Apply for a Residential Care Subsidy

Arrange a care needs assessment

To contact a needs assessor in your area:

• ask your doctor, hospital, social worker or other health provider to arrange an assessment — or they can tell you who to contact
• phone your local Te Whatu Ora — Health New Zealand and ask to be put through to the Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination (NASC) service
• contact your local Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination (NASC) service directly.

Find your local Te Whatu Ora — Health NZ website

Find your local NASC service — NASC

Get a needs assessment

Complete and submit the subsidy application form

If you need long-term care, your needs assessor will give you the Residential Care Subsidy application form.

Complete the form and send it to Work and Income — where to send it is on the form.

Have your financial means assessed

Work and Income will arrange a financial means assessment for you. They look at your income, age and if you have any dependent children. They will work out:

• if your assets are below the threshold and you meet the criteria for the Residential Care Subsidy
• if you need to help to pay for your care and how much, based on your income assessment.

If you do not meet the criteria for the Residential Care Subsidy, Work and Income will confirm this in a letter to you.

If you’re over 65, Work and Income will also assess your assets.

You’ll hear from Work and Income

Work and Income will tell you the result of your financial means assessment. They will also tell the Ministry of Health, Te Whatu Ora — Health NZ and your rest home or hospital.

If you are not eligible for the Residential Care Subsidy, you have to pay for the cost of your care. You might be able to get a Residential Care Loan.

Apply for a Residential Care Loan

Payments start

The Ministry of Health will pay your rest home or hospital directly.

You can get your payments backdated 90 days from the day your application is received.