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Making specs applications


Making Claims

Use the Enable New Zealand Spectacles App to make these claims.

Standard Spectacle Subsidy

Children eligible for the standard spectacle subsidy scheme covered under five areas of the Spectacle Subsidy, up to the value of $287.50 (incl GST) per year:

Funding can cover:

  • Eye examinations

  • Frames: a maximum of $138.00 (incl GST) is available per year

  • Lenses

  • Eye patches

  • Repairs

An extra $51.11 (incl GST) is available towards frames for children that require adult sized frames. A clear rationale is required for these requests.

High-Level Spectacle Subsidy

A High-Level Subsidy is available for children with more complex vision needs provided the child
has:

  • amblyopia or strabismus that requires more extensive intervention, or

  • a rapidly progressing myopia that requires six monthly eye examinations and may result
    in six monthly changes to the spectacle prescription.

Anything outside of these guidelines will need to be submitted under a Genuine and Exceptional Circumstances application.

Genuine and Exceptional Circumstances

Any application that does not meet the guidelines set out by the Ministry’s Children’s spectacle subsidy manual and are high in cost (including frames over $250) needs to be submitted as a Genuine and Exceptional Circumstances application.

This can be done by ticking the ‘Genuine and Exceptional Circumstances’ box after you have selected the subsidy type when filling out an application through the Enable New Zealand spectacles app. 

Assessor accounts

If you make claims on behalf of an optometrist or ophthalmologist you will need to create an 'on-behalf’ user account.

How to apply for an “on-behalf” user account

Cancellations

You can not cancel an application. Once the application is processed, the subsidy amount is allocated automatically. However, you can request a credit.

How to request a credit to be made

Additional Resources

Childrens Spectacle Subsidy Manual Clinical Guideline