On Wednesday 3 March 2010 new eligibility criteria for funding low cost equipment and new funding thresholds for access modifications to homes were introduced. Low cost equipment will now only be funded if the value of the item is above $50 and housing access modifications to allow people to get in/out of their home, including moving between floors, will not be funded in excess of $15,000 (inc. GST). Note this does not impact on applications for other types of housing modifications such as level access showers. The good news is, in an attempt to reduce the length of time that people have to wait for their equipment and/or modifications, the government will inject an extra $7 million immediately and another $20 million over the next two years.

The additional funding will offer much relief to the clients who have had to wait an extended time for their equipment items or modifications. The changes are a way forward so that people with the highest needs will still continue to get their needs met from a very limited budget.

However, even with this additional funding, the rising costs of equipment and modification services were not sustainable. It is reported that the value of applications received for equipment and housing modifications for disabled people of all ages increased by nearly 25% last year. Because of this rise in costs and the level of funding available, many more people have had to wait to get the services they need.

The new eligibility criteria for some services and the changes to funding limits have been introduced to offset these rising costs. The Ministry also plans to extend its competitive processes for buying disability equipment, including hearing aids, which will help bring overall costs down.

Equipment under the value of $50 (including GST) will still be provided for children 15 years of age and under, for people who can demonstrate hardship e.g. are receiving a Special
Benefit, with written support from Work and Income New Zealand, and people living in
residential care.

The old housing access modifications eligibility criteria will continue to apply to applications received by Enable New Zealand or Accessable before Wednesday 3 March 2010 – this includes applications that are currently on the waiting list for funding.

Ross Flood rflood@cpsociety.org.nz