Dear Ministry of Social Development,

I am writing to make a request under the Official Information Act 1982.

I request the following information relating to Individualised Funding and other flexible funding arrangements administered through Disability Support Services:

1. Total flexible funding expenditure (including Individualised Funding, Enhanced Individualised Funding, Carer Support, Choice in Community Living, and EGL Personal Budgets) disaggregated by principal disability type (Intellectual, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Physical, Sensory, Other) for each of the following financial years:
- 2019/20
- 2020/21
- 2021/22
- 2022/23
- 2023/24

2. The number of flexible funding recipients disaggregated by principal disability type for each of the same financial years.

3. The average flexible funding allocation per person disaggregated by principal disability type for each of the same financial years.

4. If available, a further breakdown of the above by flexible funding service line (IF Personal Care, IF Household Management, IF Respite, Enhanced IF, Carer Support, CiCL, Personal Budgets) for each principal disability type.

I understand that this data is recorded within the Socrates national database and that the Ministry of Health's Demographic Report of Disabled People Accessing Disability Support Services (2020 Update) demonstrated the ability to cross-tabulate IF recipient counts by principal disability type. I am requesting the associated expenditure data.

If some of the requested information is held and some is not, I request that the available portions be provided. If any part of this request is refused, I ask that you provide reasons for the refusal and identify the specific section of the OIA under which it is withheld.

I would appreciate a response within the statutory 20 working day timeframe. I am happy to discuss the scope of this request if clarification would assist in processing it.

Yours sincerely,

Jamie Robinson
Neuro Support
Christchurch