Latest news with #IndependentReview
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Disability Taskforce Extended As Budget Funding Boosts System
Press Release – New Zealand Government Disability Support Services Taskforce was established to lead the implementation of these recommendations. That important work is progressing well, and I am now looking to the Taskforce to lead more work to further strengthen the system. Minister for Disability Issues The Disability Support Services Taskforce will be extended for a year to continue its progress in stabilising the disability support system and shaping it for the future. Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston says the Taskforce has been extended to 30 June 2026, with its work further enhanced by a billion-dollar funding boost announced in last month's Budget. 'This Government is committed to the ongoing support of the disability community and delivering better outcomes for disabled people, their families and carers,' Louise Upston says. 'We've demonstrated this in Budget 2025, where the DSS Budget received $1 billion in additional funding over four years – that's about $250 million a year of new money. 'This includes $60 million a year in residential care funding increases and about $190 million a year for increases across all DSS services for cost pressures, including care in the community. 'We are making good progress in delivering for disabled people, and the Taskforce will continue to play a key role. 'In August 2024, the Independent Review made recommendations to manage increasing cost pressures faced by DSS. 'The Taskforce was established to lead the implementation of these recommendations. That important work is progressing well, and I am now looking to the Taskforce to lead more work to further strengthen the system. 'The Taskforce has already made significant progress to stabilise DSS, including: reviewing pricing and contracting arrangements for residential care, which are being implemented following Budget 2025 improving systems and processes for assessing performance and forecasting expenditure reviewing needs assessment and allocation, and flexible funding settings so they better meet the needs of disabled people, their whānau and carers. 'My expectation is that DSS will continue to involve the disability community in discussions about how disability support services are delivered. I'll have more to say on the next phase of work in the coming months,' Louise Upston says. Notes: New funding for DSS in Budget 2025 included: $1 billion over four years towards meeting the increasing costs of disability support services (including $240 million for residential care) and to support more people to access those services. $10 million over two years to address the increasing costs for services and support for people with an intellectual disability and complex care needs who live in secure or supervised care under the High and Complex Framework. This will also fund critical workforce training initiatives and essential infrastructure, including repairs and maintenance upgrades. $9.5 million over four years to recognise and respond to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry. This includes work to strengthen how DSS audits the quality of its services, critical incident and complaints management processes and systems, and to contribute to other cross agency work to improve recordkeeping and the capability of the disability workforce.
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Disability Taskforce Extended As Budget Funding Boosts System
Minister for Disability Issues The Disability Support Services Taskforce will be extended for a year to continue its progress in stabilising the disability support system and shaping it for the future. Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston says the Taskforce has been extended to 30 June 2026, with its work further enhanced by a billion-dollar funding boost announced in last month's Budget. 'This Government is committed to the ongoing support of the disability community and delivering better outcomes for disabled people, their families and carers,' Louise Upston says. 'We've demonstrated this in Budget 2025, where the DSS Budget received $1 billion in additional funding over four years – that's about $250 million a year of new money. 'This includes $60 million a year in residential care funding increases and about $190 million a year for increases across all DSS services for cost pressures, including care in the community. 'We are making good progress in delivering for disabled people, and the Taskforce will continue to play a key role. 'In August 2024, the Independent Review made recommendations to manage increasing cost pressures faced by DSS. 'The Taskforce was established to lead the implementation of these recommendations. That important work is progressing well, and I am now looking to the Taskforce to lead more work to further strengthen the system. 'The Taskforce has already made significant progress to stabilise DSS, including: reviewing pricing and contracting arrangements for residential care, which are being implemented following Budget 2025 improving systems and processes for assessing performance and forecasting expenditure reviewing needs assessment and allocation, and flexible funding settings so they better meet the needs of disabled people, their whānau and carers. 'My expectation is that DSS will continue to involve the disability community in discussions about how disability support services are delivered. I'll have more to say on the next phase of work in the coming months,' Louise Upston says. Notes: New funding for DSS in Budget 2025 included: $1 billion over four years towards meeting the increasing costs of disability support services (including $240 million for residential care) and to support more people to access those services. $10 million over two years to address the increasing costs for services and support for people with an intellectual disability and complex care needs who live in secure or supervised care under the High and Complex Framework. This will also fund critical workforce training initiatives and essential infrastructure, including repairs and maintenance upgrades. $9.5 million over four years to recognise and respond to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry. This includes work to strengthen how DSS audits the quality of its services, critical incident and complaints management processes and systems, and to contribute to other cross agency work to improve recordkeeping and the capability of the disability workforce.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Disability Support Investment A Boost For Providers
