List of amendments
Unofficial consolidated version of the Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance
-- as at 1 July 2026
Below is a list of amendments to the direction, starting with the most recent.
Source | Notes |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions (Modernisation - Automated Decision-Making) 2026 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 July 2026 and 30 November 2026 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 July 2026, amends two Ministerial Directions under the Social Security Act 2018 in response to the amendments made through the Social Security (Modernisation) Amendment Act 2026 (Modernisation Act). The Ministerial directions that are being amended are set out in Schedule 1 of this instrument. The instrument amends the Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance to align with prescribed circumstances where requirements for verification of costs can be extended as described in the Social Security Regulations 2018. Where relevant, mandatory review powers have been added to existing powers of review in the Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance and the Ministerial Direction in relation to Special Benefit. These amendments ensure that these Ministerial Directions continue to operate as intended following the changes made by the Modernisation Act. The amendments also make minor editorial corrections to existing language in the Ministerial Directions. |
Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance Amendment 2020 Gazette notice: Effective date: 20 April 2020 | This instrument, which comes into force on 20 April 2020, amends the Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance under the Social Security Act 2018. It replaces clauses 2 and 3 to provide that when granting or reviewing a person's entitlement to any disability allowance, verification of any particular expense is not required if a state of local emergency or state of national emergency is in force, an epidemic notice has been given, and is in force or an event has occurred where it is reasonable to expect that either a state of emergency or epidemic notice may be imminent. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2018 Gazette notice: Effective date: 26 November 2018 | This instrument, which is made under sections 7 and 101 of the Social Security Act 2018 (the Act) and regulations 90 and 211 of the Social Security Regulations 2018 and comes into force on 26 November 2018, amends the Ministerial directions and welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964 (and saved by Schedule 1 of the Act) that are listed in the Schedule of this instrument in the manner set out in that Schedule. The amendments update references to provisions of the Social Security Act 1964 to equivalent provisions of the Act or the Social Security Regulations 2018 and for changes of language in the Act. It also revokes a spent direction and welfare programme. |
Ministerial Direction-Disability Allowance Amendment 2014 Gazette notice: Effective date: 28 February 2014 | This instrument, which comes into force on the day after its publication in the New Zealand Gazette, amends the Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance under the Social Security Act 1964 by revoking the transitional arrangements in relation to approved alarm companies and replacing them with provisions relating to arrangements for the revocation of accreditation. The revocation of an accredited supplier's accreditation will not affect the disability allowances of persons who receive services from those companies during the current terms of their contracts with those suppliers. It also amends the direction by inserting clause headings and revoking spent clauses. |
Ministerial Direction-Disability Allowance Amendment 2011 Gazette notice: Effective date: 7 October 2011 | This instrument, which takes effect on the day after its publication in the New Zealand Gazette, amends the Ministerial Direction-Disability Allowance under the Social Security Act 1964 by revoking the provisions relating to approval of suppliers of medical alarm services and replacing them with new provisions relating to accreditation of suppliers on a competitive basis. Approvals under the former process will lapse after approved suppliers have had a reasonable opportunity to apply for accreditation under the new process. The lapse of an approval will not affect the disability allowances of people who receive services from the formerly approved supplier during the current terms of their contracts with those suppliers, but the chief executive is directed to review those allowances having regard to new clause 6A and assist the person concerned to obtain medical alarm services from an accredited supplier and to vary the rate of the disability allowance accordingly. In accordance with new clause 6A of the direction, disability allowances for supply of medical alarm services from suppliers that are not accredited alarm companies will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. |
Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance Amendment 2010 Gazette notice: Effective date: 13 September 2010 | This instrument amends the Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance to permit the chief executive, when reviewing a person's entitlement to a disability allowance at any time before the close of 31 December 2010, to not require written verification of an amount that the chief executive reasonably considers to be a result of the rate of goods and services tax increasing on 1 October 2010. This instrument comes into effect on the day that it is signed. |
Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance Amendment 2008 Gazette notice: Effective date: 11 August 2008 | This amendment removes the requirement on the chief executive to verify an expense that has decreased when reviewing a person's entitlement to a disability allowance. |
Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance Amendment 2003 Gazette notice: Effective date: 24 February 2003 | This amendment places limits on the number of counselling sessions for which a disability allowance for counselling costs may be paid on and after 24 February 2003. The new limits apply to existing disability allowances for counselling costs only after they have been reviewed. It also directs the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development to review all existing disability allowances for counselling costs within 12 months of that date. |
Ministerial Direction-Disability Allowance Amendment 2001 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 July 2001 | This Amendment to the Ministerial direction on disability allowance relates to medical alarms. The Amendment requires the Department of Work and Income to establish processes for the approval of suppliers of medical alarm services, and sets criteria for the assessment of whether, and to what extent, the cost of such services is an additional cost for the purposes of eligibility for disability allowance. Other amendments made to the direction correct a drafting error or are consequential on changes in the health sector. |
Direction In Relation To Disability Allowance Amendment Gazette notice: Effective date: 3 December 1999 | This amendment is to the Direction In Relation To Disability Allowance given by the Minister of Social Services, Work and Income on 28 March 1999 under section 5 of the Social Security Act 1964. The amendment excuses the chief executive from requiring an expense to be verified, when reviewing a person's entitlement to a disability allowance, if satisfied that there is a continuing need for the expense and the amount of the expense has not changed. |
