To: The Chief Executive of the department for the time being responsible for administration of the Social Security Act 1964
Pursuant to section 5 of the Social Security Act 1964,
the Minister of Social Services and Employment makes the following amendment to the Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance given on 28 March 1999.
Dated at Wellington this 21st day of February 2003,
STEVE MAHAREY, Minister of Social Services and Employment.
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A m e n d m e n t
1. Title-(1) This amendment is the Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance Amendment 2003.
(2) In this amendment, the Ministerial Direction - Disability Allowance is called "the direction".
2. Commencement-This amendment comes into effect on 24 February 2003.
3 New clauses 5B to 5E inserted-The direction is amended by inserting, after clause 5A, the following clauses:
"5B In this clause and clauses 5C to 5E:
existing allowance means a disability allowance for counselling costs granted before 24 February 2003
person means:
(a) a person applying for a disability allowance for counselling costs on or after 24 February 2003; or
(b) a person receiving a disability allowance for other expenses who applies on or after that date for the person's disability allowance to be increased to include counselling costs; or
(c) a person receiving an existing allowance
review means a review under section 81 of the Act, and reviewed and reviewing have corresponding meanings.
"5C Unless clause 5D applies or there are exceptional circumstances, you should not, on and after
24 February 2003:
(a) consider granting a disability allowance
to a person for the cost of more than
10 counselling sessions; or
(b) consider increasing the amount of a person's disability allowance for other expenses to include the cost of more than
10 counselling sessions; or
(c) when reviewing a person's existing allowance, consider continuing it for the cost of more than 10 counselling sessions after the date that allowance is first reviewed on or after 24 February 2003.
"5D On the recommendation of a medical practitioner, you may, on or after 24 February 2003, consider:
(a) granting a person a disability allowance for the cost of not more than 20 counselling sessions in addition to the number of sessions referred to in clause 5C (a); or
(b) increasing the amount of a person's disability allowance for other expenses
to include the cost of not more than
20 counselling sessions in addition to the number of sessions referred to in clause 5C (b); or
(c) after reviewing a person's existing allowance, continuing it for the cost of
not more than 20 counselling sessions in addition to the number of sessions referred to in clause 5C (c).
"5E You should review all existing allowances within 12 months of 24 February 2003."
Explanatory Note:
This note is not part of the amendment, but is intended to indicate its general effect.
This amendment places limits on the number of counselling sessions for which a disability allowance for counselling costs may be paid on and after 24 February 2003. The new limits apply to existing disability allowances for counselling costs only after they have been reviewed.
It also directs the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development to review all existing disability allowances for counselling costs within 12 months of that date.