Who is eligible for a needs assessment?

Disabled and older people are eligible for a needs assessment should the person with the disability meet the Government’s definition of disability:

Governments definition of disability

“A person with a disability is someone who has been assessed as having a physical, psychiatric, intellectual, sensory, or age related disability (or a combination of these) which is likely to continue for a minimum of six months and result in a reduction of independent function to the extent that ongoing support is required".

Who is eligible for Ministry-funded services?

In applying the definition above, the Ministry of Health will fund a range of Disability Support Services (DSS) for people who have been assessed as having a physical, intellectual or sensory disability (or a combination of these). Mainly these are younger people under the age of 65 years. Funding of Disability Support Services (DSS) for people with psychiatric disability and age-related disability was devolved to District Health Boards (DHBs) in 2002.

The Ministry of Health will also fund DSS for people with certain neurological conditions that result in permanent disabilities, certain developmental disabilities in children and young people such as autism, and physical, intellectual or sensory disability that co-exist with a health condition and/or injury. Supportlinks can clarify these by contacting its Ministry of Health Contract Relationship Manager.