The Disability Allowance can't be used to buy equipment. It's a weekly payment for regular, ongoing costs caused by a disability, and Work and Income policy is explicit that the cost of buying equipment or other one-off items can't be included, because those costs aren't ongoing.
It can cover renting equipment, which is a distinction almost nobody knows about. And if what you need is a purchase, there are other Work and Income payments that can help — a Special Needs Grant, an Advance Payment of Benefit, or a Recoverable Assistance Payment. This page explains which is which.
What the Disability Allowance is
A weekly, non-taxable payment for people who have regular ongoing costs because of a disability — doctor's visits, medicines, extra travel, extra clothing, and similar.
Maximum rate: $82.85 a week (standard Disability Allowance, from 1 April 2026). It's paid up to that maximum against your actual, evidenced costs — it isn't a flat payment.
You may qualify if you
- have a disability likely to last at least six months
- have regular, ongoing costs because of it that aren't fully covered by another agency
- aren't getting a Residential Care Subsidy
- are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident normally living here
- have income under the limit for your situation
You don't have to be on a benefit to get it. This is the single most common misunderstanding we hear. People on NZ Super qualify on exactly the same basis — the income test is the only gate.
Income limits (weekly, before tax, from 1 April 2026)
| Your situation | Weekly income limit |
|---|---|
| Single, 16–17 | $696.60 |
| Single, 18 or over | $870.00 |
| Couple (with or without children) | $1,295.11 |
| Sole parent, one child | $971.51 |
| Sole parent, two or more children | $1,023.59 |
A health practitioner needs to complete the Disability Certificate in the application form, and your circumstances are reviewed at least every 52 weeks.
Equipment rental — the part people miss
Rental equipment is an allowable Disability Allowance cost, because paying rent weekly or monthly is a regular ongoing expense. Work and Income will generally want to see the rental receipts, the disability certificate, confirmation that public funding isn't available for the item, and a practitioner's note on what happens without it.
This matters if you need something long-term but can't fund a purchase. Our wheelchair, walker and lift chair hire covers the North Island, and we can provide the rental documentation.
Which WINZ payment covers buying equipment?
Three possibilities, depending on your situation. All of them normally expect you to have tried publicly funded equipment first — see our pages on Enable and EMS funding and ACC equipment.
Special Needs Grant
A one-off payment for an essential or emergency cost you can't meet another way. Medical equipment is a listed category. You don't have to be on a benefit, and it's generally not repayable — which makes it the best of the three if you qualify.
The catch is the cap: for emergency medical equipment, the maximum is usually $500 unless there are exceptional circumstances. Work and Income will also want a letter confirming public funding isn't available for the item and why, plus a letter from a health professional explaining the consequences of going without. Income and cash asset limits apply.
Advance Payment of Benefit
For people already receiving a main benefit, NZ Super, Veteran's Pension, or an Orphan's or Unsupported Child's Benefit. You pay it back. Furniture and chairs are covered categories, though the guideline amounts are modest and it can't be used for a deposit — it has to cover the full cost.
Recoverable Assistance Payment
The equivalent for people not on a benefit. Also repayable. Annual income limits apply.
What Work and Income needs from us
A written quote from a retailer. Private sales don't qualify, the item needs to be the most economical option that meets the need, and the amount should cover the full cost rather than a part payment.
Mobility Plus is a registered Work and Income supplier — Supplier ID CUR003629836, status Active. Give that number to your case manager. Because we're registered, Work and Income can pay us by direct credit, which is the practical route for an online order. (The alternative, a Work and Income payment card, is designed for use on an EFTPOS terminal in a physical shop and expires seven days after issue — we're online-only, so direct credit is the way to go.)
Email info@mobilityplus.co.nz or call 022 022 9956 and mention "WINZ quote". Tell us the item and your region and we'll send a freight-inclusive quote the same day where we can. See also our WINZ mobility equipment supplier page.
Disability Allowance FAQs
Can the Disability Allowance be used to buy a wheelchair?
No. The Disability Allowance covers regular, ongoing costs, and Work and Income policy states that the cost of buying equipment or other one-off items can't be included because those costs aren't regular or ongoing. For a purchase, ask about a Special Needs Grant, an Advance Payment of Benefit, or a Recoverable Assistance Payment. Renting equipment, however, is an allowable Disability Allowance cost.
How much is the Disability Allowance in New Zealand?
The standard Disability Allowance is up to $82.85 a week as at 1 April 2026, and it isn't taxed. It's paid against your actual evidenced disability-related costs up to that maximum, so not everyone receives the full amount.
Do I have to be on a benefit to get the Disability Allowance?
No. Work and Income states plainly that you don't have to be on a benefit to qualify. People receiving NZ Super can get it too. What matters is that you have a disability likely to last at least six months, ongoing costs because of it, and income under the limit for your situation.
What is the income limit for the Disability Allowance?
As at 1 April 2026 the weekly before-tax limits are $870.00 for a single person aged 18 or over, $696.60 for a single person aged 16 to 17, $1,295.11 for a couple with or without children, $971.51 for a sole parent with one child, and $1,023.59 for a sole parent with two or more children.
Will WINZ pay for a mobility scooter or lift chair?
Possibly, through a Special Needs Grant or an Advance Payment of Benefit rather than the Disability Allowance — but the amounts available are modest, and grants for emergency medical equipment are usually capped at $500 unless there are exceptional circumstances. You'll normally need to show that publicly funded equipment isn't available for the item first. Talk to your case manager before buying anything.
Does WINZ pay the supplier directly?
It can, if the supplier is registered with Work and Income. Payment is made either by direct credit to a registered supplier or by a payment card issued to you, which works like an EFTPOS card and expires after seven days. Mobility Plus is a registered supplier (ID CUR003629836), so direct credit is available for online orders.
What does WINZ need in a quote?
A written quote from a retailer — private sales don't qualify. The item should be the most economical option that meets the need, and the quote should cover the full cost rather than a deposit. We provide freight-inclusive quotes with our supplier ID on them, ready to hand to your case manager.
Rates, limits and rules are as published by Work and Income at 1 April 2026 and change over time. This is general information, not advice about your situation — eligibility is assessed individually and only Work and Income can approve funding. Check workandincome.govt.nz or talk to your case manager for the current position.
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