A young person hanging out with her grandmother in the dining area

Carer support: Who does what

Carer Support is a financial contribution designed to assist carers to have a break. While some may think we manage this support, it’s actually set up a little differently. Here’s how it works.

Carer Support doesn’t sit with one organisation alone. It’s a joint effort across three parts of the system, which means responsibilities are shared.

We allocate Carer Support. We find out who is eligible and how much a person may receive based on their disability-related needs, following a comprehensive needs assessment.

DSS fund it and set the rules for how it can be used.

The Carer Support team at Health NZ are the ones to contact for anything day-to-day, such as:

  • finding out how many Carer Support hours you have left
  • how to complete a Carer Support claim form, and
  • understanding Carer Support rules based on the Purchasing Guidelines

Health NZ no longer sends claim forms. If this is a barrier for you, contact their Carer Support team to discuss your other options.

Find out more about Carer Support. If you’re ever unsure, feel free to ask us and we’ll point you in the right direction.