Carer Support and Individualised Funding flexibility extended again until 28 Feb 2021

You'll remember The Ministry of Health introduced the flexible use of Carer Support and IF as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response. 

These rules only apply if you are allocated Carer Support and IF through the Ministry of Health (not your DHB). Please contact your DHB for information about other supports.

Carer Support – funded by the Ministry of Health
This means that if you receive Carer Support from the Ministry of Health:

• you must work within your current funding allocation

• you can continue to spend your Carer Support on any disability support or service that helps you to live your life or makes your life better, and that gives you a break from caring for your family member with a disability or; to provide a break for the disabled person.

• you can use the funding if it is reasonable and cost-effective and not funded through other funding options such as a Disability Allowance. You can find out about what is reasonable for you to buy and you can find out more information here: www.health.govt.nz/publication/what-people-can-buy-disability-funding-ministry-health-purchasing-guidelines.

• you cannot use your Carer Support for the following:

1. paying family carers who are either a family member living with the disabled person or a parent or a spouse
2. illegal activities, gambling or alcohol
3. to pay for things that are not disability supports like rent/mortgage, food, personal debt, gifts, power, usual household items etc.

As it is up to you to choose what support or services to buy, it is your responsibility to make sure the respite is of good quality and covers all your requirements.

You will need to keep a simple record of what you have spent the money on when you buy items and keep a record of the receipt so that you can discuss at your next NASC review.

Please note that the timeframe for claims processing is 10 working days.

If you have any further questions, please contact us on 0800 824 5872.

Individualised Funding – funded by the Ministry of Health
This means that if you receive Individualised Funding through the Ministry of Health:

• you must work within your current funding allocation

• you can continue to spend your Individualised Funding on any disability support or service that helps you to live your life or makes your life better, so long as it is reasonable and cost-effective, and not funded through other funding options such as a Disability Allowance. You can talk to your IF Host or Coach about what is reasonable for you to buy and you can find out more information here: www.health.govt.nz/publication/what-people-can-buy-disability-funding-ministry-health-purchasing-guidelines.

• you cannot use your Individualised Funding for the following:

1. paying family carers who are either a family member living with the disabled person or a parent or a spouse (see exception below)
2. illegal activities, gambling or alcohol
3. to pay for things that are not disability supports like rent/mortgage, food, personal debt, gifts, power, usual household items etc.

You can only pay a resident family member to provide household management and personal care supports for those disabled people assessed as having ‘high’ or ‘very high’ needs. You cannot pay resident family members to provide respite.

As it is up to you to choose what support or services to buy, it’s your responsibility to make sure that the support or service is of good quality and covers all your requirements.

Remember that you must continue to honour any employment contracts that you have. You can find out more about terminating an employment agreement at: www.employment.govt.nz/ending-employment/.  

ENDS

Published 2 December 2020