Gardening, lawns and outside window cleaning

MSD must check whether the client qualifies for Disability Allowance for help with gardening, lawns or outside window cleaning.

If the client qualifies for Disability Allowance, this must be granted before MSD assesses whether the client qualifies for Temporary Additional Support.

The client may have allowable health and disability costs for Temporary Additional Support when they do not qualify for Disability Allowance because:

• they do not meet the Disability Allowance income limit or
• their disability will last less than 6 months or
• they are certain refugees, protected persons or residence applicants.

A registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner must complete a Disability Allowance medical certificate confirming the client's disability, the need for treatment and that gardening, lawn mowing or outside window cleaning is necessary. 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

Allowable costs for Temporary Additional Support can include the costs of gardening, lawn mowing, and outside window cleaning for the client's own home or private residence.

These costs can only be included if the client is unable to do these tasks themselves because of their disability but cannot be included solely based on of the client's age.

Allowable costs for Temporary Additional Support do not include:

• house repairs or house painting as these are part of normal living costs, and are not due to the client's disability
• indoor household maintenance (e.g. carpet cleaning) as funding for home help is available through Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora MSD should refer the client to the local Hospital and Health Services home support services
• gardening, lawn mowing or window cleaning costs that are included in a standard service fee charged to all residents of a retirement village or complex. However there are exceptions, for more information see: Retirement Villages
• gardening, lawn mowing or window cleaning carried out by family members.

When a client has high gardening costs (e.g. due to the extra work involved in maintaining a large property, or high maintenance gardens) the client should look at other options for meeting or alleviating the cost.

The client must provide:

• a Disability Allowance medical certificate completed and signed by a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner and
• receipts or quotes for the cost of the gardening work - a receipt showing actual costs is preferred

Note sometimes gardening costs are covered as part of the client's tenancy agreement. MSD should check if this applies to the client before accepting these as allowable costs.

The costs must be reasonable, and consideration given to the client's circumstances and the seasonal demands. Generally, lawns will not require mowing every week throughout the colder months.

If the client has difficulty getting a receipt, the client's statement of the hourly rate paid, plus a quote from the gardener stating the time taken per week is acceptable.