Get a needs assessment
You must have a needs assessment if you want to get government-funded home help. Find out if you qualify and the support services you might get.
How a needs assessment helps you
A needs assessment is a meeting to find out what help you need with day-to-day tasks.
The aim of a needs assessment is to:
- help you stay living independently, or
- get you into an assisted living facility with the best possible help to maintain your quality of life.
You’ll need to talk about your disability and the help you need with day-to-day living.
The assessor will:
- tell you about the disability support services that are available, to help you to continue living independently in the community
- explain which services are free and what you’ll need to pay for
- work with you (and your family if appropriate), to develop a care plan that says what care you need
- tell you if living independently in the community is no longer safe because the level of care you need is high or very high.
Who can have a needs assessment
If you want to get disability support services funded by Health NZ — Te Whatu Ora, getting a needs assessment is the first step.
Needs assessments are done by the Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) service. They have offices around New Zealand. You’ll be put in touch with the one that’s closest to you.
You can only get a needs assessment if you’re eligible to receive publicly funded healthcare in New Zealand.
Get publicly funded health services
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria for publicly funded support services, talk to your NASC assessor about other services that may help you.
Who the NASC service can assess
The NASC service is the entry into publicly funded Community Support Services for:- children and adults with a physical or intellectual impairment or disability that’s likely to last for 6 months or more and means you need ongoing help to be independent
- people over 65 who, because of health concerns or a disability, need extra support with their day-to-day lives at home or in care
- anyone who has been injured and is getting help during their recovery, from the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
ACC only does a needs assessment if they think you need support that’s not related to your injury.
The assessment questions you’re asked and the disability support services you’re offered will depend on your needs and age.
How to make an appointment with an assessor
A needs assessment is usually arranged by:
- your doctor referring you — make an appointment to discuss this with your general practitioner (GP)
- if you’re in hospital, the hospital staff will contact the NASC service
- you or your family contacting your local NASC service — you may be asked to arrange a referral through your GP.
You must agree to have a needs assessment before someone can arrange one for you.
Contact your local NASC service
When the NASC service will contact you
You should hear from your local NASC service within 2 weeks of being referred. Someone will call you to schedule your assessment.
If your local NASC service considers your assessment to be urgent, a Needs Assessor will contact you within 2 working days.
If your situation is straightforward, the assessor might ask you questions over the phone first, before they visit you at home.
If your needs change or you disagree with the assessment
If your needs change — for the better or worse — you may need to be reassessed.
If you disagree with the result of your assessment, such as the level of care you need, you can ask for your NASC assessment to be reviewed.
When to get reassessed
You can be reassessed at any time. The main reason is because your needs have changed. It’s likely your care plan will need updated too.
Request a reassessment if you need more or different help. Ask your GP to request a reassessment for you or contact your local NASC service directly.
The NASC team will review the help you’re getting at least once a year. This review may be done with you by phone, or they’ll arrange a home visit with you.
How to request a review
If you have an assessment but you do not agree with it or the assessment process, you can ask for the assessment to be reviewed.
To request a review, contact:
What happens during an assessment
A person from your local NASC team will come to your home to assess you. They may be a nurse, social worker or occupational therapist.
Your assessment may take up to 3 hours.
You can invite your spouse, family, whānau, friends, an interpreter or your current carers to come to your assessment.
They can support you and help to answer the assessors’ questions.
The NASC assessor will:
- use the interRAI assessment tool to assess your current abilities, resources, goals and needs
- ask you lots of practical questions to help them understand what your needs are
- decide what disability support services you need
- tell you what happens next.
After your in-home assessment
After your assessment, your NASC assessor will:
- complete your needs assessment application
- decide what your level of need is — from very low, low, medium, high or very high
- decide the level of care you need
- develop a care plan for you
- send a letter about your assessment and care plan to you and your GP
- contact the providers who’ll deliver the disability and home support services you need
- plan to re-assess your needs again in 12 months.
The providers will contact you directly to arrange the services and equipment that the assessor has noted in your care plan.
Levels of care
There are 4 levels of care.
Your NASC assessor will tell you which disability support services are provided and what you’ll need to pay for yourself.
You need disability support services
The assessor will make a plan for all the care you need and who’ll provide it. Once you’ve agreed to your care plan, the disability support services should start within a couple of weeks. If it’s urgent, help can be arranged more quickly.
Informal support is enough
You can manage with the informal support of your family, friends and community. The assessor will suggest places where you can buy your own disability support equipment and services.
You need residential care
You can no longer manage at home.
The assessor discusses options for residential care with you. If you agree that you need this care, then you need to choose a rest home or hospital.
If you’re likely to need government help to pay, the assessor will give you a Residential Care Subsidy application form. They complete the part of the form that confirms the level of care you need.
Respite care for your carers
The assessor may also decide that your carers (your partner or close family) could benefit from having a break if you have a short stay in a rest home or hospital — this is known as respite care. This option is only available if you live with your partner or family.
Home disability support services
Your care plan may include a range of home disability support services.
These services will help you as much as is possible, to live independently.
If you have higher-level needs, you may need to move into residential care. For people 65 and over, residential care would be in a rest home or hospital.
Related services
If you’re ill or have a disability, there’s other government help that you can apply for.
For people 65 and over
- Rest homes and residential care
- Apply for a Residential Care Subsidy
- Financial help and benefits if you’re over 65
- Caring for someone with a health condition, injury or illness
- Paid whānau and family care — Health New Zealand
- Coping without a car when you’re over 65
If you have a disability
- Disability allowance
- Lottery grants for people with disabilities
- Home modifications
- Assessments and funding — Ministry of Disabled People
- Support and services — Ministry of Disabled People
- Supported living — Ministry of Disabled People
- Your rights — Health and Disability Commissioner
- Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) for personal care and welfare
If you’re recovering from an injury or fall
Other help
More information
Find an NASC assessor in your region — NASC website
Disability Information Advisory Services (DIAS) — Ministry of Disabled People
Seniorline — more information
Seniorline provides information for people 65 and over about residential care, community services and how to get help at home. It operates Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.
Freephone: 0800 725 463 (NZ only)
Phone: +64 9 375 4395
Email: seniorline@adhb.govt.nz
Who to contact for more help
If you need more help or have questions about the information or services on this page, contact one of the following agencies.
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Ministry of Health
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Accident Compensation Corporation
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Ministry of Social Development
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Department of Internal Affairs
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Senior Services
Contact and agency details