Apply for a Residential Care Loan

A Residential Care Loan is an interest-free loan paid directly to your rest home or hospital to help cover the cost of your care. You might be able to get the loan if most of your money is tied up in your house, or you have limited assets.

  1. 1

    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

  2. 2

    Complete and submit the loan application form

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

    Note:

    The loan form is part of the Residential Care Subsidy form. You have to complete both parts, and put your lawyer’s name on the form.

    Find a property lawyer — NZ Law Society

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

  3. 3

    Have your financial means assessed

    Work and Income will arrange a financial means assessment of your assets. They will consider your Residential Care loan application only if you cannot get a Residential Care Subsidy.

    Apply for a Residential Care Subsidy

  4. 4

    Sign the loan agreement

    If you are able to get the loan, Work and Income will send your lawyer a loan agreement. You will need to pay the costs for setting up this loan.

    You or your power of attorney must sign it and send it back. You’ll also need to include evidence that your property rates are paid and your house is insured.

    Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) for property

  5. 5

    Payments start

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

    It can take 6 to 8 weeks for a loan to be approved. You have to cover the cost of your care until the loan payments start.

    The loan has to be repaid within 1 year of your death, or when your house is sold or otherwise disposed of — whichever happens first.

    See how this loan works and how much you might get.

    The Residential Care Loan — Work and Income

Contact Seniorline

Seniorline provides information for older people about residential care, community services and how to get help at home.

Freephone: 0800 725 463 (NZ only)

Phone: +64 9 375 4396

Email: seniorline@adhb.govt.nz

Website: seniorline.org.nz

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