Can You Get Funding for a Medical Alarm in New Zealand?
Yes. Some New Zealanders can get help with medical-alarm costs. The main route is Work and Income’s Disability Allowance, which may cover eligible ongoing rental and monitoring costs for an in-home or “anywhere” alarm. Funding is individually assessed and does not generally cover buying a personal alarm outright.
Other needs-assessed options may be available when the alarm is required because of a covered injury or when the applicant qualifies for support from Veterans’ Affairs. Age, living alone or having a diagnosis does not by itself guarantee funding.
Key facts
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You do not need to receive a main benefit to apply for Disability Allowance.
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A registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner normally needs to confirm why the alarm is medically necessary.
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Disability Allowance can cover eligible in-home and anywhere medical-alarm rental and monitoring.
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Work and Income generally does not pay the one-off cost of buying an alarm.
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The alarm normally needs to be supplied by an MSD-accredited monitored medical-alarm provider, although limited exceptions may be considered.
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Check eligibility before signing a contract or buying a device.
What medical-alarm funding routes are available?
| Possible route | Who it may apply to | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Work and Income Disability Allowance | People who meet the medical, income, residency and cost requirements | May cover ongoing rental and monitoring for an eligible in-home or anywhere alarm |
| ACC injury support | People whose need relates to an injury covered by ACC | Equipment support is individually assessed; ask ACC whether an alarm is appropriate for the accepted injury before buying one |
| Veterans’ Independence Programme | Veterans who meet the relevant qualifying-service and programme criteria | A personal medical alarm is one of the needs-assessed services available through qualifying Veterans’ Affairs pathways |
| Retirement-village arrangements | Residents whose village provides an alarm or emergency-response service | A cost included in the standard village fee normally cannot also be claimed separately |
Who may qualify for Disability Allowance?
Work and Income assesses each application individually. Its current medical-alarm guidance says the person must generally:
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be at least 16 years old
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be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
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meet the applicable income test, which considers the applicant’s and their partner’s income
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have a disability likely to last at least six months from diagnosis, or have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than six months
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have regular, ongoing costs caused by the health condition or disability that are not fully covered by another agency
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need the alarm on an ongoing basis because of the disability
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have a medical practitioner confirm that life or health would be at risk without the alarm, or that the disability would be aggravated.
These are qualifying conditions, not an automatic entitlement. Work and Income’s practitioner examples explain that increasing age, living alone, mild arthritis or one previous health event may not be enough on their own. The person should still apply if they believe they meet the criteria, because the decision is based on their individual circumstances. See Work and Income’s medical-alarm case examples.
What medical-alarm costs can Disability Allowance cover?
If the applicant qualifies, Disability Allowance may help with the ongoing rental and monitoring costs of:
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an in-home medical alarm, which provides support while the person is at home
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an anywhere out and about medical alarm, which provides support at home and in the community.
The type of alarm must match the assessed need. A person whose risk occurs outside the home may be considered for an anywhere alarm, while someone whose need is confined to the home may be assessed for an in-home service.
Work and Income generally does not pay for:
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buying a medical alarm as a one-off purchase
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buying smoke alarms or security alarms
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alarm costs already included in a retirement-village or complex service fee
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additional items such as fall detectors or pressure mats.
The rules and prices can change. Work and Income’s current medical-alarm page should be checked before an application or purchase.
Does the alarm have to come from an accredited supplier?
Usually. Work and Income normally requires the service to be supplied by an MSD-accredited medical-alarm provider. As of 3 November 2026, its public list names: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/health-and-disability/medical-alarms.html
These providers supply monitored medical-alarm services under an MSD service-level agreement. Work and Income says it may still consider help when the required service is not available through an accredited supplier, but the applicant should discuss those exceptional circumstances before entering an agreement.
Do not rely on an old supplier list or quoted weekly price. Check the live Work and Income page because providers, rates and service options can change.
How do you apply for medical-alarm help?
The exact application route depends on whether the person already receives Disability Allowance or another Work and Income payment. The usual process is:
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Discuss the need with a medical or nurse practitioner. Explain when the person may be unable to reach a phone, where the risk occurs and whether an in-home or anywhere service is needed.
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Check the proposed supplier and service. Confirm that the supplier is currently MSD accredited or ask Work and Income whether an exception could apply.
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Complete the medical forms. Medical-alarm applications require a Disability Allowance Medical Alarm Assessment. A Disability Allowance application or medical certificate may also be required, depending on the person’s situation.
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Obtain service-cost evidence. Work and Income asks for a copy of the contract or a receipt showing installation and rental details.
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Provide financial and household information. Disability Allowance is income tested.
