Special Disability Allowance

A Special Disability Allowance is paid to partners living in the community to help with extra costs associated with their partner living in residential care when:

• the partner is getting New Zealand Superannuation, Veterans Pension, Supported Living Payment, Jobseeker Support or a related Emergency Benefit and
• the client is getting Residential Care Subsidy and
• the client is required to pay a benefit contribution towards their own care

Special Disability Allowance should be started from:

• the date the client in care became financially eligible for Residential Care Subsidy

When the client leaves the rest home or the person receiving the Special Disability Allowance is also admitted to hospital or long-term residential care the Special Disability Allowance should be stopped from:

• the date of the event (if in the current pay-period) or
• the first available date if the advice of the change in circumstances is received within 14 days of the event or
• the date of event if the advice of change in circumstances is received more than 14 days after the event

Following the death of the client in care Special Disability Allowance should be stopped from the 29th day.

Following the death of the partner in the community, Special Disability Allowance forms part of the Terminal Benefit and can continue for 4 weeks. This applies to the partner in the community receiving New Zealand Superannuation in their own right, Emergency Benefit paid at the Supported Living Payment rate, or as a partner receiving a joint (apportioned) benefit.