Medical alert bracelets
If you have a MedicAlert bracelet and need help with the cost of ongoing membership fees, we may be able to help you pay this as part of a Disability Allowance.
- You can get a Disability Allowance for a number of different things, including medical alert bracelets. The maximum you can get for a Disability Allowance is $82.85 a week.
- You don't have to be on a benefit to qualify for a Disability Allowance.
Who can get it
You can apply for a Disability Allowance for you, your partner or a child.
The person who needs a MedicAlert bracelet must:
- have a health condition or disability that's likely to last at least 6 months from when they were diagnosed
- need a MedicAlert bracelet because of the health condition or disability
- have regular, ongoing costs for the MedicAlert bracelet that are not fully covered by another agency.
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 |
What you can get
We pay up to a maximum of $82.85 a week for Disability Allowance. How much you get for MedicAlert bracelet membership fees depends on your situation.
What isn't included in Disability Allowance:
- one-off costs, for example the initial enrolment fee and a bracelet/pendant
- member donations.
If you can't pay for the initial enrolment fee or a bracelet/pendant, we may still be able to help if this is an immediate and essential need. Call us to talk about your situation.
How to apply
Already getting payments from us (e.g. a benefit or Accommodation Supplement) but not Disability Allowance
- You need to complete the Disability Allowance application form and a health practitioner (e.g. your doctor) needs to complete the Disability Certificate inside.
Disability Certificate Form (PDF 915 KB)
- You need to get confirmation of the MedicAlert costs to show:
- you're paying for the MedicAlert cost that your health practitioner has advised you need
- the total amount of the membership fee.
Talk to us about the how to get these documents to us and if you need to do anything else.
Already getting Disability Allowance
- A health practitioner, e.g. your doctor, needs to complete a Disability Certificate form.
Disability Certificate Form (PDF 915 KB)
- You need to get confirmation of the MedicAlert costs to show:
- that you're paying for the MedicAlert cost that your health practitioner has advised you need
- the total amount of the membership fee.
Call us to talk about how to get these documents to us and if you need to do anything else.
We'll include the cost of the MedicAlert bracelet in your Disability Allowance from the date the cost started.
Not getting any payments from us
You can apply for a Disability Allowance online.
You'll also need to:
- get a health practitioner (e.g. your doctor) to complete a Disability Certificate form.
Disability Certificate Form (PDF 915 KB)
- get confirmation of the MedicAlert costs to show:
- you're paying for the MedicAlert cost that your health practitioner has advised you need
- the total amount of the membership fee.
Call us to talk about how to get these documents to us and if you need to do anything else.
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.