Fact sheet: accessing and using flexible funding

• Fact sheet: accessing and using flexible funding (PDF 308 KB)
• Fact sheet: accessing and using flexible funding (DOCX 501 KB)

Translations of this fact sheet into Te Reo Māori, Samoan and Tongan have been commissioned and will be added here as soon as they are available. 

Our goal is to build a disability support system where all disabled people can access fair, consistent and transparent services and supports.

This fact sheet relates to Recommendation 6 – Establish flexible funding criteria and review guidelines – from the 2024 Independent Review of Disability Support Services (DSS).

Your feedback will help Government to make decisions to stabilise disability support services before considering further work to strengthen those supports into the future. 

Why change is needed to flexible funding

We have been told that accessing flexible funding improved lives.

Recent changes to flexible funding reduced people’s flexibility to meet their needs in the way that works best for them.

There is a lack of transparency about what flexible funding is, and what it can be used for.

This makes it difficult for those allocated flexible funding to know whether the amount allocated to them is the amount they are entitled to.

It also makes it difficult to be know if it is being used effectively. 

What we want to achieve

We want to ensure disabled people, their whānau and carers – who are able, and want to manage their own budgets – can access flexible funding to meet their particular needs.

We want to improve the transparency of the flexible funding system so that Government and DSS users can have confidence that it is being allocated fairly and supports the outcomes it is provided for.

We need to ensure that flexible funding is being used consistently, and if it is the best way for a disabled person to receive their support.

We want to hear from you

The consultation will include options for changing how flexible funding can be used:

• Option 1: link flexible funding to the person’s plan, with oversight of how it is used.
• Option 2: adjust current lists of what can and cannot be funded using flexible funding.

It will also include questions and invite comments on introducing criteria to access flexible funding.

While the consultation does not include a specific option to turn back the March 2024 hanges to flexible funding, it does include the criteria and how flexible funding can be used.

How to participate 

• Attend an in person workshop.
• Attend an online briefing workshop.
• Make a submission – either in writing or by video.
• Complete a short survey (this is the quickest way to have your say).

It will be helpful to read either the full Discussion document (or summary document) before participating.