Special Disability Allowance

A Special Disability Allowance is paid to the partner of a client who is receiving the hospital rate. It is paid to the person not in hospital to help with the extra costs of their partner's hospitalisation, for example travel costs to visit the patient.

Note that Special Disability Allowance is:

• granted without the client having to apply
• paid separately from Disability Allowance and
• not income or asset tested

Special Disability Allowance can start from when the partner's rate of benefit is increased to the single rate (and the patient's benefit is reduced to the hospital rate).

For more information see:

• Deskfile Special Disability Allowance rates

Special Disability Allowance should be stopped from the first available date if the person receiving it is also admitted to hospital.