Child mental health

The following financial assistance from the Department of work and Income may be available to you:

Disability Allowance - provides assistance to meet the ongoing costs associated with having a disability. To get the Disability Allowance, the child or young person must be assessed by a registered medical practitioner or specialist as having a disability likely to last at least six months, and requiring either ongoing help with normal living tasks or ongoing supervision or support from a registered health professional.

Disability Allowance for counselling is only paid if the cost is not met through another agency such as Special Education (part of the Ministry of Education), Child, Youth and Family, Child, Adolescent and Family Services, or ACC.

Child Disability Allowance - is a non-taxable allowance that is paid to the principal caregiver of a child with a serious disability. It is paid in recognition of the extra care required for a child or young person with special needs. There is no income or asset test. The child must:

  • be dependent - under the age of 18, living at home and financially dependent on the caregiver
  • be ordinarily resident in NZ
  • have a physical or mental disability
  • need constant care and attention because of that disability, and
  • be likely to need that care for at least 12 months.


Invalids Benefit - is available to people unable to work because they are permanently and severely restricted in their ability to do so. Young people aged 16 or over may be eligible for this benefit, even if they are attending school or continuing their education, as long as they meet the medical requirements. This means that they must have a disability that is expected to continue for at least 2 years and be unable to regularly work 15 hours a week or more. A young person with a disability can receive an Invalids Benefit without having to go through an assessment by a designated doctor if they are still at school and their latest report from Special Education states clearly that their work capacity is permanently and severely restricted.

People receiving the Invalids Benefit are also eligible to apply for the Disability Allowance.

The Sensitive Claims Unit of ACC assists people who are dealing with mental health issues resulting from sexual abuse or sexual assault. This applies to children and young people as well.
 

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