Disability Allowance medical certificates

The following people can complete our medical certificates:

• medical practitioners, and
• nurse practitioners.

They need to be registered to practice within New Zealand and have a current Annual Practicing Certificate.

You can download and print the medical certificates here:

You can also contact your Regional Health and Disability Team who can provide copies for your practice.

The teams details are available on your regional Work and Income Health Pathway, or you can email the Principal Health and Disability Advisor on health_and_disability_NO@msd.govt.nz who can provide the local teams contact details.

There’s a wide range of costs a Disability Allowance can help pay for. The treatment or service must be necessary and of therapeutic value.

The costs must be ongoing, additional and related to the person’s health condition or disability.

Costs may include the following:

Alternative treatment

A Medical or Nurse practitioner must support Disability Allowance funding of the treatment as being necessary for the person's health condition or disability. It must be provided or supervised by a health practitioner.

Ambulance fees and subscriptions

For ongoing, regular annual ambulance fees or subscriptions.

Authorised consumables

Covers the ongoing additional cost of consumable items, for example:

• batteries for hearing aids
• vet fees for guide dogs
• incontinence pads (if not provided by Health NZ).

Clothing

Additional clothing costs must be related to the person’s health condition or disability. For example, extra clothing costs due to frequent washing, wear and tear from prosthetics or wheelchairs, or custom-made clothes.

Day care for older disabled people

Helps cover costs for day care and transport for older disabled people (usually aged 65 or over).

Gardening, lawns and outside window cleaning

Covers costs for these tasks for the person's own home or private residence if they or another resident can't do them because of their disability.

Gym and swimming pool fees

These fees must be supported by a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner and either provided by or supervised by a health practitioner.

MedicAlert costs

Covers ongoing, regular MedicAlert membership fees for medical information needed in an emergency.

Medical Alarm

Costs of medical alarm rental and monitoring can be included if a medical alarm is necessary for normal daily living and without it, the person's life or health would be put at risk, or their disability would be aggravated. We've provided medical alarm scenarios for your reference.

You also need to fill out the Medical alarm assessment form.

Medical fees

Covers extra and ongoing costs for visits to the primary care team or allied health providers, such as:

• occupational therapists
• physiotherapists
• dietitian, or
• podiatrists.

Pharmaceutical charges and non subsidised medications

Covers regular, ongoing and additional costs, such as:

• prescription charges
• the cost of blister packaging, or
• mailing out medication if mobility is a barrier.

If you prescribe a non-subsidised medication for a patient, and you believe that medication is essential, directly related to the disability and of therapeutic value, you need to send us a letter outlining why you are prescribing this medication and that they have trialled all suitable funded alternatives, along with the usual Disability Allowance medical certificate. 

Power, gas and heating

For extra costs above normal household consumption of similar-sized households. These extra costs must be because of the person’s health condition or disability.

Private paying patients

Covers costs that are in addition to the rest home fee for services directly related to the person's disability.

Rental equipment

For necessary rental equipment not funded by other agencies, to avoid health risks or worsening disability.

Residential care services

For costs not covered by a person's residential care contract when they get Residential Support Subsidy.

Special foods

Covers extra, ongoing costs for special foods, a person needs because of their health condition or disability. 

It only covers the difference in cost between a “standard” diet and the special diet the patient requires, and the dietary plan should have input or oversight from a dietitian.

Telephone

For ongoing phone costs that are additional and directly related to the person’s health condition or disability.

Transport - counselling

For travel costs for counselling sessions covered by Disability Allowance - Counselling.

Transport - disability

For extra, ongoing everyday travel costs a person has because of their health condition or disability. For example, shopping or work. 

Transport - personal health

Covers regular travel costs to a health practitioner (including hospital appointments) for treatment of the person’s health condition or disability.

Vitamins, supplements, herbal remedies and minerals

For costs:

• not covered by fully subsidised or partly subsidised pharmaceutical items, and
• a medical or nurse practitioner has confirmed the products are essential and no funded alternatives exist.

Keep a copy for your own records then give the original to the patient and ask them to either:

• take it to their local Work and Income office, or
• upload it to MyMSD.

If you have any questions or if there's something you'd like to discuss, your Regional Health and Disability Team's details are available on your regional Work and Income Health Pathway.

You can also email the Principal Health and Disability Advisor on health_and_disability_NO@msd.govt.nz who will provide the local teams contact details for you.