‍What is the grant?

The Lottery Individuals with Disabilities Grant provides funding for items or equipment that help disabled people and their whānau connect with their community.

This includes vehicles, vehicle modifications, other mobility equipment (like e-bikes or trikes) and communication equipment, such as devices that reduce isolation for the disabled person.

You cannot use the grant for housing modifications.

Who can apply?

Anyone who cares for a disabled child can apply for this grant, provided they’re a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident based in New Zealand, with a disability not covered by ACC.

For this grant, a disability is defined as a long-term (six months or longer) condition that limits a person’s ability to participate in the community.

The focus of the grant is on improving participation, access, and connection to the community. A former recipient of the fund, Sarah Hoefhamer, said it’s “really focused on how you as a disabled person will be even more useful to the community if you have it.”

Parents’ involvement in community activities is also key. Deaf advocate Monica Leach says “children follow the parents in the community [so] the parents need to be involved in the background of anything their child is involved in.”

How do I apply?

To receive the grant, you’ll need a registered health professional to confirm your child’s:

• Ability to walk
• Need for assistance (rated on a scale of 1–10)

·        Ability to participate in their community.

Don’t be put off by the question about walking. The fund it not restricted to those with physical disabilities; your child is included no matter what their disability is.

You’ll also need to include support letters to show your community involvement. “Community” can mean lots of different things. Monica says it could include going to church, while Sarah says “It can be as simple as giving fruit from your trees to community pantries.”

“You want as many support letters as you can get,” said Sarah, who submitted six support letters with her application. “People you have volunteered with, support people, occupational therapists, doctors, specialists.”

Tips for success

Applicants may be more successful if they get support with the process, as it can lack accessibility. Monica Leach has supported more than 250 deaf applicants, though she notes it’s the applicant’s responsibility to gather support letters before seeking help to fill out the form.

Sarah asked for advice from her child’s Enabling Good Lives Tūhono (case manager).

Persistence is key. Sarah was advised by her children’s Enabling Good Lives Tūhono that if an application gets declined, you should keep putting it in two or three more times.

Monica said that the committee operates on a fixed budget for each funding round. Even if you meet the criteria, you may be declined due to high demand in one round, but succeed in a later one with fewer or different applicants.

How long does it take?

One drawback of the lotteries grant is how long it can take to get an answer. The granting committee only meet six times a year. Monica found the system extremely slow, about three to six months for an application.

Gathering all the documentation may also take up a lot of your effort and time.

“I really appreciate what I got, but it is a lot of work, a lot of time gathering everything, and a lot of time waiting,” said Sarah. “If you need something in a hurry, it is not a good option.”

For people who can’t wait, other options for getting disability items or equipment include:

• Equipment and Modification Service (EMS): Start the process by consulting your doctor, hospital community health service, or organisations like Accessable, Blind Low Vision NZ, Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand, Enable New Zealand, New Zealand Audiological Society, New Zealand Speech-Language Association, Physiotherapy New Zealand, Talklink, or Your Way Kia Roha.
• Enabling Good Lives or Individualised Funding
• Work and Income: Work and Income offers income and asset-tested Vehicle Modification Funding, disability allowances, and advances for eligible clients. “If assistance is required for a one-off cost where funding is not available by another government agency, then the person can apply for one-off assistance via Work and Income,” they say. While noting that, “assistance may be available if the item is considered an immediate and essential need”.
• Self-funding: Check out the Disability Equipment & Resources NZ - Buy/Sell/Swap Facebook page

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To request Lottery Individuals with Disabilities funding, download the request form using one of the links below:

Lottery Individuals with Disabilities grant request form (Word, 93 KB)

Lottery Individuals with Disabilities grant request form (PDF, 490 KB)

Email the completed form to: iwdfunding@dia.govt.nz . Put your child’s name in the email subject line.

For more information or support for this grant, please call the Community Matters team on 0800 824 824.