Special Needs Grants
A client granted Residential Support Subsidy may be able to receive a Special Needs Grant if they meet all of the qualifications.
Before considering a Special Needs Grant, check that the item that they are applying for is not paid by, or the responsibility of, the service provider.
When processing a recoverable Special Needs Grant in SWIFTT, the Residential Support Subsidy must be suspended first to access the appropriate screen in SWIFTT and recommend/approve/decline the Special Needs Grant. You must contact the Residential Subsidy Unit in Whangarei who will do this for you. They will be responsible for resuming the Residential Support Subsidy and redirecting the benefit contribution.
Please note
When recommending a recoverable Special Needs Grant an offset amount is required to be entered in SWIFTT. This offset amount is then removed by the Residential Subsidy Unit when resuming the Residential Support Subsidy.
The recoverable Special Needs Grant must not be recovered from the client's Personal Allowance unless the client gives their permission. Do not commence recovery of any recoverable Special Needs Grant until the client is released from care, or in the event of death, seek recovery from the client's estate.
If the client gives their permission to recover the Special Needs Grant from their Personal Allowance the appropriate MSD Collections is added as a payee on the client's record.
Re-establishment grant
If a client has lived in a hospital, hospital unit or residential home continuously as a patient for the preceding six months or more and are resettling themselves in the community independent of a Residential Care facility, they may be able to receive a re-establishment grant.
