Contents
Disability Allowance : Contents

Counselling

Disability Allowance can be paid for counselling fees or transport to counselling if the:

  • client's registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner has confirmed the need for counselling is directly related to the client's disability and
  • cost of counselling is not fully funded by another agency, (e.g. Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora, ACC, Group Special Education, or Oranga Tamariki) and
  • counselling is provided by:
    • a psychologist who holds a current practising certificate, and is registered with the Psychologists Board or
    • a bona fide counsellor who is a member (or an applicant or provisional member) of one of the following organisations:
      • Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA) - previously known as the Australian and New Zealand Arts Therapy Association (ANZATA)
      • Drug and Alcohol Practitioners Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (DAPAANZ) - this only includes Registered Competent Practitioners and Associate Practitioners (it doesn't include support workers)
      • NZ Association of Counsellors (NZAC)
      • NZ Christian Counsellors Association
      • Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand
      • Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB)

Number of sessions

Generally, counselling assistance will be limited to a maximum of 10 sessions on the first application.

Assistance for up to 20 additional counselling sessions can be considered on the recommendation of the client's medical practitioner or nurse practitioner.

If the client has exceptional circumstances, assistance for more than 30 sessions can be considered.

Note if a client has exceptional circumstances MSD should refer the client to the Regional Health Advisor and Regional Disability Advisor [no link find out why] for consideration.

Disability Allowance cannot be paid

Disability Allowance cannot be paid:

  • for counselling not directly related to the client's disability (for example relationship counselling)
  • for counselling provided through hospitals or community mental health services as no charge is made for these services (the cost of transport to these sessions may be paid)
  • for the costs of childcare while the client is attending counselling
  • if appropriate services provided through Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora are available

ACC

Disability Allowance can be paid for the portion of counselling costs that is not met by ACC.

Dependent children

Disability Allowance is usually not paid for counselling for dependent children, except if the child cannot get counselling through another agency.

Special Benefit

Generally, counselling costs not met by Disability Allowance (because they are unrelated to the client's disability) are not an allowable cost for Special Benefit. However, there may be some instances where counselling costs meet the definition of an allowable cost for Special Benefit.

Temporary Additional Support

Counselling costs (including transport to attend counselling sessions) not met by Disability Allowance cannot be included as an allowable cost for Temporary Additional Support.

For more information see:

Application process - counselling
Proof of counselling costs
Counselling for children
Definition of disability
Additional counselling sessions
Disability Allowance and Counselling [no link find out why]
Services provided through another agency

Legislation

  • Interpretation of clauses 5C to 5D clause 5B Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance
  • Counselling expenses: general considerations clause 5C Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance
  • Counselling expenses: further considerations clause 5D Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance
  • Disability allowance: general justification clause 6 Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance
  • Disability allowance: discretionary grant section 85 Social Security Act 2018
  • Disability costs (definition) regulation 57 Social Security Regulations 2018
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A medical practitioner is commonly referred to as a doctor. Medical practitioners are health practitioners who are registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand as practitioners of the profession of medicine and hold a current practising certificate.

All medical practitioners have a unique identifying number called a Health Practitioners Index number (HPI number).

Medical practitioners don't need to have completed their training in New Zealand but must be registered with the New Zealand ...

A psychologist is a health practitioner who is registered under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 and with the New Zealand Psychologists Board. Psychologists are concerned with the study of behaviour.

Psychologists must be listed on the New Zealand Psychologists Board's Register and hold a current practising certificate.

Psychology is a broad field of practice and research which applies psychological principles to:

Nurse practitioners are health practitioners who are registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and hold a current annual practising certificate.

Nurse practitioners are expert or specialist nurses with advanced education, clinical training and experience. They have demonstrated clinical competence and have the legal authority to practice as independent healthcare providers.

All nurse practitioners have a unique identifying number called a Health Practitioners Index number (HPI number).

Some nurse practitioners have specialised ...

Oranga Tamariki-Ministry for Children is known as "Oranga Tamariki". It came into existence on 1 April 2017, and replaced what was known as "Child, Youth and Family" or CYF.

Its original name, from 1 April 2017 until 18 January 2018, was the "Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki".