Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Residential Care and Disability Support Services Act 2018

Special case persons - 50+ single person

22: 50+ single person liable to make income contribution only

You could also call this:

"Single people over 50 pay for care based on their income, not what they own."

Illustration for Residential Care and Disability Support Services Act 2018

If you are a single person over 50, you only have to pay a part of the cost of your long-term residential care based on your income. This is called an income contribution, which is decided by a means assessment under section 37. You are treated as if you had no assets or not enough assets to pay for your care.

You do not have to pay the full cost of your care. The organisation that pays for your care, called the appropriate funder, pays the rest of the cost. They pay the difference between what you contribute and the total cost of your care.

The amount you pay is based on your income, not on what you own. This means you can get the care you need without having to use all of your assets to pay for it.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS41574.

Topics:
Health and wellbeing > Healthcare servicesMoney and consumer rights > Savings and retirementFamily and relationships > Children and parenting
Previous

21: Who is 50+ single person, or

"A 50+ single person is someone aged 50-64, single, with no kids, getting funded care."

Next

23: Who is exempt person, or

"Who doesn't have to follow all the rules about paying for care and support services"

Part 4Special case persons
50+ single person

2250+ single person liable to make income contribution only

  1. A 50+ single person (A) is liable to make only an income contribution (that is, a contribution based on income as determined by a means assessment under section 37) towards the cost of A’s LTR contracted care, that is, A must be treated as if A had been—

  2. means tested as to assets; and
    1. determined to have assets equal to or below the applicable asset threshold.

      1. In relation to each 50+ single person, the appropriate funder must pay the difference between that person’s contribution and the cost of that person’s LTR contracted care.

      Compare