Government Subsidies

As part of the New Zealand Government's Health Policy, there are subsidies available for residential care. The amount of these subsidies and the determination of how much an individual is entitled to is based on the level of care they are assessed as requiring and their ability to financially support themselves.

In order to be entitled to a government subsidy, you first must have had an assessment as to the level of care required.

• If an assessment determines a need for assistance in your own home, this can be provided by Capital Support and is available free of charge - it is not asset or income tested. The level of care provided is only the level that Capital Support assesses is needed but if you choose to have assistance for more tasks, this is charged to the client by the provider.
• If an assessment determines that you need residential care, this is asset and income tested at present. However, irrespective of assets or income, there is a cap on the private contribution for Hospital level care. At present, all clients assessed as needing Hospital Care get some form of Government subsidy - ie. there is a maximum to how much the client pays.

After this assessment, Work & Income New Zealand are contacted and they liase with the client/family to determine any entitlement to a subsidy. Once a subsidy is approved, this is paid directly to the care provider.