Health and disability services
Work and Income may purchases health and disability services if that woud, assist people into work.
Not all services are available everywhere. It's important that all health and disability services are work-outcome-focused and the client is committed to this goal.
If a health practitioner thinks that a person might benefit from any health service, they should state this on the person’s medical certificate.
Providing Access to Health Services (PATHS)
PATHS is an employment programme for people on either Sickness Benefit or Invalid's Benefit who want to work but need support to achieve their goal.
PATHS may help people access a wide range of health, employment and community services which would assist them to return to work.
The PATHS service is provided through partnerships between:
- Work and Income
- District Health Boards (DHBs)
- Primary Health Organisations (PHOs)
- Community Mental Health Non-Government Organisations (NGOs).
Availability
PATHS is available in the following District Health Board regions:
- Counties Manukau
- Bay of Plenty
- Taranaki
- Wanganui
- Mid Central (Manawatu)
- Capital and Coast (Wellington)
- Hutt Valley
- Nelson Marlborough
- Canterbury
- Otago
Targeted Health Interventions (THI)
This service provides funding to help people access single health interventions where PATHS is not available. The person needs a confirmed offer of full-time ongoing employment and must be unable to access the treatment from other publicly funded sources.
The referral process
For a person to be referred to a health and disability service:
- the service must be available in their region
- there should be work opportunities in the local area when the person completes the health service
- they must be willing to participate in the service.
For either service, the person’s medical practitioner must indicate that the service would assist that person move into work. They do this by either:
- noting it on the person’s medical certificate
- discussing it with a case manager, Regional Health Advisor or Regional Disability Advisor.
Contact us
The primary contact for most health and disability sector queries to Work and Income is the Health and Disability Co-ordinator. They:
- liaise with general practitioners and other health and disability providers
- provide information about Work and Income such as:
- our processes and expectations
- benefits and eligibility
- the support we can offer clients
- help with communications between service providers and case managers
- provide Work and Income supplies and resources.
Case managers are the first point of contact for benefit-related issues about an individual.