Carer Support during Covid-19

Ministry of Health are making an exception to allow people who are not parents and are over the age of 16 years living at same address to be a support carer during Covid19 lockdown. Disability Connect has been told that full time carers can claim for essential items required by using their allocation days this will require a receipt of payment to be attached to claim form or proof of purchase to be held for Auditing purposes in the near future. They will still be allocated in half and full day amounts.

During the COVID-19 response you can spend Carer Support on any support or service that helps you have a break from caring for a person with a disability. As it is up to you to choose what support or services to buy, it’s your job to make sure the respite is good quality and covers all your requirements. In most cases, if you run out of Carer Support, you will not get additional funding. You cannot use your Carer Support for the following: illegal activities, gambling or alcohol to pay for things that are not disability supports like rent/mortgage, food, personal debt, gifts, power, usual household items etc. You will need to keep a simple record of what you have spent the money on and when you buy items, keep the receipts.

Email claim forms to csclaims@health.govt.nz