Income and cash asset test

What is an income and cash asset test?

An income and cash asset test looks at your:

• income
• cash assets
• expenses.

The test works out how much funding you may be able to get. It will assess if you need to contribute towards the cost of any home modification you need, or if Disability Support Services will pay the full amount for the modifications.

The test is carried out after your housing assessor has talked with you about your needs but before detailed plans are drawn up and any building works commence.

The test itself is done by Work and Income. 

Who needs to have an income and cash asset test?

You will need an income and cash asset test if you are 16 years of age or older and the total cost of the modifications to your home is more than $8,076 (including GST). The total cost includes the cost of any other modifications that Disability Support Services or the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha has already funded for you since you turned 16 years of age.

Parents or caregivers of a disabled child aged 15 years or younger do not need to have an income and cash asset test for modifications to their home that will assist their child.

How to get an income and cash asset test

This process consists of eight steps:

1. Your housing assessor confirms you are eligible and meet the criteria for Disability Support Services funding for home modifications.
2. The housing assessor works with you and your builder or building consultant to estimate the total cost of your home modifications. This is added to the cost of any modifications Disability Support Services or the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha has funded for you in the past (after you turned 16 years of age). They help you send a request for funding to the DSS housing modifications funding managers, Accessable or Enable New Zealand.
3. Accessable or Enable New Zealand review your request for housing modifications to make sure it meets the DSS funding guidelines.
4. They send you the income and cash asset test forms. You will need to complete these forms and send them back to Work and Income.
5. Work and Income review your completed forms and work out how much of the cost, if any, you need to pay towards the modifications to your home.
6. Work and Income notify Accessable or Enable New Zealand to let them know the result.
7. Accessable or Enable New Zealand send you a letter to let you know whether you need to pay any or all of the costs of the modifications to your home.
8. Your housing assessor receives a copy of the same letter. They will talk with you about what happens next.

What is covered in the income and cash asset test?

The income and cash asset test is based on your total income and expenses and the income and expenses of any of the following adults who live with you:

• your partner
• your parents or guardians (if you are 16 years of age or older)
• the owners of the property.

The test covers three areas:

• Income: You must list any income you, and the other adults listed above living with you, earn. This may include income from paid employment, interest from investments, rent or boarders.
• Cash assets: You must also list any money or other assets that you, and the other adults listed above living with you, have. This may include bank deposits, shares or any other investments or property you own. You do not need to include the home you are living in as an asset.
• Expenses: You also need to list your living costs, such as accommodation, food, heating, telephone, insurance, medical and prescription charges. It is important to include all expenses related to your disability in your income and cash asset test.

Can you choose not to have an income and cash asset test?

Yes, you can choose not to have an income and cash asset test. However, this will limit the amount of funding you can get from Disability Support Services.

If you decide not to have an income and cash asset test, you can only get up to $8,076 (including GST). This includes any funding for any other modifications to your home that DSS or the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha has already funded for you since you turned 16 years of age.

Related resources

Find out more about the income and cash asset test where you live.

If you live in Auckland or Northland, contact Accessable by

• Freephone 0508 001 002
• Email info@accessable.co.nz

If you live anywhere else in New Zealand, contact Enable New Zealand

• Freephone 0800 17 1981
• Email enable@enable.co.nz

Or you can contact Work and Income external.