Extraordinary Care Fund

The Extraordinary Care Fund helps pay for extra costs you have because a child you care for:

• shows promise in an ability, skill, or talent, for example in school, sports, dance, or music
• is experiencing difficulties that impact their development, for example learning or behavioural difficulties

You can apply if you get the Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit.

Grants are made based on your child's needs and the documents that support this, not your family’s financial situation.

Showing promise

Examples of costs we can help with:

• Participating in a national Kapa Haka competition
• Attending a science academic programme or event
• Competing in a national sports competition
• Coaching, tutoring or mentoring
• Private music lessons and instrument hire or purchase

Experiencing difficulties

Examples include:

• courses or activities to:
  • develop self-esteem, physical capability, or social skills for example YMCA programmes
  • improve their ability to learn if they have learning difficulties
  • swimming lessons (if they haven't learnt to swim at school)
• orthodontic work that isn’t funded by the Ministry of Health
• counselling

You can apply for other costs we haven't mentioned here.

We can’t help to pay for:

• costs covered by an Establishment Grant or School and Year Start-up Payment
• health and medical costs, for example:
  • doctor's visits
  • medication
• everyday costs, for example:
  • school trips
  • vehicles (this includes any repairs, warrants, registration, and any fuel costs to and from events)
  • legal costs
  • childcare
• overseas travel and related costs, for example:
  • hotels
  • overseas courses
• teacher aides
• school uniforms.

Between 1 July to 30 June each year you can get one grant of up to $2,000 for each child you care for.

This table is a guide to how much we can help with:

Cost type	Cost guide
Technology: Laptops Tablets/iPads	Secondary school level: up to $1,400 Intermediate school level: up to $1,200 Primary school level: up to $750 Primary school level to secondary school level all $500 Under 5 years: $500 by exception only You can apply for help with technology every two years unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Musical instruments	Up to $900
Music lessons	$150 to $250 each term
Clothing and equipment for sports and arts	$500 to $1,200
Counselling Psychological fees/services	$60 to $200 per session
Development programmes e.g. Speech development, YMCA programmes	Initial assessment $125 to $180 per hour. $45 to $130 per session
Extra tuition	$400 to $880 each term
Orthodontics	Up to $2,000

Step 1: Fill out an application form

Print and fill out the Extraordinary Care Fund Grant application form.

If you can't print the form, call us and we'll post one to you.

Step 2: Gather your documents

You'll need to provide:

• Proof of the cost you're applying for, for example:
  • A quote
  • The receipt
  • A letter from an organiser asking for payment.
• Letters of support

There may be other documents you need to provide if you’re applying for help with technology, costs over $2000, or orthodontic treatment.

Letters of support

A letter of support explains how your child is showing promise or how they’re experiencing difficulty. If you're applying for a cost that's:

• under $500, you need one letter of support
• $500 or more, you need 2 letters of support

The letter needs to be from an independent person, for example:

• A teacher
• Coach
• Other person of standing in the community

Technology

If you’re applying for help with technology, you need to provide documents:

• from the school with their recommended item, especially if they have a 'bring your own device' (BYOD) programme
• for anything that's significantly more expensive than what the school recommends, your letter of support will need to outline why it’s needed

You can apply for help with tablets/iPads/laptops every two years unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Applying for costs over $2,000

If you're applying for a cost that's more than $2,000, you need to confirm how you can pay for the rest of the cost.

Orthodontic treatment

If you’re applying for help with orthodontic treatment, for example braces, you need to provide documents from the orthodontist with:

• the proposed treatment
• how long the treatment will take
• confirmation of any payments made so far and the balance owing

Step 3: Submit your application

You can get your completed form and documents to us by either:

• dropping these into your nearest service centre
• posting these to your nearest service centre.

A panel assesses each application. They meet 4 times this year, but you can apply at any time.

We'll write to you to let you know the outcome of your application.

If you apply before:	You will hear back from us after:
3 February 2025	24 March 2025
29 April 2025	16 June 2025
25 July 2025	15 August 2025
23 October 2025	5 December 2025

School and Year Start-up Payments

If you get the Unsupported Child's Benefit or Orphan's Benefit, you can apply for the School and Year Start-up Payment. This payment helps you with the costs that are mostly at the start of the year. These costs are usually things children need for school or pre-school, like pre-school and school-related costs such as clothing, school fees and stationery.