Budget 2026: Key takeaways for disability

Budget 2026 didn’t include any big new funding packages specifically for disability services. However, we have pulled together this list of changes and funding allocations that our disability community should know about 

Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People 

The government allocated just over $84 million for Whaikaha over the next four years – just over $21 million a year. This money is for day-to-day work that Whaikaha does like monitoring the outcomes of disabled people, providing policy advice to ministers, supporting government relationships with the disabled community, and work on alternate communication formats. Some of this money is to be used for grants for projects that benefit the disabled community.   

Social Welfare  

From 1 April 2027, the maximum Temporary Additional Support (TAS) rate for people receiving benefits will decrease to 25 percent of their main benefit, instead of the current 30 percent.  

Temporary Additional Support, is a payment that people on low incomes  can apply for to help cover essential living costs. You can get it for up to 13 weeks.  

Housing 

Social housing tenants will need to pay 30 percent of their income towards their accommodation costs, instead of the current 20 percent. This will be phased in next year.   

From 1 April 2027, the maximum accommodation supplement payments will increase between $10 and $30 per week for recipients who live in private rental properties.  

Health 

The government has allocated an extra $5.83 billion to health operating funding over the next four years. This is for frontline services like hospitals, specialist care, general practices, and community health services. The health budget also includes $680 million extra for buildings, infrastructure, and major equipment.  

Ambulance charities will receive a $35 million increase in funding over the next four years.   

Education 

$3.04 million was allocated over four years to deaf education services in schools and for Deaf parents to access interpreters to attend more school events. 

$21.99 million was allocated to teacher aide support costs over four years. This funds an additional 100 eligible students with significant health conditions to attend school, as well as a full time role for processing and assessing applications.     

Where does the Budget money come from? 

Each May, the Government announces the national budget for the next financial year (1 July to 30 June). The money in the budget comes from taxes, loans, and other income streams the government has. What money is allocated to changes each year depending on the priorities of the government of the time. Sometimes the Government will take money previously budgeted for something and allocate it for something else.