Press Release – NZDSN Quality support needs sustainable funding, its as simple as that. For Disability Support Providers whove negotiated restrictions and uncertainty while last years Independent Review recommendations were being worked through, this is very welcome, … The Budget's $240m in new funding over four years for disability residential support is a good start and should help make quality support available to more disabled New Zealanders, says the New Zealand Disability Support Network. The uplift in funding for High and Complex services, funding to meet demand and inflationary pressures across the disability support service portfolio and funding to address the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in care recommendations are also positive and welcome. 'Quality support needs sustainable funding, it's as simple as that. For Disability Support Providers who've negotiated restrictions and uncertainty while last year's Independent Review recommendations were being worked through, this is very welcome,' said Debbie Hughes, NZDSN CEO. NZDSN is optimistic that sector financial constraints starting to be lifted from 1 July will be a boost for providers and the disabled people they support. 'This is potentially great news, we're looking forward to hearing more about how this will work. There's lots more to do in our sector, and we're keen to work with government to get it done.' 'Since the independent review recommendations were announced last year, there's been lots of consultation and work behind the scenes. The uplift in funding shows the Government listened to the sector during consultation, so we expect providers to be heartened by today's announcements of some tangible support,' said Debbie Hughes.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Disability Support Investment A Boost For Providers
The Budget's $240m in new funding over four years for disability residential support is a good start and should help make quality support available to more disabled New Zealanders, says the New Zealand Disability Support Network. The uplift in funding for High and Complex services, funding to meet demand and inflationary pressures across the disability support service portfolio and funding to address the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in care recommendations are also positive and welcome. 'Quality support needs sustainable funding, it's as simple as that. For Disability Support Providers who've negotiated restrictions and uncertainty while last year's Independent Review recommendations were being worked through, this is very welcome,' said Debbie Hughes, NZDSN CEO. NZDSN is optimistic that sector financial constraints starting to be lifted from 1 July will be a boost for providers and the disabled people they support. 'This is potentially great news, we're looking forward to hearing more about how this will work. There's lots more to do in our sector, and we're keen to work with government to get it done.' 'Since the independent review recommendations were announced last year, there's been lots of consultation and work behind the scenes. The uplift in funding shows the Government listened to the sector during consultation, so we expect providers to be heartened by today's announcements of some tangible support,' said Debbie Hughes.
Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
DWP responds to calls to 'write off' historical Carer's Allowance debt
The cliff's edge forces people to pay thousands for earning just £1 more Carer's Allowance offers much-needed financial support for people taking on unpaid care work. Alongside the £83.30 per week it provides from the DWP, carers are also allowed to earn £196 elsewhere per week without losing this benefit. However, this threshold is a staggering cliff-face for carers. Earning just £1 over the threshold makes them completely ineligible for the benefit. Essentially, earning £52 more per year can cost them £4,330. Some carers might even end up indebted to the DWP because they don't realise they have breached the threshold. MP Sarah Gibson quizzed the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on this as an independent review is underway looking at this squeeze on carer finances. She questioned if the department has weighed up the potential of 'writing off historical Carer's Allowance overpayments in cases involving small or inadvertent breaches of the earnings limit'. MP Andrew Western responded, recognising that under the previous government, some carers were forced to repay 'thousands of pounds'. Adding that the review started focused on how these overpayments happened, how this can be prevented in the future and how to support people still paying back these sums. He shared, as Daily Record reported: 'It is anticipated that the Independent Review will arrive at its conclusions this summer. We will, of course, carefully consider the findings of the review and its recommendations. 'Both the report from the Independent Review and the Government's response will be published. It would not be appropriate to speculate on the findings of the review or any potential outcomes. 'Where overpayments do occur, the Department has a duty to the taxpayer to protect public funds and to ask for money to be paid back. We remain committed to working with anyone who is struggling with their repayment terms and will always look to negotiate sustainable and affordable repayment plans.' The DWP recently confirmed some changes coming to Carer's Allowance. This includes sending a text message to claimants who have breached the earning threshold and overhauling how overpayments are checked. Some people may not recognise that they have surpassed the earnings limit, or mistakenly believe they're not eligible for the benefit because of it. Your weekly income for Carer's Allowance purposes is calculated after certain taxes and deductions are paid. This can include, according to Carers UK: Income Tax National Insurance Half of any contributions to your pension Certain business expenses The following income streams also don't count as earnings for Carer's Allowance calculations: Money received from an occupational or private pension Contributions towards your living or accommodation costs from someone you live with The first £20 a week and 50% of the rest of any income you make from someone boarding in your home A loan or advance payment from your employer
