Medical alarms
If you need help with the ongoing costs of a medical alarm, we may be able to help you pay for this as part of a Disability Allowance.
- You can get a Disability Allowance to help with costs relating to your disability, including medical alarms.
- You don't have to be on a benefit to qualify for a Disability Allowance.
If you have an 'in-home' medical alarm (that only works inside your home) and, would like an 'anywhere' medical alarm (that works outside of your home as well), you'll need to:
- see a medical practitioner to see whether you qualify
- apply to change it.
See 'How to apply' section below for more details.
Who can get it
You can apply for a Disability Allowance for yourself, your partner or a child.
The person who needs a medical alarm must:
- have a disability that's likely to last at least 6 months from when they were diagnosed or,
- have a life expectancy of less than 6 months due to a terminal illness.
The person must also have regular, ongoing costs because of the health condition or disability that are not fully covered by another agency.
A medical practitioner must also confirm that the person who needs a medical alarm:
- needs the medical alarm on an ongoing basis because of a disability
- needs an 'in-home' or an 'anywhere' medical alarm
- would have their life or health put at risk without it, or the disability would be aggravated.
The medical alarm has to be supplied by an MSD-accredited medical alarm supplier.
If the services you need are not available through an MSD-accredited medical alarm supplier, we might still be able to help. Call us to discuss your situation.
To apply, you need to be:
- 16 and older
- a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
It also depends on how much you and your partner earn.
Disability Allowance income limits
| Your situation | Weekly income limits before tax |
|---|---|
| Single 16-17 years | $696.60 |
| Single 18+ years | $870 |
| Couple (with or without children) | $1,295.11 |
| Sole parent 1 child | $971.51 |
| Sole parent 2+ children | $1,023.59 |
MSD-accredited medical alarm suppliers
The current MSD-accredited medical alarm suppliers are:
You can contact the above suppliers directly to find out which one is best for you.
These suppliers are required to comply with a Ministry of Social Development Service Level Agreement for Accredited Suppliers of Monitored Medical Alarms. This agreement is to make sure you are getting a high-quality service and value for money.
Each supplier will have agreed service standards, including a complaints process. You should be given a copy of this when you sign up.
The Securely medical alarm service has been purchased by St John. If you're already getting a Disability Allowance for a Securely alarm, this will continue.
Medical alarm costs
Each supplier has a weekly cost for their Medical Alarms.
These tables show the weekly price for one alarm, and an extra alarm for a second person living at the same address. The price for an extra alarm may be different if one person has an 'in-home' alarm, and the other person has an 'anywhere' alarm.
'In-home' medical alarm, price per week
| Accredited Supplier | One alarm | Extra alarm at the same address |
| ADT Security Ltd | $16.22 | $13.64 |
| VitalCall (Chubb New Zealand) | $19.14 | $8.30 |
| Freedom Medical Alarms | $16.39 | $0.00 |
| St John Medical Alarms | $17.27 | $7.94 |
'Anywhere' medical alarm, price per week
| Accredited Supplier | One alarm | Extra alarm at the same address |
| ADT Security Ltd | $26.50 | $14.68 |
| VitalCall (Chubb New Zealand) | $27.65 | $12.40 |
| Freedom Medical Alarms | $28.99 | $18.99 |
| St John Medical Alarms | $25.57 | $17.27 |
Contact the suppliers directly (see contact details under 'Who can get it') for more information about their pricing, services and products.
The Securely medical alarm service has been purchased by St John. If you're already getting a Disability Allowance for a Securely alarm, this will continue.
What you can get
You can get up to a maximum of $82.85 a week for Disability Allowance. How much you get for your medical alarm depends on your situation. If you’re struggling financially, there are other ways we can help. Call us to find out how we can help.
If you qualify, we can pay for the ongoing costs of medical alarm services such as rental and monitoring costs. We cover:
- 'in-home' medical alarm services that just work inside the home, and
- 'anywhere' medical alarm services that work outside of the home, as well as inside.
Whether you can get an 'in-home' or an 'anywhere' medical alarm depends on the recommendations of a medical practitioner.
We don't pay for:
- buying a medical alarm (one-off cost)
- buying smoke alarms or security alarms
- any alarm costs you've already paid for in the fee for living in a retirement village or complex, or
- additional items for your medical alarm, e.g. fall detectors or pressure pads.
How to apply
Already getting payments from us (e.g. a benefit or Accommodation Supplement) but not Disability Allowance
- You need to apply for a Disability Allowance using the Disability Allowance application form. Your health practitioner (e.g. your doctor) will need to complete the Disability Certificate inside this form.
Disability Allowance Application (PDF 915 KB)
- Your medical practitioner also needs to complete a Disability Allowance - Medical Alarm Assessment form.
Disability Allowance Medical alarm assessment form (PDF 177 KB)
- You need to get a copy of the contract or receipt for the installation/rental of the medical alarm.
Call us to talk about how you can send these to us, and if we need any other information.
Already getting Disability Allowance
- A medical practitioner (e.g. your doctor) needs to complete a Disability Allowance - Medical Alarm Assessment form.
- You need to get a copy of the contract or receipt for the installation/rental of the medical alarm.
Call us to talk about how you can send these to us, and if we need any other information.
Already have a medical alarm that works inside the home and would like one that works outside of your home
- A medical practitioner (e.g. your doctor) needs to complete a Disability Allowance - Medical Alarm Assessment form. They need to confirm that you need a medical alarm that works outside of your home.
Disability Allowance Medical alarm assessment form (PDF 177 KB)
- You need to get a copy of the contract or receipt for the installation/rental of the medical alarm.
Call us to talk about how you can send these to us, and if we need any other information.
Not getting any payments from us
You can apply online
If you can't apply online, you can apply for a Disability Allowance using the Disability Allowance application form. Your health practitioner (e.g. your doctor) will need to complete the Disability Certificate inside this form.
Disability Allowance Application (PDF 915 KB)
You'll also need to:
- Get your medical practitioner to complete a Disability Allowance - Medical Alarm Assessment form.
Disability Allowance Medical alarm assessment form (PDF 177 KB)
- Get a copy of the contract or receipt for the installation/rental of the medical alarm.
- Call us to find out what other documents are needed and how to send them all to us.
You'll need to bring the Medical Alarm Assessment form and the contract or receipt with you when you come in to see us.
Applying on behalf of someone else
You can apply for Disability Allowance on someone else's behalf, but only if they've filled out a form to appoint you as their agent.