Work and Income
Strange new lands
People often come into our support group asking for advice, never having needed income support in their lives. FND tends to happen to people who have been overloading their lives with responsibilities and projects. We are often earning well when this illness strikes and pushes us out of the wage economy.
Whenever you talk with Work and Income (WINZ), its a good idea to understand your entitlements before hand. If the Work and Income site is too hard to get your head around have a talk with these people.
This site gives general info on financial support for disabled people in Aotearoa.
Family tax credits
If there is a child under 18 in the household and you can work part time, you may be eligible for family tax credits. A couple can work up to 30 hours a week. Sole parent household can work up to 20 hours a week.
Tax credits can be combined with the Accommodation Supplement to bring your income up quite a bit higher than Work and Income benefits.
Have a look through this website.
Work and Income (WINZ)
Work and Income will help you if your income drops low enough. You are unlikely to be entitled to any financial support if you have a partner who earns a wage. You may be eligible for a few benefits, like the Accommodation Supplement or the Disability Allowance if your income is low and your expenses high. These are your normal entitlements as a citizen and have nothing to do with your FND.
Nobody working?
If your partner does not work, or you are on your own, you may be eligible for weekly income support. When you apply for this support they will assemble your weekly income out of multiple different benefits that each have their own rules. Some rules differ depending on where you live. There's is your base benefit, and then there are your add-ons.
It is likely that you will go on the Jobseeker Benefit as your base benefit. This is not the right name really. You wont be seeking work. You will be getting an exemption from work requirements every three months. It is likely that your bundle of benefits will, at least for a while, contain Temporary Additional Support, and the aforementioned Accommodation Supplement and the Disability Allowance.
The Work and Income website is great. Easy to use and relatively simple.
The person who processes your application is legally obliged to make sure that you get everything that you are entitled to. Ask them to to confirm that you have received your full entitlement.
Medical certificates
If your FND is the main reason that you are applying for a benefit, you will need to provide a medical certificate from your GP. It's likely that you will need to renew this medical certificate every three months. We suggest that you make this appointment three months in advance when you are at the doctor paying the bill. It can take weeks to get a GP appointment these days. Having your spot booked at the right time will mean you wont miss out and your wont have your income cut off.
Funding for mobility aids
Unfortunately there is no specific funding for FND. Those non-governmental organisations that would normally fund wheelchairs do not generally provide funding for people with FND. This is because doctors argue that mobility aids prolongs our illness.
It is our understanding that most people fund their own.