24 July 2025
Tēnā koe Robin
Official Information Act request
Thank you for your email of 2 July 2025, requesting information about Child
Disability Allowance and Coeliac disease.
I have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Please find my decision on your request set out below.
1. The number of people receiving the child disability allowance with the
underlying disability being Coeliac Disease for each of the years between
2020 and now.
2. A further breakdown of the numbers in item 1 by how many need to be
reassessed for continued eligibility at 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, never or at
a specific age.
Firstly, it is important to note that Child Disability Allowance (CDA) is available to
the principal caregiver of a dependent child who has have a physical, sensory,
psychiatric or
intellectual disability. To be eligible for Child Disability Allowance the
dependent child must need constant care and attention because of their disability.
This level of care must be likely to be needed permanently or for more than 12
months.
Child Disability Allowance differs from Disability Allowance which is a payment for
clients who have ongoing additional costs because of a disability. To be eligible for
Disability Allowance a client must have a disability or health condition that means
they have a reduction in independent function to the extent they need ongoing:
• Supervision or treatment from a health practitioner or
• Help with normal living tasks.
To be eligible for Disability Allowance a client’s medical certificate must confirm
the client’s disability and that the need for treatment is necessary. Treatment must
be beneficial and of therapeutic value and the costs must be additional, ongoing,
and directly related to the client’s disability.
A client can get Child Disability Allowance and Disability Allowance for a dependent
child as long as the child qualifies for each payment as the two allowances are paid
for different reasons. If the child meets the other qualifications of the payment
and:
• requires constant care and attention because of their disability they may be
eligible for Child Disability Allowance,
• if they have ongoing additional costs that are directly related to their
disability, they may be eligible for Disability Allowance.
The Aurora Centre, 56 The Terrace, PO Box 1556, Wellington
– Telephone 04-916 3300 – Facsimile 04-918 0099
Please see the following link about constant care and attention:
www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/income-support/extra-help/child-disability-
allowance/constant-care-and-supervision-01.html Your requests are refused under section 18(f) of the Act, as substantial manual
collation would be required to collate this information. If held, this information
would only be contained within individual client files, which would each require
manual review to respond to your request. The greater public interest is in the
effective and efficient administration of the public service.
I have considered whether the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) would
be able to respond to your request given extra time, or the ability to charge for
the information requested. I have concluded that, in either case, the Ministry’s
ability to undertake its work would still be prejudiced.
3. Any guidelines or advice provided internally that relate to general eligibility
for child disability allowance that specifically relate to children suffering from
Coeliac disease.
Please find attached is an information sheet used by Ministry staff when clients
apply for Disability Allowance and Special Foods support.
I have also attached a training PowerPoint provided to the Ministry’s Regional
Health and Disability Staff and Registered Dietitians.
I will be publishing this decision letter, with your personal details deleted, on the
Ministry’s website in due course.
If you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact
[MSD request email]. If you are not satisfied with my decision on your request, 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
p.p.
Anna Graham
General Manager
Ministerial and Executive Services
