New Changes to Disability Support Services what this means for MidCentral region Posted by Posted by Default Admin on 8 September 2025 Posted on: 8 September 2025

The New Zealand government is making some big changes to how disabled people get support. These changes won't start until next year. For the Midcentral region these changes will happen on 1 April 2026.

How Assessments and Funding Are Changing

Assessments will be the same for everyone. This is to make things fairer and more consistent across the country. The needs of family and caregivers will also be looked at.

New Rules for Flexible Funding

If eligible for Disability Support Funding you will still receive budget from Mana Whaikaha. This is your personal amount of money to spend on your support.

• If you already have  funding, your budget will be based on what you have spent in the past.
• If you're new, you'll get a budget after an assessment.
• You must stick to your budget and spend the funding on things in your personal plan.

A list of things you can't buy. The purchasing guidelines in place from March 2024 are being removed next year. A new list will say what you cannot buy, like alcohol, tobacco, gambling items, and illegal activities. Some things, like overseas travel, will need approval first.

No extra money if you spend it early. You won't get more funding if you use your budget up before the end of the year.

You'll get help to manage your budget. There will be different levels of support to help you manage your moneyif you need it.

What This Means for Enabling Good Lives in the Midcentral Region

 The Leadership will work with our community to choose one of these two options:

1. Adopt the changes and remove the old purchasing rules.
2. Keep the current rules that were put in place in March 2024.

Should you choose option 2 there will be no changes to how your budget is allocated and the Purchasing Guidelines currently in place will remain.

Next Steps Our local EGL leaders will work with our community to support our people to make their own decision.

They will provide a survey for the community to choose their preferred option there will be copies of documents to help understand the options.

Please read the explanation documents that are available for your information and seek support to understand these should you need it.

The Leadership group will communicate the community decision must be sent to the Group Manager for Enabling Good Lives by September 12, 2025.

Please email enablinggoodlivesmidcentral@gmail.com should you have questions and to register for the online Zoom sessions.