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Manawanui InCharge

www.incharge.org.nz

Manawanui InCharge is an organisation contracted by the Ministry of Health to provide individualised funding services.

What is individualised funding (IF)?

Individualised funding is money paid by the Ministry of Health directly to someone assessed by a Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) Agency, as needing disability supports or services. This money can then be used to purchase the support required.

Individualised funding can give a person more choice, portability, control and flexibility as they decide how, when, and who provides the supports.

Who can receive individualised funding?

The person, or child must meet the Ministry of Health's definition of disability;

‘People with a lifelong disability of any age with physical, sensory or intellectual impairment (or a combination of these) who first access disability services before age 65, for whom the impairment(s) is expected to be at least 6 months duration and affect independent functioning to the extent that ongoing support is required'

AND who meet the eligibility criteria of:

• Have support needs that are within the ‘high or very high' range in the NASC Guidelines, or have support needs which require a higher level of flexibility than can be adequately meet by current service provision.
• Have support needs that have been stable over a period of at least one year.
• Assessed by a NASC as wanting to manage their services through Individualised Funding payments.
• Willing to comply with the requirements of Individualised Funding.

Individualised funding can be used to:

• Employ a support worker
• Purchase services from an independent provider agency
• Purchase supports that enable the family to provide care for a disabled family member

Individualised funding is used to purchase services prioritised in your needs assessment and approved by the NASC Service Facilitator.

You will not be able to use individualised funding to purchase services from a relative or family member living in your household.

When a person receives Individualised funding it does not affect their Benefit payments nor is it taxable. However, when it is paid out as a wage to a support person, or a

provider agency, then it does attract PAYE and ACC levies.

Employing Family Members

Disability Services permits the employment of family members to provide care which the NASC organisation has identified the individual requires, as long as they are not the spouse/partner or parent of the person with the disability, and as long as the family member does not live in the same house as the person they are supporting.

Disability Services does not permit payment to, or employment of:

• Any resident family member, including the full time carer/s.
• Non-resident spouses or partners
• Non-resident parents or guardinans

Please note that this criteria is set by Disability Services and does not necessarly express the views of Manawanui InCharge.

What do I do next?

If you are already receiving services arranged by your NASC, and you meet the criteria above, contact your Service Facilitator at the NASC agency and tell them you are interested in individualised funding.

Your Service Facilitator will then refer you to us, Manawanui InCharge, the Individualised Funding Agency (IFA).

Manawanui InCharge – Individualised Funding Agency

We offer a free support service for anyone wishing to use individualised funding and will arrange to meet with you. We can give you information about individualised funding which will help you to decide whether it is right for you.

Manawanui InCharge offers information and support with:

• Deciding how to manage the payments
• Keeping records e.g. a separate bank account, timesheets, PAYE records, receipts, invoicing etc.
• Drawing up Job Descriptions
• Drawing up Employment Agreements, Contracts for Services
• Staff recruitment
• The requirements and responsibilities of being an employer
• Rates of pay, PAYE, ACC
• Health and Safety requirements
• Information on being a good employer
• Emergency staffing plans
• Information on staff induction and training

Deciding to take up the individualised funding option?

Before making a decision we suggest that you discuss individualised funding with your family, friend or the IF Facilitator and these are some of the additional points you will need to consider:

• What your direct payments can be spent on
• The amount of money you will receive
• When and how payments will be made
• Circumstances in which the Ministry of Health would seek repayment
• How to return to having providers provide services for you
• What happens if your need level changes
• How your individualised funding will be monitored and reviewed

If you decide to go ahead you, or your family/advocate will:

• Sign a service agreement between your and Manawanui InCharge
• If applicable, hire a payroll service to undertake the payment process for you.
• Keep accurate records that follow good employer practices and provide transparency for monitoring and reviews that will be performed by Manawanui InCharge

By accepting individualised funding you take responsibility for managing the money and arranging your disability support services and you are able to access the help you need to manage the payments.

For more information link to the Manawanui InCharge website