Subj : Disabled ministry gives new 'clarifications' on purchasing rules
To   : All
From : News
Date : Wed Apr 24 2024 01:05 pm

Whaikaha Ministry for Disabled people has provided "clarifications" on
purchasing rules for flexible funding support following feedback from both
the community and providers.

Last month, Whaikaha announced it would place new rules on funding for
equipment, modification support and services due to financial pressure.

The enforced budget caps and reductions in orders were "not cuts", the
Government said, adding that funding for the ministry would be topped up in
this year's Budget.

The plan was revealed through a leak which was reported in Stuff, with
disabled New Zealanders and those that care for them speaking of being
"blindsided" by the changes.

Whaikaha's chief executive later apologised by the stress caused by the
changes and the way it was announced, and Minister for Disability Issues
Penny Simmonds said the department hadn't been clear enough with its
communication.

At the time of the announcement, Simmonds said criticism of a funding cap for
equipment for disabled people is "absolute rubbish" - and revealed her
ministry was within "days" of running out of its funding.

She later caused controversy when she claimed carers had been taking
advantage of a "broad" funding criteria to use public money "for massages,
overseas travel, pedicures, haircuts" for themselves.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis said future decisions by the ministry about
funding would go to Cabinet to be signed off.

Today, the ministry outlined new clarifications on how people can use some of
the disability funding.

The ministry's new clarifications are as follows:
1. Ride and driver services can be used to support a disabled person to
access services or engage with the community, where this is a reasonable and
cost-effective option.

2. The following items can be purchased for a disabled person to assist self
management, on a one-off basis within a flexible funding allocation period:

Electronic tablet devices
Noise cancelling headphones
Sensory toys, fidget spinners etc
Weighted blanket
3. Household support arrangements in place through Choice in Community Living
or a personal budget can continue, where these arrangements are an
alternative to residential care that enables people to live in the community.

4. Existing support arrangements can continue where:

The disabled person has committed to employment, a course of Study, therapy,
or a timebound programme; and
They have relied on the availability of flexibility under the previous
Purchase Rules to support them to participate in those commitments; and
That commitment was made before 18 March 2024.
Carers respite accommodation a 'reasonable expense' - Autism NZ
Autism NZ said being able to carer support and individualised funding for
sensory items, tablets and noise cancelling headphones would come as a "great
relief" to many people living with autism.

However, it was disappointed the update did not contain changes "to the
inability for carers to pay for accommodation to take a break".

"Many autistic people cannot tolerate residential care services, or leaving
their home for respite.

"So carers must be able to leave the home to avoid burnout or overwhelm, and
the cost of a night in a domestic hotel is, in Autism NZ's opinion, a
reasonable expense for someone providing millions of dollars for unpaid
labour across a lifetime."

'A lot to learn'
In today's announcement, Whakaha said it had "a lot to learn" about the way
it communicated the initial changes.

"We acknowledge the changes have been distressing and caused confusion for
the community, and for the service providers who support disabled people.

"We are committed to our partnership approach and the transformation of the
disability support system."

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