Residential Support Subsidy

You may get a Residential Support Subsidy if you're assessed as needing residential care due to:

• drug and alcohol rehabilitation
• an intellectual disability
• a psychiatric disability
• a physical or sensory disability, or
• long term support - chronic health conditions.

Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora) pays most of the care costs to the residential service provider.

While in residential care, you have an obligation to pay towards these costs. Most of your benefit or pension goes to the care provider. We call this a 'benefit contribution'.

You keep a personal allowance. The rate is set by Te Whatu Ora.

These rates are reviewed on 1 April every year.

The personal allowance rates from 1 April 2025

Category	Net weekly rate (after tax at 'M')	Gross weekly rate for NZ Super or Veteran's Pension	Gross weekly rate for other benefits
People with Psychiatric or Intellectual Disabilities, including drug/alcohol rehabilitation	$82.46	$92.12	$92.13
People with Physical or Sensory Disabilities or Long Term Support Chronic Health Conditions	$133.98	$149.62	$149.70

Step 1: You're assessed

A contracted Needs Assessment Service Co-ordinator (NASC) service completes a ‘needs assessment’. The assessment is to see if you're eligible for residential care (see 'Who can get it' section).

Step 2: You enter residential care

If you're eligible, the needs assessor places you into full-time residential care. This will be with a Te Whatu Ora-contracted residential service provider.

Step 3: Filling out all relevant forms

You and the residential service provider both complete the Residential Support Subsidy application and authorisation form.

The residential service provider submits the form(s) and all supporting documents to Work and Income.

Check what you might get

If you don't get a main benefit or NZ Super, it's a good idea to apply. Use Check what you might get to see what other support could be available to you. Paper application forms can be submitted at the same time as the Residential Support Subsidy application and authorisation form.

Step 4: Residential Support Subsidy starts

Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand start to pay Residential Support Subsidy to the residential service provider. 

Your benefit contributions that you've authorised (step 3) will also start.

You may choose to:

• redirect the contribution to the service provider through Work and Income, or
• pay this to the service provider directly yourself.

You may need help from an agent. An agent is a person or organisation that acts on your behalf with Work and Income. For more information on agents see our page:

The Residential Support Subsidy application and authorisation form asks if you:

• already have an agent
• whether you want to appoint your residential service provider to be your agent temporarily for the time you're in care.

If someone helps you to complete the form, there's a section about this too.

You must let Work and Income know about any changes in your circumstances. This can include changes in your income, relationship status, or address. 
Let us know by calling us.