Fuel prices have gone up because of conflict in the Middle East. This has made everyday life more expensive.
Common types of fuel are petrol and diesel. Many home and community support workers need to drive to do their jobs.
Home and community support workers help disabled people to live independently at home. These services are funded by:
- Health New Zealand.
- the Ministry of Social Development – Disability Support Services.
- ACC.
What home and community support workers help with
Home and community support workers help disabled people with household tasks like:
- preparing meals;
- washing, drying or folding laundry;
- cleaning, vacuuming and tidying the house.
They can also help with personal care tasks, such as:
- help with eating and drinking;
- getting dressed and undressed;
- getting up and going to bed;
- help with bathroom needs;
- moving around inside your home.
What is changing
From 2 April 2026, the Government is increasing how much contracted support workers are paid for using their own cars.
The mileage rate is increasing by 30 percent.
It is going up from 63.5 cents to 82.5 cents per kilometre.
This change helps cover the higher cost of fuel.
How long this change will last
The increase is temporary. This means it will stop:
- after 12 months; or
- when the price of 91 octane petrol stays below $3 a litre for four weeks in a row.
Whichever happens first.
Why this matters
This temporary increase recognises how important home and community support workers are. It helps make sure they can keep providing essential support to disabled people.
Have questions or need help
Talk to your support worker first if you have questions about the service you receive. You can also contact:
Health New Zealand
- Phone 0800 855 066 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8am-5pm, Wednesday: 9:30am-5pm)
- Email customerservice@health.govt.nz
- Post to Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, PO Box 793, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
Ministry of Social Development – Disability Support Services
- Phone 0800 566 601 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8am-5pm, Wednesday: 9:30am-5pm).
- Email info@disabilitysupport.govt.nz
- Post to Disability Support Services, Ministry of Social Development, PO Box 1556, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
ACC
- If you’re an ACC client, you can contact your claim manager with any questions.
- If you don’t have a claim manager, contact claims@acc.co.nz
- If you are Deaf, you can contact email deaf@acc.co.nz
- Latest information is available at www.acc.co.nz.
NZ Relay services are available for people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, speech-impaired or deafblind to communicate with government agencies over the phone.
https://www.nzrelay.co.nz/
