Health travel costs

If the client meets all qualifications, they may be able to receive a non-recoverable Special Needs Grant to assist with Health-related travel costs if they:

• are referred by a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner to a secondary health service for medical treatment, assessment or services
• are not receiving assistance for travel or accommodation for that treatment, assessment or services from any Health Agency (other than the Accident Rehabilitation Compensation and Insurance Corporation or an insurer within the meaning of the Accident Insurance Act 1998 see: Cover under Accident Rehabilitation and Insurance)
• are not receiving assistance under the National Travel Assistance Scheme and
• cannot receive a Disability Allowance for that travel or accommodation

For information about Special Needs Grants for other travel costs see:

• Designated health practitioner assessment travel
• Pregnancy terminations

Except where specifically provided for in the Special Needs Grants programme (that is, for terminations, vasectomies, overseas medical treatment and secondary health travel costs), travel costs are the responsibility of the patient's local District Health Board.

Some District Health Board's provide assistance with travel costs on a reimbursement system (that is, the patient pays the costs and seeks reimbursement from the District Health Board). Because the District Health Board is funded to meet these travel costs it is not appropriate to use a Special Needs Grant to meet the travel costs. In these situations, you may consider granting a recoverable Other emergency grants

Travel costs can be paid when these costs are the result of a one-off appointment, for example, day surgery, or consultations such as grommets or tonsillitis etc.

Unless exceptional circumstances exist, the maximum amount payable is $300. This can be made for:

• the actual and reasonable travel expenses for a return journey of least 8 kilometres to the place of treatment, assessment or services and
• the actual and reasonable cost of accommodation and meals if overnight stay away from home is necessary to attend the treatment, assessment or services

Note If a person has a Community Services Card, they can get a 50% discount on public transport fares through Community Connect

Special Needs Grants for this purpose are:

• non-recoverable
• not restricted to one payment for the same or similar purpose in any 52-week period