18 August 2023
Damien Cleverley
[FYI request #23614 email]
Tēnā koe Damien,
On 28 July 2023
, you emailed the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry)
requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following
information:
•
I would like to request internal policy documents utilised by case
managers & other staff to determine eligibility and coverage for the
disability allowance, special needs grants & any return to work grants
available.
•
If this includes a list of all items that would be considered under the
disability allowance, and the appropriate evidence for the same, that
would be great.
The Ministry staff use a tool called Manuals and Procedure (MAP) when
determining eligibility for financial assistance. MAP is publicly available and can
be found at this link
: www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/index.html.
You can find at the follow links information to determine eligibility to Disability
Allowance, Special Needs Grants and the qualification for return to work
grants:
Disability Allowance:
www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/disability-
allowance.html;
www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/income-support/extra-help/disability-
allowance/index.html.
Information relating to costs paid for under Disability Allowance can be found
at this link:
www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/income-support/extra-help/disability-
allowance/costs-paid-for-01.html.
Special Needs Grants:
www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/special-needs-
grant.html;
www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/income-support/extra-help/special-needs-
grant/index.html.
Transition to Work Grant:
www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/transition-to-work-
grant.html.
Assistance to transition into employment:
www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/employment-and-training/employment-
and-work-readiness-assistance/assistance-to-transition-into-employment-
01.html;
www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/employment-and-training/employment-
and-work-readiness-assistance/qualifications.html.
The principles and purposes of the Official Information Act 1982 under which
you made your request are:
•
to create greater openness and transparency about the plans, work
and activities of the Government,
•
to increase the ability of the public to participate in the making and
administration of our laws and policies and
•
to lead to greater accountability in the conduct of public affairs.
This Ministry fully supports those principles and purposes. The Ministry
therefore intends to make the information contained in this letter and any
attached documents available to the wider public. The Ministry will do this by
publishing this letter on the Ministry’s website. Your personal details will be
deleted, and the Ministry will not publish any information that would identify
you as the person who requested the information.
If you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact
[MSD request email].
If you are not satisfied with this response relating to eligibility for Disability
Allowance, Special Needs Grants and return to work assistance, you have the
right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman. Information
about how to make a complaint is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
or 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi nui
Sarah Quigan
Manager
Official Information
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