What's new

Funded Family Care

The Ministry of Health can pay the parents and partners of disabled people with high or very high health support needs to care for their family members. The pay rates have also increased.

The disabled person is no longer required to employ their carers, as they are now paid directly by the Ministry of Health. The minimum age to become a Ministry of Health carer has also reduced to 16 years of age.

More information is available on the Ministry of Health website:

• Funded Family Care

Funded Family Care payments from the Ministry of Health are considered as income for benefit payments. See:

• Carer's Allowance and payments

COVID-19 Resurgence Wage Subsidy Scheme

Applications for the COVID-19 Resurgence Wage Subsidy Scheme closed at 11.59pm on 3 September 2020. See:

• Introduction
• Qualifications
• Employer obligations
• Payment
• Reviewing decisions to decline the COVID-19 Resurgence Wage Subsidy Scheme

Advance Payment of Benefit

Before you consider an Advance Payment of Benefit, check whether the client qualifies for any other assistance, eg Special Needs Grant. See:

• Introduction
• Other sources of assistance

Rent Arrears Assistance, Recoverable Assistance Payments and Advance Payment of Benefit

Rent Arrears Assistance should be considered first for clients with rent arrears from 6 July 2020 until 31 December 2020. Temporary changes have been made to the Rent Arrears Assistance for this time. See:

• Rent Arrears Assistance
• Advance Payment of Benefit Bonds and rent
• Recoverable Assistance Payments Bonds and rent

An example has also been added to Rent Arrears Assistance to clarify when a client would not be considered at risk of losing the tenancy. See:

• Rent Arrears Assistance Examples