Changes to Disability Support Services from next year

Source: DSS website 

From next year, some changes are coming to Disability Support Services (DSS) funded supports. The government said that the changes are designed to give people more flexibility, fairness, and consistency in how support is provided.

These changes apply to people who have their assessment done by a Needs Assessment and Service Coordination Service (NASC), like us. They will not apply to Enabling Good Life (EGL) sites at this stage. There are currently no EGL sites in Auckland. The changes are based on feedback from the disability community.

What’s changing:

• People will get more choice and control in their use of flexible funding.
• The purchasing guidelines will be removed.
• People who get flexible funding will be provided with a budget for them to manage within.
• People will get guidance to help manage their budget. This will make flexible funding easier to use.
• All NASCs around the country will do their assessments the same way. This is so their decisions on support are fairer and more consistent.
• Families and carers will be included in assessments.

For more information, read Fact sheet: Changes to assessments and allocations, and flexible funding.