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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Social Security Act 2018

Assistance - Child disability allowance

78: Child disability allowance: discretionary grant

You could also call this:

“Allowance for children with serious disabilities who live at home or in special care”

You can get a child disability allowance for a child if they have a serious disability. The child must be cared for in their main caregiver’s home, or in a temporary caregiver’s home. Sometimes, the child can be in special weekly accommodation if a charity runs it and the parent or guardian pays some of the cost. If the child is in this kind of accommodation, they must be cared for by their parent or guardian during school holidays or weekends.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6783267.

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Family and relationships > Children and parenting
Health and wellbeing > Healthcare services
Money and consumer rights > Savings and retirement
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“Rules for getting help with childcare costs”

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79: Meaning of child with a serious disability, or

“What counts as a child with a serious disability needing constant care”

Part 2 Assistance
Child disability allowance

78Child disability allowance: discretionary grant

  1. MSD may grant a child disability allowance for a child (C) if C—

  2. is a child with a serious disability; and
    1. is being cared for—
      1. in the home of C’s principal caregiver or temporary OB or UCB caregiver; or
        1. in approved weekly accommodation (and the child is cared for by C’s parent or guardian during school holidays or weekends).

        2. In subsection (1), approved weekly accommodation means accommodation—

        3. that is operated by an approved voluntary organisation; and
          1. the cost of which C’s parent or guardian is required to contribute to.

            Compare
            Notes
            • Section 78(1)(b)(i): amended, on , by section 8 of the Social Security (Financial Assistance for Caregivers) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 25).