The Disability Allowance is a weekly Work and Income payment that helps cover the extra costs of living with a disability or ongoing health condition. Crucially, it’s available to people who are working — not just those on a main benefit. Many eligible New Zealanders are unaware they qualify.
The Disability Allowance pays up to $89.51/week (2026) to cover disability-related costs such as medications, medical equipment, special food, home help, and transport to medical appointments. You can be working full-time and still receive it — it's income-tested but with relatively high income thresholds. Apply via Work and Income with a signed medical certificate.
What the Disability Allowance Covers
The Disability Allowance is paid based on your actual ongoing disability-related costs, up to the weekly maximum. Eligible costs include:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Medications | Prescription costs not covered by PHARMAC subsidy; over-the-counter medications regularly needed for the condition |
| Medical equipment | CPAP machines, hearing aids, wheelchairs, nebulisers, blood glucose monitors |
| Special food or dietary requirements | Gluten-free food (if coeliac disease is the disability), specialist nutritional products |
| Home help | Cleaning, personal care, home maintenance if the disability prevents you doing these yourself |
| Transport to medical appointments | Fuel costs or taxi fares for regular medical visits |
| Hearing aid batteries | Ongoing consumable costs |
| Specialist clothing | If required due to the disability |
| Communication costs | If disability requires special communication methods |
| Additional heating | If the disability requires a warmer environment |
The key requirement is that the costs must be ongoing (not one-off) and directly caused by the disability or health condition.
Maximum Weekly Rate (2026)
| Household | Max weekly Disability Allowance |
|---|---|
| Any household | $89.51/week |
The actual amount paid is based on your documented eligible costs — if your verified disability-related costs are $60/week, you’ll receive $60/week (not the $89.51 maximum). To receive the maximum, you must have at least $89.51/week in eligible costs.
Who Is Eligible
To receive the Disability Allowance, you must:
- Have a disability or health condition that is expected to last at least 6 months
- Have ongoing costs directly related to that disability
- Meet income and asset tests (see below)
- Be a NZ citizen or permanent resident ordinarily resident in NZ
- Have your disability/costs confirmed by a medical professional (doctor, specialist, physiotherapist, etc.)
You do not need to be on a main benefit. Many working people with chronic conditions, disabilities, or ongoing health costs qualify.
Income and Asset Tests
The Disability Allowance has income and asset thresholds. Unlike some other payments, these thresholds are relatively high — many working people with moderate incomes qualify.
Income limits (approximate, 2026, weekly net income)
| Household type | Approx. income limit |
|---|---|
| Single person, no children | ~$1,200/week net |
| Couple, no children | ~$1,700/week combined net |
| Single with 1–2 children | ~$1,400/week net |
| Couple with 1–2 children | ~$1,900/week combined net |
These income limits are significantly higher than for many other Work and Income payments, meaning a substantial proportion of working New Zealanders with disabilities may qualify.
Asset test
Standard Work and Income asset thresholds apply (approximately $8,100 for single, $16,200 for couples in liquid assets). Your home and KiwiSaver are excluded.
Conditions and Disabilities That May Qualify
The Disability Allowance is condition-agnostic — what matters is whether you have documented ongoing costs, not which specific condition you have. Common qualifying conditions include:
- Diabetes (insulin, blood glucose monitoring costs)
- Asthma (inhalers, spacers, peak flow meters)
- Coeliac disease (gluten-free food costs)
- Sleep apnoea (CPAP machine and consumables)
- Heart conditions (ongoing medications)
- Chronic pain conditions (medications, physio, specialist visits)
- Mental health conditions (if they result in ongoing costs not fully covered by public health)
- Hearing loss (hearing aid batteries and maintenance)
- Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and other neurological conditions
- Cancer (ongoing treatment-related costs)
- Physical disabilities requiring aids or home modifications
How to Apply
Step 1: Get a medical certificate
Your GP, specialist, or other medical professional must complete a Disability Allowance Medical Certificate confirming your condition and the disability-related costs you have. Ask your doctor for this at your next appointment — there may be a GP administration fee for completing the form (~$25–$50).
Step 2: List your costs
Prepare a list of your regular disability-related costs with supporting evidence:
- Pharmacy receipts for regular medications
- Invoices for home help or support services
- Evidence of special food or dietary costs
- Records of regular transport costs to medical appointments
Step 3: Apply
- Online at workandincome.govt.nz
- By phone: 0800 559 009
- In person at any Work and Income service centre
Work and Income will assess your application and the documented costs. The process typically takes 5–15 working days.
Disability Allowance vs Supported Living Payment
These are two different payments — don’t confuse them:
| Feature | Disability Allowance | Supported Living Payment |
|---|---|---|
| For | Covering extra costs of disability | Income support when you cannot work due to disability |
| Can work and receive? | Yes | Partially — income tested with lower thresholds |
| Based on | Your actual documented costs | Your household situation and inability to work |
| Max weekly rate | $89.51 | $387 – $450 |
You can receive both the Disability Allowance and the Supported Living Payment at the same time if you qualify for both.
What to Do If You’re Declined
If your application is declined:
- Ask for a review — Work and Income must explain the reasons for declining and you have the right to an internal review
- Provide more evidence — many declines are due to insufficient documentation of costs, not ineligibility
- Seek advocacy — Community Law Centres, Citizens Advice Bureau, and disability advocacy organisations (such as Disabled Persons Assembly NZ) can help you navigate the appeals process