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Disability Allowance : Contents

Medical alarms

A medical alarm is a device worn by a person so they can call for emergency medical help at any time.

There are 2 types of medical alarms that can be included in Disability Allowance:

  • In-home medical alarms - which provide support to clients while at home
  • Anywhere medical alarms - which provide support to clients while at home and out in the community

The disability and need for a medical alarm must be verified by the client's registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner on the Disability Allowance - Medical Alarm Assessment form. The certificate must also confirm the treatment is beneficial and of therapeutic value and that the costs are:

  • additional and
  • ongoing and
  • directly related to the client's disability

Note when a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner indicates on the client's Disability Allowance medical certificate that treatment by another registered health practitioner is necessary, that practitioner must verify the costs of their services.

Disability Allowance can be paid to cover the costs of medical alarm rental and monitoring if the:

  • client meets the qualifications for Disability Allowance and
  • medical alarm is necessary for normal daily living, and without it the client's life or health would be put at risk, or their disability would get worse and
  • need for the medical alarm is an ongoing, additional cost directly related to the client's disability or personal health need and
  • medical alarm is supplied by an MSD-accredited medical alarm supplier, unless exceptional circumstances exist where the medical alarm services the client requires are not available through an MSD-accredited medical alarm supplier

Disability Allowance cannot be paid to cover the costs of:

  • buying medical alarms or smoke alarms (which are often marketed with medical alarms) because this is a one-off cost, not an ongoing cost or
  • alarms installed for security reasons as this is not a cost directly related to the client's disability or
  • a medical alarm cost that is included in the standard service fee for a client living in a retirement village or complex

Medical Alarms - additional pendant

When there is more than 1 occupant in the home needing a medical alarm service, MSD may fund an additional pendant if:

  • the second person qualifies for Disability Allowance in their own right and
  • a separate Medical Alarm Assessment form has been completed for the second person by their registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner

If 1 client needs an in-home alarm and 1 client needs an anywhere alarm, pricing for these combinations will differ across MSD-accredited suppliers because their products differ. Clients need to consider this when selecting a supplier.

Medical Alarms for Retirement Village residents

Disability Allowance generally cannot be paid for the medical alarm costs of a client living in a retirement village or complex, however there are some exceptions.

For more information see:

Qualifications
Proof of medical alarm costs
Medical alarm price changes
Exceptional circumstances - non MSD-accredited suppliers
Medical alarms for Retirement Village residents
Clients medical alarm supplier is not MSD-accredited
Retirement villages
Definition of disability

Legislation

  • Disability Allowance: discretionary grant section 85(2)(d) Social Security Act 2018
  • Medical alarm services: justification clause 6A Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance
  • Verification of additional expenses clause 2 Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance
  • Additional expenses: considerations clause 4 Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance
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A health practitioner is a person who is registered with an authority as a practitioner of a particular health profession under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. All health practitioners have a unique identifying number called a Health Practitioners Index number (HPI number).

MSD may require information from a registered health practitioner to help determine a person's eligibility for some types of financial assistance.

Note unless specifically mentioned otherwise, most medical ...

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 ...

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 ...