Shared care - principal caregiver

To get Child Disability Allowance, the client must be the principal caregiver of the child. The client must have the primary responsibility for the day-to-day care of the child, not on a temporary basis.

If it is difficult to assess who is the principal caregiver, review the decision guidelines for:

• Child Disability Allowance shared care [no link find out why]

The principal caregiver cannot be:

• a group of people (whether incorporated or unincorporated) or
• any person who is the owner, or employed in:
  • a residence provided under the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 or
  • any other institution where a child is being cared for

A principal temporary caregiver getting Orphans Benefit or Unsupported Childs Benefit is considered to have primary responsibility for the child and may get Child Disability Allowance while the child is in their care.

However, they cannot be considered a principal caregiver for the purposes of decisions on shared care.

Shared care only applies when the parents or caregivers of a child are living apart, the child lives for at least 40% of the time with each parent and both parents apply for a Child Disability Allowance for the child.

Only one parent/caregiver (the principal caregiver) can get the Child Disability Allowance. The parent or caregiver must meet all the qualifications.