KidsHealth NZ Financial Help When Your Child Has Diabetes
Financial Help When Your Child Has Diabetes
Financial support may be available because of your child's extra needs with managing diabetes.
Where do I get financial help if my child has diabetes?
You may be able to get financial support because of your child's extra needs.
You can talk about which allowances you might be able to get with your:
- family doctor
- paediatrician
- hospital team
- social worker
Support through Work and Income - Te Hiranga Tangata
This includes:
- Child Disability Allowance
- Disability Allowance
- Community Services Card
For information and application forms, visit the Work and Income - Te Hiranga Tangata website or:
- go to your nearest Work and Income office
- call Work and Income on 0800 559 009
- talk to your diabetes team, diabetes doctor, or social worker
Can I get the Child Disability Allowance?
This is an allowance for the main carer of a child with a serious disability. Diabetes is included in this. It is paid because of the extra care needed for that child.
The Child Disability Allowance is a set amount and doesn't depend on your income, assets or costs.
What do I need to do to get the Child Disability Allowance?
To receive the allowance, you need to be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
You will need to complete a Child Disability Allowance application form (PDF, 484 KB).
Your family doctor or paediatrician needs to complete the medical certificate at the end of the form. This includes questions about whether your child can get the allowance.
For more information, including current rates, you can go to the Work and Income website or call free on 0800 559 009.
You can also find out the current rate for the Child Disability Allowance.
Can I get the Disability Allowance?
You may be able to get this allowance as well as the Child Disability Allowance. It is a weekly payment for families of children who have regular, ongoing costs because of their child's disability. The amount you get depends on how much you and your partner earn. There is a limit to how much you can claim each week.
What are some examples of costs the Disability Allowance may cover?
Some costs might be:
- visits to the doctor
- medicines
- hypoglycaemia treatment
- gluten free food (if your child also has coeliac disease)
- travel to medical services
What do I need to do to get the Disability Allowance?
You must be caring for the child who has diabetes. Your doctor needs to sign an application form. You will need to send in receipts for your ongoing costs, with your application, and then every year after that.
Ask your healthcare worker for a form.
Find out more about the Disability Allowance at the Work and Income - Te Hiranga Tangata website.
Can I get a Community Services Card?
The Community Services Card can help you and your family with the costs of healthcare. You'll pay less for some health services and prescriptions. If you have not received one, please phone Work and Income on 0800 999 999.e
Find out about the Community Services Card at the Work and Income - Te Hiranga Tangata website.
What other help can I get from Work and Income?
Work and Income has a wide range of other financial help.
If you have costs that you can't meet on your own, contact Work and Income on 0800 559 009.
You can also check the types of extra help you can get.
What support can I get through Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand?
Support from Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand includes:
- Carer Support Subsidy
- National Travel Assistance
Carer Support Subsidy
The Carer Support is a subsidy that helps you take some time out for yourself. It provides reimbursement for some of the costs of care and support for your child while you have a break.
Find out about the Carer Support Subsidy at the Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand website.
What are some examples of costs the Carer Support Subsidy may cover?
Some costs may be:
- respite caregivers
- holiday programmes
- glucose monitoring devices
What do I need to do to get the Carer Support Subsidy?
You must be caring for the child who has diabetes and who needs regular glucose monitoring and medicines.
Your doctor needs to complete a registration form.
Once you have received confirmation from Te Whatu Ora you can make a claim.
How do I submit a claim?
You can submit either an invoice (request for payment) or a receipt (reimbursement of payment).
You can send Carer Support forms by email to csclaims@health.govt.nz.
If requesting the Carer Support Subsidy for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) you need to submit the following:
- a letter written by the Clinical Network for Children and Young People with Diabetes (PDF, 335 KB) - you will need to fill in your personal details
- a copy of a quote for the CGM you are wanting (screenshot of costs)
- a claim form
- a copy of a document from Te Whatu Ora - Te Whatu Ora Carer Support Subsidy Purchasing Guidelines (PDF, 206 KB)
Your diabetes team can help you out with this process as well.
National Travel Assistance
If you have to travel long distances (or travel often) to go to diabetes appointments, or hospital admissions, you may be able to get some costs covered under the National Travel Assistance (NTA) Scheme.
Is there any other financial help I can get?
This page last reviewed 06 September 2023.
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