Disability Support Services Consultation Survey

Overview

Nau mai, haere mai.

We’re consulting on the future of the Disability Support Services (DSS).

Please note - the link to the survey questionnaire is at the very bottom of this page.

In August 2024 an Independent Review found there had been unsustainable spending increases and a lack of fairness and transparency around what support disabled people can access.

The review identified variability in the value of support packages across New Zealand, and how some supports are only available in some regions or areas. The review also determined that current policy settings and service design do not allow DSS to be administered or delivered effectively.

The DSS Taskforce was established in September 2024 to implement the recommendations of the review. The Taskforce’s work aims to stabilise and improve the disability support system.

In our first round of consultation at the end of 2024, over 1,500 people told us about their views on the future of DSS. We heard the system is confusing, inconsistent, and that the March 2024 decisions about changes to funding undermined trust and confidence in the system. This feedback has informed our policy work and the options that we are now consulting on. Details of the first round of consultation can be found on the DSS website.

Policy work has identified a range of options aimed to stabilise and improve the DSS system by making changes to the assessment and allocations process and accessing and administering flexible funding.

We want to hear from you about your views on whether our proposed options will lead to:

• A more consistent and transparent assessment and allocation process, and,
• Fairer and more consistent rules and access to flexible funding.

We appreciate your participation in this consultation. Your insights will help us to better understand and consider these very important supports and services and the impact of the options we are considering.

This consultation will inform recommendations to the Government about how to effectively stablise and improve the DSS system.

A summary of engagement will be published on the DSS website www.disabilitysupport.govt.nz.

Scope of the consultation

There are many different services and supports available to disabled people. These are delivered by a number of different government agencies – some through the Disability Support Service (DSS), a dedicated business unit within the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and others through health, education and welfare agencies and Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).

This consultation is just about services and supports available through the DSS. These are accessed after an assessment from a Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination (NASC) organisation, or an Enabling Good Lives (EGL) site.

How to make a submission

We have produced a discussion document that explains why we are consulting with you, and outlines options for making a submission.

The consultation is open from Monday, 10 February until 5pm Monday 24  March 2025.

There are several ways to make a submission. You can:

• complete this online survey
• complete the submission form and email it to: DSS_submissions@msd.govt.nz 
• complete an audio or video submission and email it to: NZSL_submissions@msd.govt.nz 
• mail your submission to: c/o Disability Support Services, Ministry of Social Development, PO Box 1556, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.

We will also be running public consulation sessions around New Zealand and online. Details of these sessions can be found at www.disabilitysupport.govt.nz 

NZSL Video

A NZSL video of the survey will be available on 21 February 2025. 

For a video submission in New Zealand Sign Language, please email DSS_NZSLsubmissions@msd.govt.nz and we will send you a link to upload.

Your personal information

The Privacy Act 2020 establishes certain principles with respect to the collection, use and disclosure of information about individuals by various agencies, including MSD.

Any personal information you supply to MSD while making a submission will only be used to:

• assist in the development of advice in relation to this consultation,
• contact you about your submission, or
• advise you of the outcome of the consultation, including any next steps.

Submissions will be securely shared with a third-party provider contracted by DSS, who will analyse the responses on behalf of MSD. The provider will be contractually obligated to:

• handle all personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act
• use the information solely for the purpose of analysing and reporting on this consultation
• protect all information from unauthorised access, use, or disclosure, and ensure it is destroyed or returned to MSD once analysis is complete. 

We may also use personal information you supply while making a submission for other reasons permitted under the Privacy Act (e.g. with your consent, for a directly related purpose, or where the law permits or requires it).

MSD will not publish individual submissions but will publish a summary of submissions on its website. The summary of submissions will not include names of submitters but may list the names of organisations that have submitted.

If you do not wish for your organisation’s name to be published, please clearly indicate this in your submission. There is a question in the online survey for you to record this.

It is important you understand that under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), submissions may be released in full or in part if requested under this act.

Please clearly indicate in your submission if you have provided any confidential information which you think should be withheld from an OIA release, together with the reasons under the Official Information Act.

MSD will take such objections into account and will consult with submitters as it considers necessary when responding to requests under the Official Information Act. There is a question in the online survey for you to record this.

You also have rights of access to and correction of your personal information which can be found on the MSD website at https://consultations.msd.govt.nz/.

We will only retain personal information if it is required for the purposes for which the information may lawfully be used. Where any information provided (which may include personal information) constitutes public records, it will be retained to the extent required by the Public Records Act 2005.

By submitting your information, you acknowledge and agree that it can be collected, used and shared as described above. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at DSS_submissions@msd.govt.nz.