipment. This can be for things like ramps, handrails or visual aids.
Modifications to your workplace — Work and Income
Employment programmes
The Mainstream Employment Programme can help you into employment. An employment service provider works with you and employers to try to find or create a job that suits your skills and capabilities.
The funding is for 1 year and goes to your employer to help pay your wages. There is also funding for training outside of work and for getting specialised equipment.
Transport and getting around
A mobility parking permit means you can use mobility parking spaces. These parks are wider and closer to venues than regular parks. When you apply, your medical practitioner needs to confirm you’re eligible.
Mobility parking — ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz
You may be able to get help with vehicle modifications, or possibly a new vehicle. You’ll need to talk to an occupational therapist first. They’ll do an assessment to see what help you need.
Vehicle modification funding — Disability Support Services
Taxis and specialist transport can help you take part in your community. Total Mobility is a scheme run by regional councils to subsidise door-to-door transport services.
Total Mobility — NZ Transport Agency
You may be able to get some help with mobility to be more involved in your community. Grants funded by Lotto can provide help such as, mobility scooters or vehicles.
Lottery Individuals with Disabilities — Community Matters
Civilian Amputee Assistance pays for the cost of you getting to an Artificial Limb Centre. It can include meals and accommodation.
Civilian Amputee Assistance — Work and Income
If you’re in residential care or you have been in a public hospital for over 13 weeks — your partner can get a Special Disability Allowance to help with the cost of having a partner in care.
Communication equipment
You may be able to get communication equipment, such as assistance software and smart phones. The Lotto Individuals with Disabilities fund can help you be more closely involved in your community.
If you’re a caregiver or partner
You may be able to get money to help with caring for someone at home who has a disability, illness or health problems because of old age.
Caring for someone with a health condition, injury or illness
If your partner moves into a rest home or hospital, you can get financial help to stay in your home, look after your own health and visit your partner.
Emergency help
The Emergency Benefit is available if you’re not eligible for other benefits or pensions and cannot support yourself or your family.
Emergency Benefit — Work and Income
A Special Needs Grant is a one-off payment to help you cover an essential or emergency cost that you cannot afford.
Special Needs Grant — Work and Income
Work and Income can advance up to 6 weeks’ benefit or pension to help pay for essential costs that crop up.
Advance Payment of Benefit — Work and Income
The Recoverable Assistance Payment is a one-off payment to help with urgent costs that you cannot afford and have no other way to pay. This payment needs to be paid back, if you’re on a benefit, you cannot get this payment.
Recoverable Assistance Payment — Work and Income
If you cannot pay for what you need, you can apply to Work and Income for Temporary Additional Support. This is a weekly payment that can last for up to 13 weeks and you do not have to be on a benefit.
Work and Income
The Disability Allowance is a weekly payment from Work and Income for people who have regular, ongoing costs because of a disability. You do not have to be on a benefit to qualify for the allowance.
Find out the other types of financial assistance you may qualify for, then choose if you want to apply.
Veterans’ Affairs
Veterans’ Affairs supports NZ veterans and their families through pensions, other payments or funding for treatment, travel, rehabilitation and independence.
Who to contact for more help
If you need more help or have questions about the information or services on this page, contact one of the following agencies.
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Work and Income
Contact and agency details -
Ministry of Health
Contact and agency details -
Senior Services
Contact and agency details