Residential Support Subsidy Factsheet
A payment that is available to a person who has been assessed as needing full-time residential support. The subsidy is paid to the service provider, by the Ministry of Health.
Who may be eligible for the Subsidy?
People who may be eligible for the Residential Support Subsidy must have been assessed by
a contracted needs assessment service as having a need for the support due to a:
- physical or sensory disability
- intellectual disability
- psychiatric disability (including drug and alcohol rehabilitation)
- a disabling chronic health condition.
People with age-related conditions may be able to receive Residential Care Subsidy instead.
Payment information
People who receive residential support and also receive a benefit from Work and Income, must contribute to the cost of the care they receive. Unless they choose to make their own arrangements to pay for the care, payments are usually paid directly to the service provider by Work and Income on the person's behalf, with their consent.
The person is able to keep a portion of their benefit for personal needs - this is called a Personal Allowance.
How to apply
The Service Provider is required to advise Work and Income when a client in their care has been assessed and will be subsidised by the Ministry of Health or their District Health Board. A Residential Support Subsidy Authorisation form is completed by the Needs Assessment Service, the Service Provider and the person requiring the care (or their agent). The form is then sent by the Service Provider to the Residential Subsidy Unit in Whangarei, for processing.
Appointing an agent
An agent is someone who is appointed to act on someone else's behalf. The person receiving the support may already have an agent, or they can also choose the Service Provider to be their temporary agent while they are in their care. For this to happen, the Appointment of Agent section of the Residential Support Subsidy Authorisation form needs to be completed.
If you'd like more information
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