Factsheet: NASC and EGL site budgets 2025/26

The 2024 Independent Review of DSS recommended that indicative budgets for NASCs and fixed budgets for EGL sites be reinstated in August 2024.

DSS implemented a Budget Performance Management Framework (BPMF) in January 2025 to support NASCs to remain within their budgets.

It has provided a consistent approach to evaluating each NASC’s performance against budgets using quantitative and qualitative measures that are underpinned by the BPMF principles.

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Budget approach

This year DSS received additional funding of $1B in Budget 2025 to support the delivery of disability services in the financial year 2025/26. This includes disability services delivered nationally.

The approach used to generate NASC and EGL site budgets (a portion of DSS funding) is:

  1. determine the total 2025/26 NASC/EGL funding pool
  2. establish the baseline budget for each NASC and EGL site based on the previous year’s budget plus some critical adjustments
  3. allocate the remaining funding available to NASCs and EGL sites as a growth pool in proportion to their baseline.

To calculate the funding pool for NASC/EGL sites, nationally funded expenses were subtracted as along with funds held aside for the new Community Group Home pricing model.

The baseline budget was calculated from NASC and EGL site 2024/25 budgets, with the following adjustments.

  • Out-of-area residential allocations – costs will transfer to the ‘receiving NASC’ from the ‘sending NASC’.
  • Exceptional Circumstances funding – will be added to the baseline.
  • Oranga Tamariki – where a disabled young person in the care of OT is turning 18 during the 2025/26 financial year, the estimated increased cost of their care at their birthday is added to the relevant NASC/EGL site budget

The growth pool is calculated by subtracting the adjusted baseline from the funding pool and will be allocated to NASCs and EGL sited based on the proportion of the baseline allocated. 

NASC and EGL site budgets

NASCs and EGL sites will continue to manage within their overall budget. 

NASCs must ensure future funding decisions are managed within the BPMF.

EGL sites must ensure funding decisions do not negatively impact the management of budgets.

The monthly reporting and monitoring of NASC budgets will continue. 

The Review Panel will continue.

Funding management

Funded by NASC and EGL sites (via CCPS)

Funded nationally (by DSS)

These supports will be reflected against NASC and EGL site budgets

These supports will not be reflected against NASC and EGL site budgets

Facility-based

  • Community residential care
  • Aged residential care
  • Facility-based respite care
  • Contract Board
  • Foster care

Supports allocated by NASCs and funded nationally:

  • Behaviour support
  • Oranga Tamariki packages
  • Supports paid via CMS

Community-based supports

  • Household management
  • Personal care
  • Supported living
  • Other similar supports

Funding managed nationally:

  • Environmental supports, including equipment, hearing aids, and cochlear implants
  • Connecting costs, including the costs of the NASC and DIAS contracts
  • Child development services
  • Supports under the High and Complex Framework, including Secure Forensic Care, and RIDSAS

Flexible supports

  • IF household management
  • IF personal care
  • IF respite
  • Enhanced Individualised Funding (EIF)
  • Carer Support
  • EGL Personal Budget Services
  • Choices In Community Living
  • Flexible Disability Supports

Ancillary costs

  • Sleepover top-up payments
  • Previously agreed pay equity
  • In-between travel

Work to further develop the NASC budget approach to account for factors such as changes in population will be considered in the next phase of work: strengthening.

More information

Please contact your Portfolio Manager for more information.