It has taken over a year, but the New Zealand government has lifted controversial restrictions on what disabled people can purchase with their allocated funding.
Under an approach known as Enabling Good Lives, disabled people had increasingly been given more choice and control over how they spend their disability support funding.
But in mid-March of 2024, the government announced, without consulting the sector, new limits on what they could purchase with their funding. Changes were also made to the way equipment, such as wheelchairs and home modifications, was prioritised, whereas things such as respite care were heavily restricted.
The Ministry for Disabled People said the new policy did not represent a cut in overall funding, but advocates and the opposition argued that it did by preventing families from accessing the care they needed….
New Zealand Government Backs Down on Disbability Payment Restrictions
