Answers to questions on changes to flexible funding.
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What is changing with flexible funding?
There are several changes for people who receive flexible funding, which will make flexible funding easier to use.
- Purchasing Guidelines, including the March 2024 changes, will be removed in April
- You will be able to choose how to spend your flexible funding to address barriers linked to your disability.
- There will be a short list of things that would need pre-approval, including overseas travel and one-off purchases over a set amount.
You will get budgets so you know how much you can spend. We want you to be successful in managing your budgets, and you will receive support and guidance to help you manage within budgets.
You should contact your NASC or EGL site if your needs change.
Can I buy what I want with my flexible funding?
You will get more choice and control, though you will need to keep your spending within your budgets, and align your spending with your personal plan.
You will have more choice and control about how you spend your budgets to achieve your personal plan. You will receive support to do this, while still retaining control of your budgets.
The Purchasing Guidelines will no longer apply.
Flexible funding cannot be used to buy items such as alcohol, tobacco and gambling.
There will also be a list of things that need pre-approval, such as overseas travel and one-off purchases over a set amount. This would need to be within your budgets and align with your personal plan.
When will DSS share information with the community that provides reassurance and more detail about their budgets?
We are finalising the details to communicate in advance of the April changes to flexible funding.
It’s important we give accurate and clear information, so disabled people, families, whānau and carers can have clarity and confidence in their support.
We want to reassure people that no one will get less than what they previously spent.
Budgets will be based on how much people were spending between June 2023 and June 2025.
If a person’s assessed needs and funding have changed recently, this will be taken into account too.
You should contact your NASC or EGL site if your needs change.
Can I spend my flexible funding on travel and accommodation now?
Not yet, the purchasing guidelines remain in place until April 2026.
Can I continue to employ family members as support workers?
If you currently employ family members to support you, this won’t change.
What if my new budgets aren’t enough to cover my employment or care obligations?
You will not receive less funding than you have previously spent.
If you have contracts in place for things like ongoing care, your new budgets will take these commitments into account, along with other costs you currently meet with flexible funding.
If your needs have changed and you’re concerned your funding may not meet your future needs, contact your NASC or EGL site.
I’ve recently had my flexible funding increased to better meet my needs. I’m worried that a new budget based on past spending won’t reflect this. What will happen?
We will take care to ensure budgets fairly reflect people’s current needs and circumstances. While spending history is one factor we will look at, we will consider recent changes, including where funding has increased to meet needs.
What is a “My DSS funding plan”?
NASCs and EGL sites will develop a personal plan with you to:
- focus on your wants and needs
- address barriers linked to your disability
- be clear on the purpose of the funding.
You should contact your NASC or EGL site if your needs change.
Hosts will continue to provide support to you managing and monitoring your spending against your budgets.
The support will be along the lines of “coaching”, where you are supported to make decisions on spending your funding in line with your personal plan. Hosts are well placed to provide support, but we recognise that this may require changes in the approach to provide the support anticipated.
How will my flexible funding budgets work?
People with flexible funding will not get less they have previously spent.
If you are new to the system:
- From 9 February 2026, you will be given a budget following your assessment.
If you are already using flexible funding:
- From April 2026 you will be allocated interim budgets, based on how much flexible funding you have spent in the past.
We recognise that people have previously been allocated funding that they did not spend within the allocation period. When we set the new flexible funding budgets, we will consider the spending period from June 2023 – June 2025, which includes the time prior to restrictions to the Purchasing Guidelines that were put in place in March 2024.
If you have a change in circumstances and you need more than your budget, you should talk to your NASC or EGL site to discuss your situation.
We want you to be successful in managing your budgets, so you will get support and guidance to help manage your budgets.
How will I find out the amount of my flexible funding budgets?
If you are new to the system (from 9 February 2026), you will be given a budget following your assessment.
If you are already using flexible funding, you will be advised of your budget before any changes come into effect in April.
How do you define a ‘current user of flexible funding’?
A current user is someone who receives flexible funding now and up until 9 February 2026.
If I am a new flexible funding user, how does this work for me?
From 9 February 2026, if you are assessed as being eligible to receive flexible funding for the first time, you will be advised of your budget following your assessment.
Will my interim budgets consider the purchasing restrictions put in place since March 2024?
Past spending will be based on the last two years from June 2023 to June 2025, which includes the period before 18 March 2024, if you have been a flexible funding user for that long. This means budgets will reflect a fuller picture of your supports, not just the restricted period.
Through the consultation we heard how important choice and control are. These changes are about enabling that through flexible funding, including informal arrangements such as respite, while also making sure the system remains sustainable. If you’d like to talk through your circumstances, your NASC or EGL site can provide tailored advice.
Who will help me manage my flexible funding budgets?
You will get guidance and support to help manage your budgets. This will make your flexible funding easier to use.
Hosts will play a vital role in coaching and supporting disabled people, family, whānau and carers to manage their flexible funding budgets, ensuring it lasts for the whole funding year.
What is the timeline for changes?
Timeline for changes | Disability Support Services
Why do I have to wait until April 2026 for these changes to happen?
We need a system that gives clarity, certainty, and choice. That means taking the time to get it right. The changes are significant and require work to ensure DSS processes, systems, and tools are well designed, properly implemented, and well understood.