Budget 2021 impacts of initiatives for disabled people

We have pulled together information from across Budget 2021 to look at what is available for disabled people.

Initiatives specifically for disabled people

Health

Disability Support Services – Cost and Volume Pressures

This initiative will maintain services to people with long-term physical, intellectual and/or sensory impairment who require ongoing support, by funding price and volume pressures in response to increased demand for Disability Support Services.

These services help disabled people to live, with dignity, the sorts of lives that are expected to be available to all New Zealanders.

Total: $399.2 million over 4 years.

Transforming the Cross-Government Disability Support System

This initiative provides ongoing funding for the three Enabling Good Lives pilot regions in Christchurch, Waikato and Mid-Central to ensure continuity of support for disabled people, and certainty for the essential workforce in these regions. It also provides additional funding to undertake detailed design, service development and workforce capability building for a national implementation.

Total: $72.79 million over 4 years.

Justice

Access of Individuals with Disabilities to Participate as Candidates in General Elections and By-Elections

This initiative will provide funding for the Election Access Fund and funding for the Electoral Commission’s associated administration costs. The Fund is designed to make standing as a candidate in a general election or a by-election a more equitable process for individuals with disabilities.

Total: $3.31 million over 4 years.

Social Development

Growing Disability and Accessibility Leadership and Advice for Disabled People

This initiative supports Sir Robert Martin’s disability advocacy role at the United Nations and strengthens the Office for Disability Issues’ advocacy and disability advice to Government. It also enables equal access to Government information through accessible formats for disabled people and others with access needs.

Total: $5.764 million over 4 years. 

Main Benefit Increases – 1 July 2021 and 1 April 2022

This initiative increases all main benefit rates by $20 net, per week, per adult, from 1 July 2021. Following the 1 July 2021 increase, this initiative further increases all main benefit rates on 1 April 2022 to levels recommended by the Welfare Expert Advisory Group in 2019. It further increases main benefit rates for families with children by $15 net, per week, per adult from 1 April 2022.

This will directly impact disabled people receiving a main benefit including Supported Living Payment and Jobseeker Support – Health Condition and Disability.

Total: unclear how much of this spend will directly support disabled people receiving a main benefit. 

Initiatives that will have positive impacts for disabled people

Health

District Health Boards – Cost and Volume Pressures

This initiative will support improved overall health for all New Zealanders through the health and disability services provided by District Health Boards (DHBs). This funding will enable DHBs to continue providing health services for Aotearoa New Zealand’s growing and changing population in the face of inflation and other price and volume pressures.

Total: $2.7 billion over 4 years.

Health and Disability Commissioner – Sustainability and Expansion of Scope Due to New Legislation

This initiative will ensure the Health and Disability Commissioner is appropriately funded to undertake its statutory functions in the face of increasing complaint volumes and complexity, and to expand its scope when the End of Life Choice Act 2019 is implemented.

Total: $8.7 million over 4 years.

Health and Disability System Reform – Locality Health and Wellbeing Networks and Hauora Māori

This initiative provides funding to prototype Locality Health and Wellbeing Networks and an initial commissioning budget for a Māori Health Authority to invest in hauora Māori.

Total: $172.781 million over 4 years

Social Development

Improving the Subsequent Work Capacity Medical Certificate Process for Jobseeker Support – Health Condition and Disability

The initiative provides for changes to the medical certificate process for entitlement to Jobseeker Support – Health Condition and Disability, as well as an extended deferral of the current medical certificate process to 31 January 2022. Review periods will be based on a health practitioner’s recommendation to improve discretion and the client experience.

Total: $85 million over 4 years

Reinstating the Training Incentive Allowance for Levels 4 to 7 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework

This initiative will provide four years of funding to support around 16,000 sole parents, disabled people and carers receiving an eligible benefit with study costs when studying at levels 4 to 7 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. Higher level qualifications are expected to improve participants’ employment outcomes and incomes.

Funded from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.

Total: $127.045 million (Vote Social Development), $15.682 (Vote Revenue), $10.378 (Vote Tertiary Education)

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