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Submit the documents through the instructed channel. People who do not currently receive Work and Income payments can apply online; existing clients may have a different form or submission route.
Work and Income’s practitioner guidance confirms that the medical forms can be completed by New Zealand-registered medical practitioners and nurse practitioners with a current practising certificate. See the current medical-certificate guidance and forms.
Can ACC help pay for a personal alarm?
Possibly, when the need is directly connected to an injury covered by ACC. ACC’s public guidance says it may provide aids and equipment needed to support recovery and everyday independence, with the type of support determined by the person’s injury-related needs and an assessment.
A personal alarm is not a routine entitlement for every ACC claimant. Ask the person’s health provider, recovery team or ACC claims team whether an alarm can be considered for the accepted injury before buying or contracting for one. ACC explains how injury-related aids and equipment are assessed.
For approved claimants via Occupational Therapist, ACC will cover the cost of a Familyr Alarm.
Can veterans receive help with a medical alarm?
Some can. Veterans’ Affairs lists a personal medical alarm as one of the needs-assessed services available through its Veterans’ Independence Programme.
The applicable route depends on the veteran’s circumstances. Case-managed services generally require Qualifying Service and a need linked to a service-related condition. Discretionary VIP services have different criteria; the current page describes them for veterans with Qualifying Service who do not have a service-related illness and are aged 80 or over or have a terminal illness. A health professional completes a needs assessment. See Veterans’ Affairs’ Discretionary VIP medical-alarm information.
What if the applicant lives in a retirement village?
First check the occupation agreement and service-fee breakdown. If the standard fee already includes the alarm, that cost normally cannot also be included in Disability Allowance.
Funding may still be possible when the person meets the usual criteria and the requested alarm is additional to the village’s service—for example, an anywhere alarm when the village fee covers only an in-home system. A limited continuation rule may also apply when someone received Disability Allowance for the alarm before moving into the village. Disability Allowance cannot pay the alarm cost when the person receives Residential Care Subsidy. See Work and Income’s retirement-village medical-alarm policy.
Can Disability Allowance pay for a Familyr alarm?
Not automatically through the standard route. Current Work and Income rules generally fund ongoing rental and monitoring from an MSD-accredited monitored-alarm supplier rather than the one-off purchase of a consumer device. Familyr is not on Work and Income’s published list of accredited suppliers as of 3 November 2026.
Work and Income may consider exceptional circumstances if a medically necessary service is unavailable from an accredited provider, but approval should not be assumed. Ask Work and Income before purchasing.
Funding eligibility is not the same as product suitability. A household may still choose to self-fund a family-connected alarm when trusted contacts can respond reliably and that response model fits the wearer’s needs.
What happens if an application is declined?
Ask Work and Income to explain which requirement was not met. The issue may involve medical evidence, income, supplier accreditation, the type of cost or information missing from the application.
If the person disagrees with the decision, Work and Income says they can request a review. A standard review of decision normally needs to be requested within three months, although medical decisions have a different review process. See Work and Income’s review-of-decision guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Can an older person get a free medical alarm in New Zealand?
Not automatically. Eligible people may receive Disability Allowance help with ongoing rental and monitoring, but age or living alone is not enough by itself. Medical need, income, residency, cost and supplier requirements apply.
Do you have to be receiving a benefit to get Disability Allowance?
No. Work and Income states that a person does not need to receive a main benefit to qualify. They must still meet the other Disability Allowance requirements.
Will Work and Income pay for buying a medical alarm?
Generally no. Current guidance excludes buying the alarm as a one-off cost. Disability Allowance is instead used for qualifying ongoing rental and monitoring expenses.
Can funding cover a mobile or GPS medical alarm?
It can cover an eligible anywhere monitored-alarm service when a medical practitioner confirms that support is needed outside the home. This does not mean every privately purchased GPS device or optional feature will be funded.
Can any medical-alarm supplier be used?
Normally the service must come from an MSD-accredited supplier. Work and Income may consider exceptional circumstances when the required service is unavailable from an accredited provider, so ask before signing a contract.
Can two people in the same household receive funded alarms?
Potentially, but each person needs to qualify in their own right and have a separate medical assessment. Sharing an address does not automatically fund a second alarm.
Can ACC fund an alarm after an injury?
Possibly. ACC assesses equipment against the needs created by the covered injury. Contact the recovery or claims team for an individual decision rather than assuming the alarm will be covered.
Primary sources
Last reviewed: 3 November 2026. This is general information, not an entitlement decision. Eligibility, suppliers, rates and service rules can change; confirm the current requirements with the responsible agency before committing to a product or service.