Support for your decisions
Find out about informal and formal ways of making decisions about your money and property.
If you need some help to manage your money or property, you can do this informally (using supported decision making) or more formally (enduring power of attorney).
Supported decision-making
Supported decision-making describes how you make small and big decisions about your life, including your money.
This kind of decision making is empowering, it's a way of making choices where the person who the decision is about is in charge. Sometimes, a person can't easily tell what they want, or a doctor might say they can't make big decisions by themselves.
Visit the PeopleFirst website to download an easy-read guide to supported decision making.
Naming someone to act on your behalf
You can ask someone you trust to help you work with some government agencies.
For example, you might want the person to:
help you make applications or do your banking
get your letters and manage your paperwork
make phone calls or write letters for you.
You can decide what the person can or can’t do.
Visit these government websites to find out how it works:
For ACC claims
Giving someone authority to act on your behalf
For tax matters (Inland Revenue)
Name someone to act on your behalf
For Work and Income benefits and payments
Having someone act on your behalf
For Kāinga Ora tenancies
Advocating on behalf of customers
Giving someone power to make decisions for you
You can give someone legal power to look after your personal affairs and property if you can’t. This is called enduring power of attorney (EPA).
Visit the PeopleFirst website to download an easy-read guide to enduring power of attorney.
Visit the Office for Seniors website to learn more about enduring power of attorney.
In some cases, a person might apply to the Family Court to appoint a welfare guardian or property manager to look after your money and property.
Information and advice from IHC
IHC has resources to help parents and other people who support a person with an intellectual disability.
The IHC Advocacy toolkit covers these topics, and others:
Supported decision-making.
Financial property matters for people with a disability.
The Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988.
Future planning for parents (wills, trusts, letters of intent).
You can find out more about IHC advocacy on their website.
Visit IHC website
Get more support for independence
Supported decision making
What is supported decision-making and how can I apply it?
Advocacy
Find out who can help stand up for you, with you and on your behalf if you don't feel safe to speak yourself.
Supported living
There are lots of supportive homes available to help you live life your way.
Budgeting
Find out where to get free information, advice, and support to help you sort out your finances.
Free Health Transport
You may be able to use free transport to get to the hospital or other community appointments.
Get help to find work
Get information about services available to help you find paid work or return to work.