All of us, including disabled people and whānau, should be able to access the support and services we need to live with dignity and exercise our self-determination. For too long, the Government has put finances over human rights. Cutting back essential disability funding and putting in place unfair bureaucratic hurdles that restrict our access to supports and services.

Now, the Government is reviewing how Disability Support Services (DSS) allocates and regulates flexible funding use. This is an opportunity for disabled people, whānau, and support workers to have a say on what works, what doesn't, and what changes are needed.

If it was up to the Green Party, we would have started from a human rights and Te Tiriti basis for what disability supports and services should look like, and would have asked very different questions.

Still, this consultation is an important opportunity to tell the Government how disability support services could meet our community's needs better, and to hold them to account on taking our voices seriously.

Submissions are open until 5pm on Monday 24 March 2025.

What's being consulted on?

The review is looking at:

  • Improving how disabled people's needs are assessed and how support and or services are allocated
  • Deciding what flexible funding can be used for and who is able to access it

How to have your say

How to share your views:

The last day to give your feedback is Monday 24 March.

Suggestions for making a submission

Here are some things you might want to mention if you are writing or recording a submission. What you say is up to you.

Tell the review committee why you care about the issue, as much as you’re comfortable to.

If you or your whānau use DSS, let the review know that - they are particularly keen to hear from current DSS users.

Access to information about options

  • Needs Assessment and Service Coordinators (NASCs) should proactively share information about all available options, including comparisons of their benefits and downsides
  • Disabled people and whānau should not need to have all the system knowledge of the options available to get the support and services they need. All potential options should be put on the table during assessments
  • Information about what supports and services are available beyond Disability Support Services should be clear, including the steps required to access it and appropriate guidance on if support avenues are not providing the support they should.

Assessments

  • The assessment process must be accessible and culturally safe. This means taking time to build connection and trust with the disabled person, and whānau where relevant, as well as providing information about the process in advance and allowing people to share any needs and preferences to ensure full participation
  • The role of carers and the wider whānau must be taken into account in assessments in a way which is comfortable for both the disabled person/people and whānau. Carers are significantly undervalued, and reliance on "natural supports" should not be used as a cost-saving strategy
  • While consistency between needs assessment processes should be considered, it is essential to make sure that people with more complex circumstances do not miss out as a result. People with the same condition may have very different contexts and needs.

Flexible funding

  • Flexible funding should be based solely on funding disability-related supports and services and not further criteria. Disabled people, and whānau, should have broad discretion to use it without unnecessary restrictions
  • The total budget already provides the necessary safeguard for spending, so people should not be required to create detailed plans or choose from pre-approved lists
  • Access to flexible funding should come with clear information about how it works and the different ways to manage it.

Removing restrictions on individualised funding

  • Disability support restrictions should be removed to improve flexibility, including:
    • Means testing for household support
    • Exclusions of support worker travel
    • Restrictions on respite options
    • Exclusion of taxi funding from flexible funding.