Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for subsidies or financial aid towards the costs involved with having coeliac disease.
Not only can dealing with the symptoms associated with coeliac disease (CD) be challenging, but many individuals with CD find themselves perplexed and often left in the dark about what government assistance they are entitled to.
The Childcare Subsidy is for children under 5 years old. Children whom receive the Child Disability Allowance can receive a childcare subsidy until they are 6 years old and may be paid for up to 50 hrs a week.
Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy is a payment which helps families with the costs of before and after school care. Children who receive a Child Disability Allowance and meet the qualifications may be eligible.
The Child Disability Allowance is a non-taxable payment made to the main carer of a child or young person under the age of 18 years with a serious disability. It recognises the extra care and attention provided. It is not paid to cover any ongoing additional costs associated with the child or young person's particular disability (i.e. not for food costs). Child Disability Allowance is paid at a set amount, regardless of the child or young person's particular disability. It is not income or asset-tested.
You can be eligible for both of the above allowances if you meet the qualifying criteria. For more information visit the Work and Income website.
Pharmac no longer actively manage the funding of gluten-free foods (as of April 2011). A partial subsidy is available for three gluten-free products that can be dispensed at certain pharmacies. These can be obtained through obtaining a special authority number (SAN) in consultation with your doctor, specialist or dietitian.
With an increasing range of gluten-free products available within supermarkets and speciality stores and the variability of additional costs including pharmacy charges and consultation fees, careful consideration should be given when deciding whether it is beneficial to obtain the prescription.
Please discuss this with your health professional for more information.
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About Coeliac New Zealand
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Coeliac New Zealand is available throughout your journey. As part of our community, you’ll get support, advice, and assistance. We work with health professionals, manufacturers, and researchers to raise awareness of coeliac disease in NZ.
Together, we can reach a day when every person with coeliac disease gets diagnosed quickly, lives a healthy life, and has the prospect of a cure.
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