01/04/2026
Today, DSS have announced that the purchasing rules for flexible funding no longer apply – giving people more choice and control to use their flexible funding on supports that work for them.
From 1 April, disabled people who get flexible funding will have more choice and control over how they use their funding.
The purchasing rules for flexible funding – including the March 2024 changes – no longer apply.
Flexible funding must still be used in line with people’s funding plans, budgets and disability support needs – but people will have more flexibility to choose supports that work for them, including respite options for carers.
A small number of items will remain prohibited or require pre-approval before spending.
People’s allocated budgets for flexible funding will stay the same – they will not change on 1 April.
There will be guidance for people to plan and manage their flexible funding. People with hosted flexible funding can expect to hear from their host about this.
These changes reflect feedback from the disability community.
They build on work to improve the way people’s needs are assessed, bring more consistency to funding decisions and stabilise the disability support system – making it possible to remove the purchasing rules and maintain people’s current funding.
There is more information on the DSS website: www.disabilitysupport.govt.nz/flexible-funding
