Funding Available

Living with MS can impact those diagnosed and their family whānau financially. You may have additional costs related to your health and disability, reduced income, need more support at home.

Your local MS Community Advisor can help you navigate available support and funding options, and connect you with the right services.

Disability support funding and eligibility criteria can change, so it’s important to keep up to date with the latest information and participate in consultations when they arise.

Financial support you may be eligible for:

Funding Support

Work and Income

You may qualify for a Supported Living Payment and/or a Community Services Card through Work and Income (WINZ).

  • The Supported Living Payment is financial assistance for people who have, or are caring for someone with a health condition, injury or disability.
  • A Community Services Card can help with the cost of prescriptions and other health services.
  • Work and Income also provide a range of support for people with a disability who wish to find employment. If you’re looking for a job then Work and Income can help you get work ready, with tips about writing CVs and cover letters, support to attend training, and financial support to help with the costs of searching for work or attending interviews.
  • Most WINZ subsidies are means tested based on your household income. A WINZ advisor will be able to discuss your situation and what support you are eligible for.

Needs Assessment & Service Co-ordination

If you or someone you support has a disability, contact your local Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) service. NASCs are funded by the Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Health. A Needs Assessor will review your situation to help maximise independence and connect you with appropriate services. You can be referred by a health professional, MS Community Advisor, or refer yourself.

We recommend you contact your MS Community Advisor first, who will be able to provide advice and offer support when meeting with a Needs Assessor to ensure you what you need and are entitled to.

Individualised Funding

Individualised Funding is a very useful way of paying for disability support services such as support workers, carers and household assistance. 

Funding enables disabled people to directly manage the hours they are allocated for Home and Community Support Services, such as household management (e.g. cleaning, meal preparation) and personal care (e.g. getting dressed). 

Individualised Funding can only be accessed via a referral from a NASC. A contracted Ministry of Health provider will then provide the Individualised Funding.

Carers Support

If you are the full-time, unpaid carer for a disabled person, then respite services and carer support are available for you from the government. These are services give you a break, and ensure that the person you care for gets the care and support they need in the meantime. 

Carer Support may be used to make certain purchases, contribute to the costs of engaging a support person to care and support a disabled person while you have a break, or the costs of some activities where this gives you a break.

Carer Support is provided by:

 

Carer Support can only be accessed via a referral from a NASC.

Residential Care Subsidy

If you need long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home, you may be able to get a Residential Care Subsidy from the Ministry of Health or Social Development to help with the cost of care.

Respite Care

Respite Services are community-based services designed to provide short-term breaks for the carers of a disabled person, while also providing a positive, stimulating and worthwhile experience for the disabled person.

Funding for Modifications to your home or vehicle, keeping you independent

Housing Modifications

The Ministry of Health provides information on the kind of house modifications that may be funded by Enable or Accessible, in order to help your home suit your needs. 

Accessable funds the provision of equipment, housing alterations and vehicle modifications for people with a disability, on behalf of the Ministry of Health. Accessable serves Northland and Auckland.

Freephone: 0508 001 002      |      Email: info@accessable.co.nz

Enable funds the provision of equipment, housing alterations and
vehicle modifications for people with a disability, on behalf of the Ministry of Health. Enable covers all of New Zealand below the Bombay Hills, south of Auckland.

Freephone: 0800 17 1981       |      Email: enable@enable.co.nz

Lottery Disabilities Grant

The Lottery Individuals with Disabilities Fund makes grants to people with mobility-and communication-related disabilities. It may fund the purchase of a vehicle (such as a wheelchair accessible van), vehicle modifications, scooters and other mobility equipment that will provide outdoor mobility. It also provides grants to people with communication-related disabilities for the purchase of equipment to facilitate communication.

Your MS Community Advisor may be able to assist you with making an application for a grant.

Mobility Parking Permit

Mobility parking permit holders can use mobility parking spaces, which are wider than standard parks and closer to venues. These spaces are marked with the disability symbol and in many areas are now painted blue.

The permit also allows the permit holder to park in some regular parking spaces for longer than the designated time. This varies depending on where in New Zealand the permit holder lives.

To ensure that mobility parking spaces are available for people who really need them, there are clear criteria on who is eligible for a permit and permit holder’s responsibilities.

Total Mobility

The Total Mobility Scheme provides subsidised licensed taxi services to people who have an impairment that prevents them from undertaking any one or more of the following five components of a journey unaccompanied, on a bus, train or ferry in a safe and dignified manner:

  • getting to the place from where the transport departs
  • getting onto the transport
  • riding securely
  • getting off the transport
  • getting to the destination

Several MS Societies are Total Mobility Assessors, contact them for more information.

National Travel Assistance Scheme

If you need to travel long distances to see a specialist, then you may be eligible for help with expenses under the National Travel Assistance Scheme. These expenses may include travel, accommodation and support person costs.

Waka Ora health Shuttle

Hato Hone St John’s Waka Ora Health Shuttle is a koha (donation) based community service, delivered by volunteers, transporting people to health and wellbeing related appointments, and then brings them home again. Waka Ora Health Shuttles are a great option if you don’t drive, if public transport or taxis aren’t available where you live, or if you can’t rely on them.  Some shuttles are fitted with hoists or wheelchair access, for clients with limited mobility. 

To find out if there is a Waka Ora Health Shuttle in your area, click here, email, or call on 0800 WAKA ORA (0800 9252 672). 

Driving Miss Daisy

Driving Miss Daisy offer a safe, friendly and reliable companion driving service offers independence and peace of mind. Their nationwide companion driving service offers much more than just transportation.  They’ll drive you to and from your destination and provide further assistance as needed. Driving Miss Daisy, tailor their service to meet your needs. Driving Miss Daisy hold the ACC contract for companion driving services throughout New Zealand.  Total Mobility Scheme cards accepted, offering a subsidy on your transport in most regions across New Zealand.