Individualised Funding and flexible funding

Before you apply

The rules changed on 1 April 2026 and most advice online still describes the old ones. The purchasing rules for flexible funding were removed, including the restrictions introduced in 2024. There is no longer a list of approved items, activities or services.

The test now is whether the thing relates to the disabled person’s disability support needs. Disability Support Services put it this way: what the thing is used for may matter more than what it actually is. Something that helps someone connect with others or take part in their community can qualify. Budgets did not change, the freedom to spend them did. The funding still cannot be used for illegal activities, gambling or alcohol.

This applies to Individualised Funding, hosted Enabling Good Lives personal budgets and Carer Support. Purchasing rules still apply to Choice in Community Living, which is under review. If someone told you in 2024 or 2025 that you could not buy something, ask again.

The first step is a phone call, not a form. Find your local NASC — Needs Assessment Service Coordination — or an Enabling Good Lives site, and have a phone consultation about eligibility. The NASC identifies which supports you are eligible for and makes it possible to start using them. Enabling Good Lives sites operate in Mid Central, Waikato and Christchurch and work differently: they do not do needs assessments.

Have proof of eligibility for publicly funded services ready — passport, birth certificate, or visa.

You do not have to manage it alone. A host organisation handles payroll, employer obligations and paperwork, and most provide a coach — hosts now offer four tiers of guidance depending on how much support you want, which does not change how much funding you get. Manawanui is the largest host, and their Fund for Good grants are listed here separately. Choosing a host is a real decision — pick one that matches how much administration you want to carry.

This is the foundation the rest of the disability funding sits on. Several other funds in this directory will only cover something because Individualised Funding will not, so knowing what your budget can now do is the first thing to sort out.